Ideas for a dive trip across the USA

[thomschoon]

I am thinking of doing a cross country trip, starting in Florida and ending up on the West Coast. I want to go diving where I started, which is Seattle/Puget Sound, and visit the kelp forest in Cali. By driving I could try and dive in every state, any suggestions or has anyone done this already?

Thanks

 

[bassplayer]

haven't done it but love the idea, sign me up to the newsletter

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I’ve fantasized about doing the same thing.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

I am thinking of doing a cross country trip, starting in Florida and ending up on the West Coast. I want to go diving where I started, which is Seattle/Puget Sound, and visit the kelp forest in Cali. By driving I could try and dive in every state, any suggestions or has anyone done this already?

I made mental notes of sites I want to dive in various states during my road trips around the contiguous USA. If you drive west on Interstate 10 to Los Angeles and then north on Highway 1 and US 101 then you can try these sites:

• The caverns around Lake City, Florida.
• The Oriskany and New Venture off of Pensacola. There are other artificial reefs in that area you may be interested in. You can check with MBT Divers in Pensacola. My dives there were cancelled by weather so I have a total of zero around Pensacola.
• In west Texas there is Balmorhea State Park.
• None of my attempts to dive Southern California have worked out. But I did talk to Beach Cities Scuba in Newport Beach to try and schedule some dives. I did not like the fact that they planned to charge me extra because I did not have a dive buddy, and the shop planned to stick me with a divemaster. YMMV in SoCal.
• Monterey Bay is a must if you pass through California. I have dived this place and loved it.
• The Oregon coast along US 101 has a lot of sites. I have never dived any of them, but an internet search will provide you with many choices.. As an aside, the seafood along the Oregon coast is good but overpriced.

Sounds like you're familiar with the Puget Sound and Seattle area (I got my open water certification there in 2002 at Sunnyside Beach in Steilacoom, Washington).

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

in California, are you just looking for the very few highlight spots, or something more in-depth?
Because this state alone could take you a few months if you did it right.

 

[Jake 10]

We are planning a similar trip idea but from Miami to Key West. I started a thread on this idea as well few weeks back. We are gathering ideas and recommended dive shops and places to eat along the way.