Alaska

Chugach

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 is a very convenient site due to it's close proximity to Anchorage. One of the local dive shops www.divealaska.net uses it for winter training. Visibility is up to 70 feet in the winter, but is reduced in the summer due to plankton bloom and run-off. Unlike the boat diving in Resurrection Bay, Smitty's cove is 60 miles inland and is usually very protected even in the winter storms.

Take Seward highway south from Anchorage. As you follow turnagain arm up the valley for about an hour, you'll approach the Whittier turn-off. Turn left to Whittier and follow the road for about 7 miles. The road ends at a toll tunnel which is a one-lane road through the base of the mountain for approximately 3 miles. Toll fee is $12 round-trip. After exiting the tunnel, you follow the road for another 1/2 mile to the first right turn. Whittier is a very small town and as you drive through it several old abandoned buildings will be on either side. at the first left you follow the road until it dead-ends at the cove. Please stop and pay $5 at the sign directing you to do so.

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Smitty's Cove