Rhode Island

Newport County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Great spot for clams!  Usually spot striped bass under the bridge

Park along seawall on Washington St.  Enter water from beach or end of pier

Newport

Van Zandt Pier

Fort Wetherill is a scuba location with two dive sites. The left and right cove. The left cove has a small goat path down to the water.  The right cove has a boat ramp entry, can get busy so yield to boats.  Both coves have okay viz. (3-10 feet) and have pretty good life.  Averages 5 feet but classes frequently drop the viz to less than 5, still plenty of room though to get away from groups.  Flounder, fish, starfish, crabs, lobster, eel grass.  I believe the left cove along the right wall is the best of the two.  Porta potties.  Easy and plentiful parking.

Route 138 east over the Jamestown Bridge, exit just before the toll booths, straight on Narragansett, bear left at the fork, follow signs to the park.  Plenty of parking close to the entries. GPS: N 41 28.774 W 071 21.618

Fort Wetherill

This is a popular site in Rhode Island.  Ft. Wetherill, Jamestown.  3 possible entries, from the parking lot, facing the water.  To your right is a boat ramp, this is where the open water classes take place.  It is also a deep dive if you travel along the left wall of the cove to the end where it drops to about 100'(33m)
You can also enter the left cove, a short walk down a narrow path and a steep hill. Here you will follow along the right wall of the cove and end up in the same area if you go to the end of the wall.
You can also enter through the DEP station(Bull Point) this is a pretty tricky climb down a rock hill.  once in the water it is a shorter swim to hit deeper depths.  Avoid this entry with any kind of wind out of the south west.

This is a state park. Drive in, park, dive.

Ft. Wetherill is also known as jamestown.

Ft. Wetherill

Descend gradually to depths as deep as 60 feet - as you follow the western reef perimeter, depth increases beginning with scattered large rooks with many lobster crevices and anenomes. Gradually swim deeper into large shelf overhangs and shallow caves. There are many areas to explore, but watch your air for the possible against current swim back to the boat. It's best to dive during slack tide and wait for a northern wind direction prior to diving for best visibility.

Boat access only. Enter Mackeral Cove, Jamestown, RI from the south via Rhode Island Sound - just north of Kettle Bottom Rock (another good dive site w/wreck remains). Boats under 30-32 feet may drop anchor inside the first small cove on the eastern shoire of mackeral Cove. Larger boats need to drop anchor just outside this small cove off Horsehead. Gear up, descend and follow the perimeter reef - heading southeast.

Horsehead is also known as Mackeral Cove.

Horsehead

A lovely, almost secluded beach area that leads down an old boat ramp to an easy entry into about 20-30 fsw after a short to moderate swim.  Lots of eel grass, flounder, small fish, and other life.  Not an amazing dive but it does the trick.  Frequented by classes on weekends so it may get crowded.  Viz ranges from 3-20 feet, mostly about 8-10 on a calm day.

Route 138 east takes you to the Jamestown bridge.  Continue over the Newport Bridge and exit at Scenic Newport.  R on Farewell, R on America's Cup Ave, R on Bellevue, L on Ocean, to sign on L for King's Beach Fishing Area.  Drive to the parking lot, plenty of room, not crowded, and free.  GPS: N 41 27.234  W 071 20.543(parking lot)

King's Beach Fishing Area

Easy parking, abundant fish and bottom topography, but a pretty steep entry down a rocky hillside to a small and pretty cove.  This site isn't very protected so make sure to take a look at the entry and conditions before suiting up.  The park is basically located at the end of a point.  Man is it lovely here!  Best diving is about 50 yards straight out into 30 fsw.

Route 138 east to the Jamestown boat yard, R on Narragansett, L on Southwest, turns into Beavertail Rd to parking lot #2 in the park. GPS: N 41 27.074 W 071 23.971

Beavertail State Park

Lying shallow in 6-7m of water, this wreck is just submerged and can be seen from the surface at low tide. Be careful approaching the site since you can run your prop into the wreck at low tide.

Visibility is terrible in the summer but can be a nice easy dive prior to May or after October. If you like spearfishing, big tautog (blackfish) can be found here in early spring and late fall in the remains of the wheel house and around the wreck.

Tug boat is Steel Hull American 156 tons. 118ft long. Lost 02/18/1968

This is a tug boat wreck located to the southwest of Hope Island in Narraganset Bay. It is located in the middle of the bay and is easily accessible by boat from Wickford, Allen's Harbor, Jamestown, Newport and other local marinas and boat launches locations.

Mount Hope Tug Boat

Mostly intact 251 foot long submarine wreck (class IXC/40). This wreck is famous for being the LAST German U-boat to attack & sink another ship during WWII (The Black Point) on May 5'th, 1945, and was counter-attacked & sunk by the US Navy on May 6'th, 1945 (by Destroyer Escort USS Atherton and US Patrol Frigate USS Moberly).

NE of Block Island.

U-853 is also known as U-85.

U-853

Larchmont

This site seems to be known as Garbage Beach only to divers.  It has an easy entry, and easy metered parking (so you will need quarters).  Max depth at this site is 70', visibility is 5'-15'.  This site has Southwesterly exposure.  There have been tropical fish sightings here in the summer, and a variety of nudibranchs in the winter.  This can be a hazardous dive, challenges include strong currents, fishing line (make sure you have a knife/line cutter) and considerable boat traffic.  Divers have found old bottles and tea cups at this site, so keep your eyes open for artifacts!  Stay away from the Vineyard Ferry dock, it is best for divers to stay near the jetty or the pier.



Garbage Beach is also known as Marine Park on Water Street.

Garbage Beach

Small, secluded, spring fed, public pond. The south eastern side of the pond is a huge natural spring. This spring comes up through a cavern approximately thirty feet accross. I attempted to explore this gaping hole and as I approached the 40 foot mark I was unable to continue without a wetsuit. I could see no evidence of the cavern bottoming out at that depth and was intrigued as to just how deep it was. Other interesting sites at this location are trout, bass, turtles, including at least one Alligator Snapping turtle the size of my truck tire. This is a great spot for gaining a little experience and becoming more comfortable in the water. My last dive there was in 1996. 

Foot. Beach is located on the south western side.

Van Zandt Pier

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Van Zandt Pier