Best Places To Scuba Dive On The U.S. West Coast

When it comes to Scuba Diving in the United States, Florida and the Florida Keys immediately come to mind. Avid divers also know about the great wrecks that are located off of the Carolina Coast, but lets not forget the other side of the country - California and the West Coast of the U.S also offer some truly unique and exciting diving experiences.

Actually the Channel Islands of Southern California offer some of the best scuba diving in the world, let alone the States. With an average visibility of 50 - 100 feet The Channels are far enough off the coast for clean and clear waters, yet close enough to get to quickly. Some of the greatest views of marine diversity are available to scuba divers here, with each of the islands featuring its own unique characteristics and underwater flora and fauna. Sea lions abound at Santa Barbara Island and it is not uncommon for a diver here to find oneself surrounded by the playful and friendly creatures. The kelp beds of Santa Barbara are exquisite and bountiful, and there are many caves and caverns for those with proper certification to explore. Another favorite among West Coast scuba divers is San Clemente Island. San Clemente boasts over 50 miles of coastline with 100's of dive sites - and is popular for its purple corals, deep drop offs, walls, pinnacles, and of course sensational kelp beds typical of all the Channels.

While The Channel Islands offer some great boat dive trips the California Coast also boast some of the best locations for beach diving, especially along the Monterey Coast. The Breakwater is one of the top rated beach dive sites in the country. The Northern part of the State is home to The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Located only a few miles from San Francisco, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary supports an abundance of species. The Farallone Islands are also home to some of the largest White Sharks on the planet, and several dive outfits offer Shark Dives that allow you to get up close and personal for one of the experiences of a lifetime. Shark dive expeditions are also offered off of the coast of the Isla de Guadalupe, located back at the Southern End of the State near San Diego. The San Diego diving area also sports one of the best artificial reefs to dive on in the country - Wreck Alley. Created and maintained by the San Diego Oceans Foundation, Wreck Alley includes wrecks that were specially prepared for Divers; like the Yukon; a Canadian Destroyer intentionally sunk in 2000, with plenty of exit and entry holes to allow easy penetration, yet with all the mystery and majesty of a true shipwreck intact, including forward and aft gun turrets.

No matter what type of diving you are in to or what skill level, with miles and miles of coastline, off shore islands, and even inland underwater parks, it no wonder many Scuba divers find themselves "California Dreamin'"