California has three beautiful diving regions.

The North coast region is renowned for lush, moist forests of the world's tallest trees, coastal bluffs, secluded coves and wildlife areas. From the pristine beaches and coves of Carmel by the Sea and Monterey Bay, the coastline includes numerous dive locations North of San Francisco, all the way to Mendocino and Crescent City. Each site offers its unique underwater topography and associated marine life.

The California mid region includes diving locations from South of Pt. Lobos State Park (Carmel by the Sea) to Laguna Beach. This long stretch of beautiful beaches can be categorized as open-water diving, with some protected coves and inlets. Capitalizing on optimal weather as well as observing tides and current conditions are crucial to an enjoyable dive experience.

The California South listings include the greater San Diego area (Pt. Loma North to La Jolla) continuing up through Orange County to Laguna Beach. Each ShoreDiving location has unique conditions -- and beauty!

As always, check with your local resources for exact local conditions for the ultimate safe and rewarding dive experience.

California

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

The beach area is marked off to keep out boat traffic, and while Scuba is allowed in the swim area, Viz is much better outside the swim area. Bring a float to warn boat traffic. The depth outside the swim area is about 15-20 feet, and there is a gradual slope that continues down into the abyss. There is a rocky area along the north side of the bay, along with some petrified trees. Not many fish, but a few crawdads in the area. Temperatures are low, but during summer a thick wetsuit is enough. Visibility typically over 30 feet. It's a common training site because of the ideal conditions. There is a wreck in the bay, but it is located close to the boat lanes.

Meek's Bay is located north of Emerald bay on the west side of Lake Tahoe. The dive site is located inside a park/campground called Meek's Bay. It's about a 45 minute drive from the south lake area.

Meek's Bay, Tahoe