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Diving The USA
Diving • Dive Operators • Accommodation • Books to Take • Your Comments
California | Hawaii | Alabama | Michigan | Florida
California | Hawaii | Alabama | Michigan | Florida
Download a free guide to diving America's Marine Sanctuaries (courtesy NOAA).
Find a California Dive Operator...
| La Jolla Cove, California |
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Rating:
"Giant Black Sea Bass, Garibaldi, kelp bass, lobsters... so much to see.
Wellington Lee, USA, 2007
| Casino Point, Catalina, California |
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Rating:
"Excellent site for beginner or advanced divers
Rob, USA, 2008
California Dive Operators...
Find a Hawaii Dive Operator...
| Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii |
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Rating:
"This was my
first night dive ever and I couldn't have gotten luckier. We dropped
to about 12 m and joined a circle of about 20 divers with our torches
pointing upward. The lights formed a circle of beams and a huge school
of silver baitfish were swimming and shimmering within the lights.
Then the mantas flew in to feed on the plankton gathering in the light
beams. These magnificent creatures feasted and danced for us putting
on a show that was nothing short of magical. I was fortunate there was
a videographer who got the whole thing on tape. I can't imagine any
night dive surpassing Kona's Manta Dive. Some lifelong divers said it
was their best dive experience ever."
Tom
Sotis
Underwater lights placed on the ocean floor
attract infinite amounts of plankton, which in turn attract the huge,
yet beautiful manta rays of Kona Hawaii. The rays get so close to you,
that you often have to move to avoid them accidentally hitting you.
This was by far, the best dive I have ever done. I have been to Sting
Ray City in Grand Cayman before, and as good as that dive is, it came
nowhere near the experience with the manta dive. It is very rare to
experience such an amazingly wonderful and unforgettable time with one
of the most beautiful and gentle animals in the world."
Julie
"Seeing these amazing creatures swim right up to your face with their huge mouths open and simply glide right over you is one of the most amazing sights in the world. The grace of these large creatures is astounding.
"
Katie
"Shallow 35 ft manta ray night dives. All you do is be negatively buoyant and shine your light to the surface. The manta swoop and eat the plankton. No corals."
Aquashik
"So much stuff! Eels! Mantas! Even a reef shark.
"
Krent
| Sheraton Caverns, Kauai, Hawaii |
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Rating:
"swim throughs, seaturtles and frogfish. 65 feet
"
Derek Erickson
"Tons of turtles all around. Dive through lava tubes. Snapper, eels, and trigger fish everywhere.
"
Linda Laughlin
| Nonu Cleaning Station, Kauai, Hawaii |
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Rating:
"Turtles and other large fish come through this area of cleaning."
Linda Laughlin
"The Manta Rays in the
cool waters of Hawaii make this make it a great experience for all.
Watching these creatures in the night is just wonderful."
Frances Santoy
Rating:
"Huge schools of jacks, and tons of sharks - this was an awesome dive."
Derek Erickson
| Vertical Awareness, Niihau, Hawaii |
Rating:
"A wall dive with a Hawaiian monk seal and the largest schools of butterflies I've ever seen. Lionfish everywhere."
Derek Erickson
"1943 Navy oiler sunk for reef in 1989. Access holes cut in upright ship.
"
Akiko, South Seas Aquatics Hawaii
"Korean fishing boat sunk for reef in 1998. Lots of turtles and tropical fish everywhere. Amazing."
Akiko, South Seas Aquatics Hawaii
| Molokini Crater Wall, Maui, Hawaii |
"Magnificent wall dive with unlimited visibility open to the Pacific. Lots of Pelagics: 14 ft blue shark, reef, coral, colour."
A. Lisowski
"The back side of this extinct cinder cone plunges to incredible depths and presents a wall dive with seemingly infinite exposure. It felt like a space walk as we hung on our safety stop in the clear blue with the sound of whales around us. We cruised the 100' level of the cone through forrests of black coral. Many unique critters here not found in other parts of the world.
"
Jerry Vonderharr, USA, 2007
| 5 Caves (AKA 5 Graves or Nahuna Point), Maui, Hawaii |
Rating:
"Best night shore night dive. Squid, parrot fish in bubble, slipper lobsters, spanish shawls...all sorts of critters!
"
Susie Hills, USA, 2007
"Hanama bay is incredible diving for the novice to the expeert and uncertified family can snorkel with ease and see almost as great wildlife as the divers. Beyond the near reef line there are resident turtles, transient rays, and every kind of sealife in this protected park. it isn't a technical dive. it does take some skill in rough water entries and exits during the winter. But everybody can enjoy it. After snorkeling Hanama with us my niece got certified.
"
Stephen E. Barger
"WWII corsair plane wreck. Sit in the cockpit 105 feet underwater.
"
Sean Deming, 2007, USA
Hawaii Dive Operators
Find a Florida Dive Operator...
"Florida and the Florida keys have wonderful coral spots, they are amazing, specially key largo."
Carlos Llerena
"Ship sank as an artificial reef, sits in about 40 msw, not easy to access, therefore no fishermen. You will see goliath grouper, and an occasional sea turtle or shark. Good coral growth on the ship, and good swim through in the cargo hold."
Lori, 2008
"Part of the Florida Keys reef system, this is the most diverse gathering of soft and hard corals I've ever seen. Relatively shallow, it is a great dive for photography and beginners. You will see Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, snapper, barricuda, and many lobster. Normal visibility is usually in the 30 to 40 m range year around, and in the winter a 3mm suit with a hood is recommended, but in summer, a shortie is fine."
Lori, 2008
"Number of reefs with abundant sea life."
Edd, 2009
"Good wreck can be strong current, depth 60' to 105'."
Edd,2009
"Good wreck dive, good visibility, little current several swim throw's. Depth range65' to 110'"
Edd, 2009
"Part of the Florida Keys reef system, this is the most diverse gathering of soft and hard corals I've ever seen. Relatively shallow, it is a great dive for photography and beginners. You will see Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, snapper, barricuda, and many lobster. Normal visibility is usually in the 30 to 40 m range year around, and in the winter a 3mm suit with a hood is recommended, but in summer, a shortie is fine.Nice reef dive with plenty of life, this is good for lobster season, or spearfishing if that is your bag. Lots of life, lots of coral, very relaxing and good for photography. Watch out for reef sharks and barracuda."
Lori, 2008
Florida Dive Operators
| Dive Land Quarry, Alabama |
Rating:
"Freshwater Jellyfish, (Craspedacusta sowerbii)
In the summer and fall of 1998, a little known freshwater creature has appeared in Dive Land Park's quarry, Craspedacusta sowerbii or Freshwater Jellyfish as they are more commonly referred to.
It is not common to see occurrences of freshwater Jellyfish, so I must say I felt privileged to get an up-close view of this harmless nickel sized creature. C. sowerbii, other than their small size, seem to look and behave like their larger saltwater cousins and they cannot sting humans!
'Unlike marine jellyfish, C. sowerbii has a structure call a velum. This thin, shelf-like structure extends inward from the circular edge (ring canal) of the bell. The manubrium, which ends in a mouth, extends down through a hole in the velum. The velum helps set C. sowerbii apart from the true jellyfish. However, because C. sowerbii looks like a jellyfish, we call it a jellyfish!'
'C. sowerbii belongs to the class Hydrozoa which includes the more common hydra.'
Be sure to look for the Freshwater Jellyfish when you visit Dive Land's quarry. They were observed in shallower waters near the quarry's rim from 0 to 35 ft. in depth.
For more complete and detailed information, and to report sightings, you must visit Dr. Terry Peard's research project on Craspedacusta sowerbi at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Perry is looking for sighting reports and details to continue building his research database.
This dive site promises to be more than just the average quarry/Pit dive..... IE cold water nothing to see..... If nothing else it is a chance to see freshwater Jellyies....
"
Matilda Jean Duffy.
| Straits Underwater Preserve, Michigan |
Rating:
"The dive is not for the "faint of heart" especially if you are wearing a wetsuit (as I was). The temp drops to 41 degrees below the thermocline, but the views of well preserved shipwrecks is worth the shivering. My favorite is the Eber Ward, century old wreck in 120 feet of water.
This ship was sunk in 1909 after encountering packs of ice on its first journey of the season, leaving holes in the bow large enough to swim through. There are entrances at the stern as well, and once inside you can swim from one end to the other entirely inside on not one but TWO decks. The upper one is the more interesting, with rows of hand carts towards the bow, and well-preserved loading gear hanging under every cargo hatch.
Two large, hinged anchors are still inside the bow, and another rest just below on the lake bottom.
One of the strangest items to find was a capstan inside the wreck.
The not-to-be-missed items on this wreck include the prop, bathtub, and ultra-rare mushroom anchor which is still in place in the hawse pipe on the port side.
Of the 700 or so dives that I've done around the world since 1975, this was my favorite.
"
Jerry Vonderharr, USA, 2007
Recommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
California | Hawaii | Florida
| SeaStar Adventures, Inc., California |
Daily dive trips to over fifteen different sites in San Diego. A NAUI dive centre offering Kelp forest and Wreck diving.
SeaStar Adventures
La Jolla
San Diego
California
Rating:
"I've dived and snorkled all over the world and La Jolla is a unique and beautiful place. SeaStar is a great dive guide company: professional, personable, detail oriented and dedicated to safety. Our guide was exceptionally familiar with the area and went the extra mile to make sure we had the best possible experience. I would recommend them to anyone. They went out of their way for us. Service was excellent.
Wellington Lee, USA, 2007
| SeaClypse Dive Adventures, California |
SeaClypse Dive Adventures
7730 Herschel Ave
La
Jolla
San Diego
California
rob@seaclypse.com
Scuba diving and snorkeling tours of
San Diego's best underwater sites. Scuba Adventure tours to Baja Mexico.
Dive Instruction and boat dives also available.
Kona Honu Divers
glenn@konahonudivers.com
237 Marshall Drive
Tel: 925-947-6766
Fax: 800-640-2060
E-mail: terri@conquerfear.com
| South Seas Aquatics, Hawaii |
Tel: 808 922-0852
| Reef Pirates Diving, Oahu, Hawaii |
Oahu
Hawaii
E-mail: sean@reefpirates.com
Prices from $89 for 2 tank dives with all gear included (2007).
| Fathom Five, Kauai, Hawaii |
Old Koloa Town
Kauai
Rating:
"Fathom Five costs from $100 to $130, for a two tank boat dive. No more than 6 divers per boat, so nice personal attention.
"
Linda Laughlin
| Seasport Divers, Koloa, Hawaii |
2827 Poipu Rd
Koloa
Hi 96756
Tel: (800)-685-5889
E-mail: Info@seasportdivers.com
Rating:
"Dived the south shore of Kauai with Seasport Divers and they are a great operation. very knowledge staff, great dives, and so many sea turtles. Then I dove Niihau with them. the best dives I've ever had. 150 foot viz, monk seals, so many rare fish, wall dives and huge swim throughs. this guys are great. I recommend them to anyone. $110 for a 2 tank dive, $260 for 3 tank Niihau trip, $15 for 2 tanks of Nitrox. Definately worth the $$$, and they had the best price for nitrox I've ever paid. $15 for 2 tanks at 32%."
Derek Erickson
| Aqua Sports, Inc., Florida |
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
Tel: 888-223-6568
E-mail: Info@AquaSportsInc.com
SCUBA diving and rescue training institute.
| Tropical Sun Divers, Florida |
3222 SE 3rd Drive
Homestead
Florida 33033
Tel: 305-321-2169 or 305-321-8890
E-mail: jonbensman@tropicalsundivers.com
Diving in Key Largo at John Pennekamp State Park.
Middle Keys
Marathon
Florida Keys
"
This is one of the oldest commercial diver training centers in Florida. When they don't have students, they will take a minimum of 4 divers to any site you wish, or will recommend some good ones. Very professional, very safety oriented and interesting people. The first day we went out, it was stormy with heavy seas, but the operator was willing, and since we were all experienced divers they took us out. The boat was set for 20 divers, so very spacious with just 4 of us. The captain and dive master were first rate. Good value for money, since most 2 tank dive trips in the keys, cost about US $70 to $80, with tips extra, a 1/2 day 2 tank dive will cost about US $75.
Good value for money, since most 2 tank dive trips in the keys
cost about US $70 to $80, with tips extra.
Most of the dive operations in the Middle Keys cooperate with one another, so if there is a certain spot you would like to dive and the shop
you called isn't going there, they will call around and find another boat.
Lori, 2008
Key Largo
Florida
E-mail: numberfivedock@yahoo.com
"
Come check out our adventurous dive expeditions for both the novice and the highly skilled. Our premier dive vessel is docked in Key Largo , Florida, the home of the third largest barrier reef in the
world. The reefs here are spectacular and rival those of many Caribbean areas. Approximately 6,000 coral reefs are found between Key Biscayne and Dry Tortugas. Our trips offer personalized dive charters to fit your skill level whether you're a novice or among the highly skilled.
Scotty Gray (Owner), 2009
522 Caribbean Drive
Key Largo
Florida 33037
"Will go out with as few as 2 paying divers, big plus. Highest
safety standards, PADI 5 Star center.
Stayed at the Marriott, Holiday Inn, Marina Del Mar - excellentvalue.
Edd, 2009
For hotels see the Agoda site...
Buy from UK... (see below for US)
Buy from US...
Please send us your comments on diving in the USA. Do you want to recommend a diving centre or dive site? Let us know. Have a question - try our Diving Board.
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