Best Cold-Water Dive Sites in North America & Midwest
Cold water diving offers some of the most stunning underwater experiences—historic wrecks, thriving kelp forests, and unique marine life you won’t find in the tropics. While my own experience is limited to just a couple dives in southern Lake Michigan, I’ve spent years around cold water environments and have researched many of the top destinations I hope to visit. This guide highlights some of the best cold water dive sites in North America, blending diver recommendations, research, and my personal bucket list.
Great Lakes, USA & Canada
Notable Sites:
- Lake Michigan (Chicago, IL & Milwaukee, WI) – Historic wrecks like the Straits of Mackinac and Prins Willem V.
- Lake Superior (Munising, MI) – The Alger Underwater Preserve features exceptionally well-preserved shipwrecks.
- Tobermory, Ontario – Known as the "Scuba Diving Capital of Canada," offering crystal-clear waters and historic wrecks.
Why it’s great: Some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world, thanks to the cold, freshwater environment.
Dive Planning Tips:
- Temperature: Mid-summer water temps at depth stay in the 40s °F. Drysuits are highly recommended.
- Visibility: Can exceed 50 feet, especially at deeper wrecks. Spring and fall tend to offer the best viz, but also the coldest temperatures.
- Access: Mostly boat dives, though a few shore entries exist.
- Type of Diving: Wreck diving dominates. Penetration dives are available for trained divers, but even open-water certified divers can enjoy dramatic views from outside the hulls.
Some sites sit at recreational depths, while others like the Straits of Mackinac require more experience due to depth and current. Visibility and preservation are often incredible
Pacific Northwest (Washington & Oregon, USA)
Notable Sites:
- Puget Sound (WA) – Cold, nutrient-rich waters home to plumose anemones, lingcod, and giant Pacific octopuses.
- Hood Canal (WA) – Known for sponge gardens and excellent shore diving options.
- Newport (OR) – Jetty dives, sea lion colonies, and macro life.
Why it’s great: Incredible biodiversity, easy access to shore dives, and a strong local dive community.
Dive Planning Tips:
- Temperature: Usually 45–55 °F year-round. Drysuit diving is the norm.
- Visibility: Ranges from 15 to 50 feet depending on season and location.
- Access: Many sites are shore accessible, though boat charters operate for deeper walls and wrecks.
- Type of Diving: Macro photography, octopus sightings, and colorful invertebrates.
Monterey Bay, California, USA
Notable Sites:
- Point Lobos – One of the most scenic dive spots in the U.S., with kelp forests and abundant marine life.
- Breakwater Cove – A great spot for beginners with easy access and frequent sightings of sea lions and otters.
Why it’s great: Consistent conditions, dramatic kelp forests, and great beginner to intermediate shore diving.
Dive Planning Tips:
- Temperature: Typically 50–55 °F year-round. Most divers use a drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm with hood).
- Visibility: Commonly 15–40 feet, occasionally more.
- Access: Easily accessible from shore or by boat; dive shops and fill stations are nearby.
- Type of Diving: Shore dives, kelp forests, sea lions, and harbor seals.
Catalina Island, California, USA
Notable Sites:
- Casino Point Dive Park – A protected marine reserve ideal for shore diving.
- Farnsworth Bank – Advanced boat dive with purple hydrocoral.
- Isthmus Reef – Kelp, garibaldi, and the occasional bat ray.
Why it’s great: Kelp forests, great visibility, and lots of marine life—without needing to leave the U.S.
Dive Planning Tips:
- Temperature: Water temps range from high 50s to mid 60s °F. A 7mm wetsuit or drysuit is common.
- Visibility: Often 40–80 feet, especially around the backside of Catalina.
- Access: Many divers take a ferry or dive charter from Los Angeles or Long Beach. Some shore diving is available near Avalon (Casino Point Dive Park).
- Type of Diving: Kelp forests, reef structures, sea lion encounters, and the occasional wreck or artificial reef.
Although I’ve never dived Catalina, I’ve been to the island more times than I can count. It’s a place I associate with warm sun, cool breezes, and looking down at water so clear you can see the bottom from the ferry. From everything I’ve heard from friends and fellow divers, it lives up to the hype—offering healthy kelp forests, playful sea lions, and gentle conditions that make it one of the most accessible and rewarding cold water dive destinations in the country.
Northern East Coast, USA
Notable Sites:
- Maine & New Hampshire – Rocky reefs, kelp forests, and lobsters.
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts – Historic wrecks and marine life.
- New Jersey & New York – Famous for wreck diving, including sites like the USS San Diego.
Why it’s great: Cold water wreck diving, diverse marine life, and unique geological formations.
I’ve also heard that recreational clam harvesting is a popular activity in some parts of the Northeast, and that it’s sometimes done by divers. It sounds like a fun, hands-on way to explore the marine environment—something I’d love to try if I ever get the chance to dive there.
Cold Water Dives Still on My Bucket List
While I’ve mostly stayed close to the Great Lakes so far, there are a few cold water dives I hope to experience in the future:
- Catalina Island, California
I’ve been to Catalina more times than I can count, but never with a tank on my back. It’s a strange omission considering how many divers rave about the kelp forests and sea lion encounters just a ferry ride from L.A. - Monterey Bay, California
The mix of rugged coastal scenery, thick kelp, and frequent marine mammal sightings has always appealed to me. If I ever make it back to Northern California, this one’s high on the list. - The Sardine Run, South Africa
I’m not sure where the line falls between temperate and cold water, but the Sardine Run is definitely not tropical. The massive baitball migrations and predator activity are unlike anything else on Earth—and I’d love to witness that chaos firsthand. - Antarctica
Logistically difficult and brutally cold, but the idea of diving among icebergs, leopard seals, and untouched terrain is hard to shake. That said, I reserve the right to complain about the water temperature if I ever get there.
Final Thoughts
While I have yet to explore many of these locations myself, I hope to one day expand my cold water diving experience beyond Chicagoland. If you’ve been to any of these sites or have other recommendations, feel free to reach out—I’d love to hear about your experiences!