These dive sites are so amazing, you’ll want to return over and over again. We have compiled a list of the best local, national, and international places to SCUBA dive, so you’ll never be without diving inspiration!
To learn more about scuba classes, rental gear, and technical diving, visit Signature Scuba today!
Best Los Angeles and Orange County SCUBA Diving Sites
Casino Point
LOCATION: 22 PEBBLY BEACH RD., AVALON, CA, USA
Located in the city of Avalon on Catalina Island, ocean access to this world-class dive site is extremely easy. The waters are usually calm with full visibility (from 20–100ft) and the sea life is friendly and approachable, making this an ideal location for underwater photography. Look out for Catalina’s signature species, the Garibaldi — a bright orange fish that nests in the kelp forests.
Malaga Cove
LOCATION: PALOS VERDES, CA, USA
Malaga Cove is a wonderful place to start for beginners. It also has excellent beach access, which means if you happen to SCUBA dive on a day with terrible visibility, it’s still a nice place to hang out or surf. But when its good, its great (think about using two tanks.) Visit to check out the schools of reef fish, harbor seals, swell sharks, octopi, and lobster.
Newport Pier
LOCATION: 1 NEWPORT PIER, NEWPORT BEACH, CA, USA
This is an excellent choice for experienced divers as depth can reach 100ft or more as you swim past the pier area, where you’ll find “an abundance of sandy bottom marine life.” Closer to their pier itself, you’ll find schools of fish attracted to the pillars and bigger catch who are lured by the fishermen’s bait. People have made a sport of finding the oddities that have been thrown off the pier and into the water over the years. Fall and spring are the best times to dive at Newport Pier.
Best Places to SCUBA Dive in the USA
Kona Coast
Are you a diver who has a bucket list of rare fish you’d like to see? Hawaii boasts dozens of species that can be found no place else on earth — such as the Milletseed Butterflyfish, Potter’s Angelfish, and Bandit Angelfish. The Kona Coast is also the best place to encounter Manta Rays at night, and the Manta Night Dive has become the stuff of legend among divers, often called “The Greatest Dive on Earth.” The threatened Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, or Honu, is commonly found on Kona. Visit in late June- September to see the Tiger Sharks, which can reach up to 16 feet in length and weigh up to 1,400 pounds.
West Palm Beach
LOCATION: SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA, USA
West Palm Beach hosts the world’s second-largest ocean drift current, flowing 70 miles a day just a mile off shore. Divers at this site prefer Gulf Stream-powered drift diving as a special way to utilize the conditions. In these waters you may find Caribbean tropicals, green morays. spiny lobster, and “the occasional pelagic.” 10 minutes from Palm Beach Inlet you can explore The Corridor, which is a collection of “shipreefs” (abandoned underwater shipwrecks.)
Barrier Islands (aka The Outer Banks)
Location: Coastal North Carolina, USA
The Outer Banks is a series of Barrier Islands along the coast of North Carolina which are a virtual playground for in-the-know travelers who are looking for a beach destination. From north to south: Northern Beaches, Roanoke Island & Dare Mainland, and Hatteras. The Outer Banks have the gloomy reputation of being “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” There are estimates approaching 3,000 shipwrecks in the area going back to the early English settlements (Roanoke was the very first American settlement) all the way up ’til WWII. Unlike some of the more tropical destinations, winter is not the best time to SCUBA dive off the East Coast — you still can if you want to, but it will require a heavy wetsuit, and most shops will only be open on weekends during the off-season.
THE BEST PLACE TO SCUBA DIVE IN THE WORLD IS…
Galapagos Islands
LOCATION: GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO, ECUADOR
The Galapagos are world famous for being geographically isolated in a unique location, which gave rise to many unheard-of species of animal and plant life. Located at the convergence of currents and upwellings, the Galapagos Archipelago houses and extremely rich and varied marine habitat. In the north, divers can view the schooling hammerheads, false killer whales, mola mola (aka sunfish) and whale sharks. Down south, check out the seals, sea lions, marine iguanas, and Humboldt penguins. As the locals say, “Not even Darwin discovered all there is to see here.”
Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Gear, and Rentals
Welcome to Signature Scuba Dive Shop, where we expand the diving community through inspiration, motivation, and education! We go on amazing dive trips to visit new places, see the sights, and make new friends. For us, SCUBA Diving is more than just our favorite sport — it’s a lifestyle. We are located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA — pay us a visit or Contact Us today!
