Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes the opportunity to travel on holidays and go on adventures. Some of us choose to go to a remote island in the middle of nowhere, while others prefer hiking up in the mountains.
But if you are looking for a little more fun, a little more excitement, why not try scuba diving? Scuba diving is one of the most popular adventure sports globally. The United States has some great places where you can take your scuba diving gear from Beach Cities and enjoy a unique underwater experience.
Here are some of the best places to do scuba diving in the United States:
1. The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys is one of America’s top scuba diving destinations because it has some of its best coral reefs and shipwrecks. This place has more than 1,000 artificial reefs that have been created using materials like old ships, bridges, and even military tanks.
The Florida Keys also offers plenty of activities for non-divers, such as snorkeling or kayaking through mangrove forests.
2. Bonne Terre, Missouri
Bonne Terre is a small town in Missouri about 60 miles south of St. Louis, known for scuba diving and prisons. It’s home to one of the largest freshwater dive resorts in the world, which is located inside an old mine, and it also has a former prison that now serves as a museum.
A visit to Bonne Terre can be a unique adventure, with an afternoon spent exploring the abandoned prison museum followed by an evening of wine tasting at one of the nearby wineries before descending into the depths of the old mine for a night dive.
3. Catalina Island, California
Off the coast of California, Catalina Island is one of the best places to go scuba diving in the United States. Scuba diving here can be breathtaking, with views of the giant garibaldi and other brightly colored fish swimming around the reefs. Several shipwrecks are fun to explore, some up to 100 years old.
Catalina Island is an excellent place for beginners because it has shallow and deeper waters. It’s a popular tourist destination, so there are plenty of shops where you can rent gear or take lessons if you’re just starting.
4. Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico
This collection of three reefs 100 miles off the Texas coastline is home to more than 200 species of fish and an abundance of corals. The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary attracts visitors from all over the world who want to get up close and personal with wildlife or dive among one of the largest populations of Elkhorn coral in existence.
5. U-352 Cape Lookout, North Carolina
The U-352 was a German submarine sunk by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in World War II. The ship lies upright at a depth of 115 feet and is visited by divers on live boats and by those staying overnight on nearby Harkers Island.
The Final Word
Scuba diving is a great way to explore the world beneath the waves, and you don’t need to travel far to go on an adventure. A number of excellent scuba diving destinations are located within the United States, and they can be some of the best places to learn how to scuba dive or go on your first dive.
