Virginia

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



This reef is located approximately 4 1/2 nautical miles east of Buckroe Beach and the entrance to Saltponds.

Hampton

Bluefish Rock Reef



This reef, originally referred to as the ODU Reef, was reconfigured to a square shape and is located 2500 yards west of the entrance of Little Creek Harbor, approximately 900 yards off the beach.

East Ocean View Reef



reef is located 5.5 nautical miles SSW of the entrance to Cape Charles Harbor. 

Cabbage Patch Reef



This reef is located at the mouth of the James River around the Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse. The reef material forms a ring between 200 and 1000 feet from the lighthouse and includes reef balls, concrete rubble, buoy sinkers, piling and pier sections. 

Newport News Middle Ground 



York Spit Reef is square shaped and located east of the entrance to the York River, one-half nautical mile south of the New Point Comfort Shoal.

 York Spit Reef



This reef is located approximately 2 1/2 nautical miles east of the Goodwin Islands and northwest of Poquoson River channel buoy "4". The shape of this reef is a rectangle, which runs parallel to the Poquoson River channel.

Poquoson Reef



This is a rectangular shaped reef located outside of the channel, SW of Mobjack Bay Main Channel Buoy "6MB".

Mobjack Bay Reef



Cherrystone Reef is a circular site located 1.8 nautical miles NNW of Cherrystone Creek, bayside of the Eastern Shore.

Cherrystone Reef

Santore Wreck



The "Cell " Reef is located W of Hungars Creek, bayside of the Eastern Shore.

The Cell Reef

TARAV placed more than 100 pontoon sections, numerous landing craft and other vessels on site. VMRC added two barges, four drydock sections and scattered thousands of TICs on this circular reef site. The Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics deployed a deck barge and Chesapeake Corporation deployed a hopper barge at no cost to the reef program.
The tug J. B. Eskridge was sent to rest in October 2002.
Fifty "Redbird" subway cars were added in 2000. 

Tower Reef is located 0.6 nautical miles WSW of the Chesapeake Light Tower.

Bluefish Rock Reef

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Bluefish Rock Reef