Top 100 Readers Choice Awards: North America
Our home turf boasts as many amazing underwater attractions as places flung far across the globe — you just have to know where to look. Our savvy readers identify the best of the best.
Best Macro Diving
1. British Columbia
2. Washington
3. Northern California
4. North Carolina
5. Florida Keys
Best Overall Destination
1. Northern California
2. North Carolina
3. Tie - British Columbia and Florida Keys
5. Souther California
Best Shore Diving
1. Washington
2. Northern California
3. Southern California
4. Florida Springs
5. South Florida
Best Beginner Diving
1. Florida Keys
2. Tie - Florida Panhandle and Florida Springs
4. Southern California
5. South Florida
Best Advanced Diving
1. North Carolina
2. Southern California
3. New England
4. British Columbia
5. Great Lakes
Best Big Animals
1. North Carolina
2. Florida Springs
3. Southern Califronia
4. British Columbia
5. South Florida
Best Value of Diving Dollar
1. Southern California
2. British Columbia
3. North Carolina
4. Texas Gulf
5. Florida Keys
Best Wreck Diving
1. North Carolina
2. Tie - Southern California and Florida Keys
4. Great Lakes
5. South Florida
Best Marine Environement
1. North Carolina
2. British Columbia
3. Texas Gulf
4. Florida Keys
5. Northern California
Best Underwater Photography
1. Florida Keys
2. North Carolina
3. British Columbia
4. Southern California
5. Northern California
Best Overall Diving
1. North Carolina
2. British Columbia
3. Florida Keys
4. Southern California
5. Texas Gulf

Tom RadioSecond Place, Best Macro Diving

Rand McMeinsWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Tom RadioWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex MustardWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Scott LundyWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex MustardWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Tom RadioWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex MustardWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex MustardWashington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Jim PattersonNorthern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Andy SallmonNorthern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Jeff HondaNorthern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Jeff HondaNorthern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Vance TaitanoNorthern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Chris GugFlorida Keys: First Place, Best Beginner Diving

Carlos MinguellFlorida Keys: First Place, Best Beginner Diving

Shane GrossNew England: Third Place, Best Advanced Diving

David FleethamFlorida Springs: Second Place, Best Big Animals

Jason Bradley / bradleyphotographic.comSouthern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Damien MauricSouthern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Mirko Zanni/AgeFotostockSouthern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Vlada DekinaGreat Lakes: Fourth Place, Best Wreck Diving

Paul SoudersBritish Columbia: Second Place, Best Marine Environment

Alex MustardBritish Columbia: Second Place, Best Marine Environment

Alex MustardBritish Columbia: Third Place, Best Underwater Photography

Michael GerkenAs you drop down on the U-352, try not to have bragging rights in mind — impossible, until you take in the boat’s entirety and realize it held 45 men at sea. Suddenly, you’ll think only of the stories it might have shared. The list stretches from Civil War days, when several vessels were sunk or downed to prevent capture, to World War II, when torpedoes claimed more than two dozen, to intentionally scuttled artificial reefs. Add in the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents — and the grisly-looking sand tigers — and you’ll understand why this destination jumps from No. 3 last year to the 2013 choice for best overall North American diving. — Brooke Morton
Go Now: /northcarolina
Our home turf boasts as many amazing underwater attractions as places flung far across the globe — you just have to know where to look. Our savvy readers identify the best of the best.
Best Macro Diving
1. British Columbia
2. Washington
3. Northern California
4. North Carolina
5. Florida Keys
Best Overall Destination
1. Northern California
2. North Carolina
3. Tie - British Columbia and Florida Keys
5. Souther California
Best Shore Diving
1. Washington
2. Northern California
3. Southern California
4. Florida Springs
5. South Florida
Best Beginner Diving
1. Florida Keys
2. Tie - Florida Panhandle and Florida Springs
4. Southern California
5. South Florida
Best Advanced Diving
1. North Carolina
2. Southern California
3. New England
4. British Columbia
5. Great Lakes
Best Big Animals
1. North Carolina
2. Florida Springs
3. Southern Califronia
4. British Columbia
5. South Florida
Best Value of Diving Dollar
1. Southern California
2. British Columbia
3. North Carolina
4. Texas Gulf
5. Florida Keys
Best Wreck Diving
1. North Carolina
2. Tie - Southern California and Florida Keys
4. Great Lakes
5. South Florida
Best Marine Environement
1. North Carolina
2. British Columbia
3. Texas Gulf
4. Florida Keys
5. Northern California
Best Underwater Photography
1. Florida Keys
2. North Carolina
3. British Columbia
4. Southern California
5. Northern California
Best Overall Diving
1. North Carolina
2. British Columbia
3. Florida Keys
4. Southern California
5. Texas Gulf