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

Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Tom Radio

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Rand McMeins

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Tom Radio

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex Mustard

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Scott Lundy

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex Mustard

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Tom Radio

Washington: Second Place, Best Macro Diving

Alex Mustard

best overall destinations for scuba diving

Northern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Jim Patterson

Northern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Andy Sallmon

Northern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Jeff Honda

Northern California: First Place, Best Overall Destination

Vance Taitano

Florida Keys: First Place, Best Beginner Diving

Chris Gug

Florida Keys: First Place, Best Beginner Diving

Carlos Minguell

New England: Third Place, Best Advanced Diving

Shane Gross

Florida Springs: Second Place, Best Big Animals

David Fleetham

Southern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Jason Bradley / bradleyphotographic.com

Southern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Damien Mauric

Southern California: First Place, Best Value of Diving Dollar

Mirko Zanni/AgeFotostock

Great Lakes: Fourth Place, Best Wreck Diving

Vlada Dekina

British Columbia: Second Place, Best Marine Environment

Paul Souders

British Columbia: Second Place, Best Marine Environment

Alex Mustard

best underwater photography scuba diving destinations

British Columbia: Third Place, Best Underwater Photography

Alex Mustard

As 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

Michael Gerken