Connecticut

Middlesex County

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 Park used for Dive Training and just plain diving. More info at http://brownstonepark.com/scuba/

The quarry is conveniently located 20 minutes south of Hartford in Portland, Conn., across the Connecticut River from Middletown.

Excellent access. Site is a private park that requires and admission fee.

Address:
161 Brownstone Avenue
Portland, Conn. 06480

Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park is also known as Christopher Sawallich.

Portland

Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park

The site has a clean sand, pebble and rocky bottom.  Lots of rocks and a fair amount of lobster and other marine life around them.  The current is strong here at times and visibility is good.  Slack tide would be the best time to dive this site.

LIE to exit 71 north on Edwards Ave, east on Sound Ave, north on Rocky Pt Rd to the end.  The site is at the bottom of a 20ft bluff.

Rocky Point is also known as Rocky Pt., East Marion.

Rocky Point

base structure of lighthouse with large rocks, plentiful fish, excellent spearfishing



New London Ledge Lighthouse is also known as Ledge Light.

New London Ledge Lighthouse

I have made this dive from the beach and from a boat.  The bottom is rocky with boulders and a fast moving current.  From the beach this site needs to be timed just right.  I made this dive from a boat during an outgoing tide and it was like an underwater roller coaster taking you over boulders as big as a two story house.

LIE exit 71, Edwards Ave north to Sound Ave east to Horton Ln north.  Bear right onto Old North Rd and left onto Lighthouse Rd to the end.  There is parking at the lighthouse and a long stairway down to the beach.  The stairway is about 125 steps long so do not attempt this dive if carrying your equipment back up is going to be a problem.

Horton Pt is also known as Horton Pt Lighthouse.

Horton Pt

This is a great place for a large assortment of marine life including lobster.  The area is sheltered from wind in most directions but boat wakes can be a problem on weekends.  The current can be a problem at the tip of the jetty during peak tide change.  The site is well worth the drive and walk.

LIE to exit 71 north on Edwards Ave, right on Sound Ave [long drive] turn right on Manhanset Ave to the end.  Klipp Park Beach is at the end of Manhanset Ave, it is a local beach but you can buy a day pass.  You can walk the 1/3 of a mile to the jetty or put a boat in at the Klipp park ramp.

Greenport Jetty

This site has a sand and gravel bottom extending out to about 150 yards, after that it is mud bottom.  There are large rocks and boulders close in making it good for lobster and spear fishing.  There are large rocks to the west for at least a half a mile.  The point itself is 1/8 of a mile east of the access point.  I would recommend starting at the point towards the end of an incoming tide and drift dive the whole way down and either walk or swim back depending on the current.

LIE exit 71 north on Edwards Ave to Sound Ave east to Depot Ln north.  Depot Ln turns into Duck Pond Rd, take it to the end.

Duck Pond Pt.

Mattituck Jetties is a 5.0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in New York, USA East which is accessible from shore based on 1 ratings.

Mattituck Jetties



Summer time can be tricky as a large portion of the beach is resident access only, however there is a public access next to the beach. Because of this parking may be limited in the high use summer months. However I have never had an issue in all the years I have been going.

Russell Pond

There are 4 wood hull boats sunk off the beach. 3 in a line, 1 half buried on the shore and another half buried boat about 200 yards away.  The access to the beach is about a half a mile east of the site.  I use a sit-on-top kayak to get there and dive but most people will have to walk.  Visibility is good with lots of marine life and lobsters.

Long Island Expressway to Rt 24 Exit and go north on Edwards Ave. Turn right onto Sound Avenue, and make a left onto Park Road and take it to the end. The boats are about 1/2 miles down the beach to the west.

Roanoke Pt Ships is also known as Roanoke Barges.

Roanoke Pt Ships

Haviland Pond is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Massachusetts which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Haviland Pond

The site is made up of two jetties that are the barriers for the harbor.  The first starts at the beach and goes out about 350 yards.  There is a 30 yard gap between the first and second jetty, the second jetty is about 600 yards long.  Other then the jetties the harbor itself can be interesting dating back to the 1600s but there is a lot of boat traffic to deal with once you get away from the jetties.

Montauk Hwy Rt 27 east to Bridgehampton.  Take Bridgehampton / Sag Harbor Turnpike north, turns into Main St and ends at the harbor.  Though the jetty starts on the beach there is no way to get to it that I know of so this needs to be a boat dive.  I have made this dive from a sit-on-top kayak. 

Sag Harbor Jetties is also known as Sag Harbor.

Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park