Try New England Scuba Diving For A Different Experience

By Ladonna Chambers


For most people, the ultimate diving destinations are those located at the coral reefs of tropical climates. The Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef are often at the top of their list of must-visit dive spots, famed for their colorful and varied marine life. However, diving in cold water is nothing to be sneered at. It offers a completely different yet thrilling experience. If you want to try your hand at something new, be sure to explore the many adventures that New England scuba diving can offer you.

New England is famed for its spectacular fall scenery. However, if you want to head for the water, the area also has an abundance of dive sites. The rugged coastline and many islands off Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut are home to a large variety of marine life. You can also head inland and dive in the lakes here, so even landlocked Vermont is a great scuba diving destination.

The variety of dive sites in the area means that you'll be able to find a suitable spot, no matter what type of thrill you're looking for or what your level of skill is. There are plenty of wreck diving opportunities or you can go ice diving or cave diving. It's even possible to go diving at high altitudes if you head for some of the inland lakes.

All the New England states except Vermont offer opportunities for saltwater diving. Here you'll get the chance to spot seals, whales, sharks and huge shoals of fish. About 150 wrecks along the coastline means that this is a wreck diver's paradise too. Some of the more interesting wrecks to explore are those of the submarine U-853 off the Rhode Island coast and the Coimbra off the coast of Connecticut. Both these wrecks date from the Second World War.

The inland parts has plenty of dive sites too. With about 2,500 lakes and smaller ponds and several quarries, you can take your pick of freshwater dive sites. One spot that you shouldn't miss out on is Lake Champlain in Vermont. Here, centuries of boat traffic across the lake has meant that there are age-old wrecks to explore.

Another option is to go aquarium diving. The New England Aquarium has a large and very active dive club. If this sounds too tame for you and you want to get out there during winter, you may want to try ice diving. This is challenging but there is a very special thrill to watching your air bubbles float up to the thick frozen ceiling above you.

In terms of equipment, you'll need the usual safety gear for scuba diving. You'll also need a wetsuit in summer or a drysuit in winter, since the water is cold even when the weather is warm. Another thing to keep in mind is that visibility isn't great and a dive light will come in very handy.

If you're planning on doing some diving in the area, first do some research on the best dive sites for you. There are several New England scuba clubs and dive shops that you can contact for advice. Then make sure that your camera works well under water.




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