15 Fascinating U.S. Dive Sites to Explore This Summer

The exhilaration of exploring a world you weren't meant to be in is an unparalleled sensation only viewers can say they have experienced. For scuba divers, the thrill of stepping out of their comfort zone and entering a new realm is why they got into the sport.

For most of us, the idea of swimming in dark, unchartered waters can be terrifying. Still, more and more adrenaline lovers put on their wet suits and fuel their oxygen tanks for an adventure like no other. If you're an avid diver, add these sites to your list of places to explore this summer.

1. Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu has some of the most pristine beaches in the United States, but there is just as much beauty under the sea. The island has many different wreck sites, including the famous Corsair Wreck, where an airplane crashed and landed in 1946.

Other ships and structures have been permanently sunk to provide artificial reefs for sea creatures and curious divers. You can expect to catch a glimpse of sea turtles, eels, and manta rays and hear the sounds of humpback whales in the distance.

2. The Florida Keys

Located at the southern tip of Florida, the Keys are a mecca for divers of all skill levels. With a multitude of wrecks and natural coral reefs, they are the ideal combination for divers looking for wildlife or curious about historically intriguing sunken ships.

The USS Spiegel Grove unexpectedly sank in 2002 and is still 130 feet under the sea today. A 40-minute boat ride from Key Largo takes you to the site, where you can enjoy an underwater adventure exploring the old naval ship.

3. Phil Foster Park, Florida

Underneath the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, is a protected lagoon where divers love to swim with sea life. The waters are home to unique species like sea horses, starfish, eels, rockfish, octopus, and the majestic manatee, also known as the “sea cow.”

Due to the shallow waters and the relative lack of current, this is a popular spot for first-timers and seasoned pros. Imagine your first dive coming with a massive manatee swimming alongside.

4. La Jolla Cove, California

This San Diego beach caters to families looking for a day snorkeling and scuba diving among the many grottos and cliff-lined shores. Local outfitters will rent our guide on tours where you might swim with leopard sharks, seals, dolphins, and the state's garibaldi fish.

The mellow waves, year-round water clarity, and excellent weather make this beach a fantastic place to learn to become a scuba diver.

5. Dead Man's Wall, Washington

Dead Man's Wall in Point Defiance near Tacoma, Washington, provides one of the best wall dives in the country. The wall extends almost 100 feet below the surface of the water, with many nooks and cracks giving homes to sea creatures like octopus, lingcod, and sea skates.

The wall systems are extensive. Experienced divers can continue past Dead Man's Wall and discover other alcoves and hidden beaches along the shoreline.

6. Wreck Alley, California

Wreck Alley is just a few miles off the coast from Mission Beach in San Diego, California. Several sunken ships provide a destination for scuba divers to inspect these massive vessels. Be sure to check out the HMCS Yukon, a decommissioned Canadian Navy ship that sank in 2000.

It's important to note that the dive is considered technical and unsafe for unskilled swimmers. Expert tip: After your excursion, hop onboard the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster and munch on some famous San Diego Fish tacos.

7. Santa Catalina Island, California

You have to take a ferry from Los Angeles to reach this fascinating dive spot. Catalina is home to gorgeous underwater California kelp forests. Divers can get close encounters with giant black sea bass, moray eels, bat rays, leopard sharks, octopus, spider crabs, spiny lobster, California sea lions, and barracudas.

The island is a popular tourist spot, so visitors should have no problem finding rental gear, lessons, or tour guides for hidden gems known only to locals.

8. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Michigan

The ocean isn't the only place divers love to explore. Lake Huron is a mesmerizing thrill seeker due to its abundance of sunken ships. Over 50 vessels call the bottom of the lake home.

The almost fully intact Cornelia B. Windiate still has three visible masts and rigging systems. Maritime history buffs will love learning about these wrecks and why the stretch of water leading to the bay is one of the most treacherous routes on the Great Lakes.

9. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California

Point Lobos, on the Big Sur coastline in Monterey, California, is one of the country's more picturesque landscapes. Divers can enjoy the view above the water while also enjoying the marine sanctuary.

Sea lions, seals, and otters can be seen sunbathing, diving in the chilly water, or hunting for small fish hiding in the craggy rocks. The site is also on the route for migrating grey and humpback whales as they go to warmer waters to breed and nurse their young.

10. Santa Barbara Oil Rigs, California

Sunken oil rigs have created an artificial reef that spans from Santa Barbara to Huntington Beach. Just eight miles from the land, these rigs provide homes to barnacles and mussels, as well as hungry seals, sea lions, and fish of all shapes and sizes.

Experts agree that this dive site can be dangerous, and only veteran divers should test themselves in the complex underwater systems.

11. Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

To reach this striking dive site, you will have to charter a boat and travel 110 miles between the Texas and Louisiana borders. The trip will be worth it once you jump into the water and witness the breathtaking salt domes housing vibrant coral.

There is a reason why it is a protected marine sanctuary. These unique waters are home to sea turtles, massive rays, crustaceans, octopuses, barracudas, and sea sponges.

12. Graveyard of the Atlantic, North Carolina

If a site named the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” doesn't hype you up to strap on the mask, I don't know what will. Historians believe that well over 5,000 ships have met their fate in the waters off the Outer Banks of North Carolina since the 1500s.

In this interesting arrangement of artificial reefs, you'll find sand tiger sharks, which find refuge here in the summer months. With so many of wrecks to experience, devoted divers could spend a week trying to see everything.

13. San Juan Islands, Washington

The San Juan Islands — consisting of San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, Shaw, and hundreds of other smaller islands — form an archipelago off the coast of Washington state. The area is known to have orca whales migrating in deeper waters. Divers can encounter wolf eels, crabs, rockfish, and sea lions.

14. Bonne Terre Mine, Missouri

You might not think of Missouri as a diving location, but the Bonne Terre Mine is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for avid divers. Once a working mine, it has since been flooded and turned into an open underground lake year-round.

Divers get an extraordinary look at elevator shafts, mine carts, tools, and artifacts preserved in the cold waters. The winding caverns and caves make it an exceptional location for divers looking for a new thrill.

15. Black Rock Point, Hawaii

At this Maui dive spot, you don't have to travel far from the sandy beaches to get a view of an underwater wonderland. Ka'anapali Beach gives divers epic shots of Black Rock, a rocky lava cliff that will make you feel like you are swimming in an aquarium.

After you swim with spotted eagle rays, whitetip reef sharks, and eels, you can wash up ashore and relax with a refreshing mai tai.