Rhode Island

Washington 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

Westerly

Larchmont

base structure of lighthouse with large rocks, plentiful fish, excellent spearfishing



New London Ledge Lighthouse is also known as Ledge Light.

New London Ledge Lighthouse

You can drive right up to the west jetty and park free in a public lot. The east jetty can be reached through a town beach. Visibility is good with a fair amount of marine life including lobster. Diving is not permitted on the inside of either jetty due to a high volume of boat traffic.

Montauk Jetties is also known as Montauk Twin Jetties.

Montauk Jetties

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

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

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

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

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

The site has a clean sand, pebble and rocky bottom.  Lots of rocks and a fair amount of lobster and other marine life around them.  The current is strong here at times and visibility is good.  Slack tide would be the best time to dive this site.

LIE to exit 71 north on Edwards Ave, east on Sound Ave, north on Rocky Pt Rd to the end.  The site is at the bottom of a 20ft bluff.

Rocky Point is also known as Rocky Pt., East Marion.

Rocky Point

This is a great place for a large assortment of marine life including lobster.  The area is sheltered from wind in most directions but boat wakes can be a problem on weekends.  The current can be a problem at the tip of the jetty during peak tide change.  The site is well worth the drive and walk.

LIE to exit 71 north on Edwards Ave, right on Sound Ave [long drive] turn right on Manhanset Ave to the end.  Klipp Park Beach is at the end of Manhanset Ave, it is a local beach but you can buy a day pass.  You can walk the 1/3 of a mile to the jetty or put a boat in at the Klipp park ramp.

Larchmont

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Larchmont