US East Coast VS West Coast! Which has better diving?

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

For simplification purposes we are considering Hawaii as West Coast and Puerto Rico and the Great Lakes as East Coast.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I find it impossible to vote. The east coast has better visibility and wrecks while the west coast has much more marine life but generally poorer vis.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I rank as follows: 1. Hawaii 2. Florida Keys 3. So Cal (kelp forests) 4. Carolina wrecks and sand sharks
5. Puget Sound. So my answer is " some of each. There is such a difference in the diving in these locations that good-better-best comparisons are really not applicable. I also need to disclose that I have a bias for warmer water. But I will break out the semi-dry or dry suit to dive the Channel Islands kelp forests or see the wolf eels in Puget Sound without hesitation.
DivemasterDennis

 

[j2s]

It's not a matter of 'better'...That's too subjective...They all three have unique habitats and are very different types of diving.....It's a matter of personal preference....You could like all three or none.....

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

I understand that it is a matter of personal preference. That is the exact reason why the poll is there. Had it been purely objective, a poll would not be needed. No one ever posted a poll that stated 2 + 2 = 4???

 

[RonFrank]

I can't vote for anything the way this is structured. You don't have Sea Lions in FL and there are no Jewfish or Coral Reef in CA! Hawaii is the most remote island chain in the world, and why not count the US Virgin islands as well to make things even more confusing?

CA diving is amazing and my observation is most the divers are local vs. FL where divers are from anywhere USA. If you have never dove CA you are missing Fantastic world class diving. You must handle cold water. Vis can be 100+. We had 60+ one day and 15' the next on the Peace, a Channel Islands live aboard. CA diving is World Class, so make the trip.

 

[dvankirk]

I am definitely biased since I live in North Carolina, but I think that it depends on what you have access to and what kind of diving peaks your interests. I like the wrecks of the Graveyard of the Atlantic since they are almost in my backyard and always find a challenging dive here from liberty ships to German submarines. I certainly would never turn down a dive in nice clear, calm, warm water, though.

 

[nolatom]

Gulf.

We're a Coast, too......

 

[drbill]

As a kelp forest ecologist, I can't say the East Coast has much to offer... except warmer, clearer water with coral and more bikinis.

 

[wedivebc]

I rank as follows: 1. Hawaii

Where do you dive in Hawaii? I have only dived Maui and Oahu but would not rate them even in the top 10.