Best dives in America?

[Cmdrjay1]

I'm curious as to what locations are regarded as being the best in the US? Continental US? Hawaii?

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board. You really want to start a regional war don't you.

Best wrecks- NC for best saltwater wrecks but from what I hear the best preserved ones are in the great lakes
Best reefs- Lower Florida
Best caves/caverns- upper Florida
Best Quarry- Virgina

 

[Rick Murchison]

The best dive in America will be my next one, wherever it is
Rick

 

[_Bella_]

The US Virgin Islands have some of the nicest reef diving in the caribbean.

 

[diversteve]

U.S. Virgin Islands
Channel Islands, SoCal
Monterrey Bay, NorCal
Maui & Niihau, HI
Pennekamp/Florida Keys
Flower Gardens, Gulf of Mexico

What's your definition of "best"?

 

[caymaniac]

I'm curious as to what locations are regarded as being the best in the US? Continental US? Hawaii?

For me it would be better to tell you some of the best dives I've done in the U.S. than what is regarded as the best from others.

Wreck diving 1. Alpena Mich.(Lake Huron) Thunder Bay Wreck Preserve - the "Grecian"
2. Florida Keys
3. Lake Michigan

Cave diving 1. Ginnie Springs area, Florida

Mine diving 1. Bone Terre, Missouri

Wall diving 1. Molokini (outside), Hawaii

Reef diving 1. St. John/ St. Thomas, U.S. V.I.
2. Florida Keys

Fish Life 1. Florida Keys
2. St. Thomas/St. John

Big Animal 1. Crystal River (Manatees), Florida

Best Viz. 1. Florida Keys

Best Quarry 1. Giboa Quarry, Ohio

Best inland lake 1. Higgins Lake, Michigan

Most sharks on a non-shark dive 1. Maui, Hawaii

 

[Rick Murchison]

What's your definition of "best"?

Ah.... now there's the rub, ain't it?
On any given day I might want to go dive one place over another in America, especially in the winter, when my preferences move south. But I have had remarkable, wonder-filled dives all over, and to make me choose one as "best" is an impossible task.
Today I'd choose Jackson Blue...
Tomorrow may be Panama City or Texas or Pennecamp.
No, now that I think about it, tommorow will be Vortex spring, 'cause that's where I'll be
Rick

 

[scubajcf]

humbly submitted ...

Best Marine Life - Maui Hawaii / Big Island Hawaii
Best Reefs / Walls - St Thomas, St. Croix USVI
Best Wrecks - South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia Corridor
Best Cavern - Bonne Terre Mine
Best Lake Diving - Chicago Area - Lake Michigan
Best Liveaboard (remember US) Kona Aggressor and/or Encore (Catalina Islands)
Best Cold Water - Puget Sound
Best "buggin" Lobster - Rockport Mass. (size, quantity and access combined)
Best Clarity and Warmth - Key West Florida
Best After Diving Activities - San Diego, CA
Best Ice Diving - New Hampshire
Best Under Exposed - Puerto Rico

 

[ScubaLuke]

Add the Dry Tortugas to the list.
Luke

 

[markfm]

St. Lawrence River -- 1000 Wrecks region.