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Home  Recreation
 Dive In: Underwater Adventure Explore diving opportunities in national marine sanctuaries and estuarine research reserves  Historic shipwrecks. Colorful coral reefs. Amazing marine wildlife. NOAA's national marine sanctuaries and estuarine research reserves offer all this and more to diving enthusiasts in coastal U.S. states and territories. NOAA sanctuaries and reserves are protected areas that help us conserve these special coastal and marine places for future generations, while still enjoying all they have to offer today. Diving is just one of many recreational opportunities available at our these sites. A few tips to help you safely enjoy your diving adventure: Don't collect underwater souvenirs. Leave these behind for others to enjoy.
                Enjoy viewing marine mammals and wildlife from a safe distance.
                If you see corals, please don't touch. Keep your fins, gear, and hands away from coral reefs, as this contact can hurt you and will damage delicate coral animals.
 here   Starfish along the shore in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington StateOlympic Coast, Wash. Dry suit divers can enjoy spectacular rocky reef and kelp forest diving among rockfish, sea urchins, and the giant Pacific octopus at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Remote locations and dangerous dive conditions make the Olympic Coast a destination for experienced divers. Visit Olympic Coast NMS
 A wide diversity and colorful array of marine life can be found in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.Stellwagen Bank, Mass. This sanctuary offers divers a unique opportunity to explore the offshore underwater environments of New England, including historical shipwrecks located at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. Visibility is good up to 30 feet, but strong currents and cold water make it suitable for advanced divers. Visit Stellwagen Bank NMS
 hundreds of rockfish over Cordell BankCordell Bank, Calif. Located 20 miles from shore near Point Reyes and with a minimum depth of 115 feet, Cordell Bank offers stunningly vibrant reefs and enormous schools of rockfish. Due to potentially treacherous conditions, this site is limited to experienced divers with a sanctuary permit. Visit Cordell Bank NMS
 Diving in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.Monterey Bay, Calif. Watch sea lions, sea otters, rockfish, and other kelp-dwelling marine life within this national marine sanctuary, home to one of the most diverse marine environments on the planet. Experience excellent shore diving from many locations along the sanctuary’s 270 miles of shoreline. Visit Monterey Bay NMS
 NOAA divers exploring shipwreck NordmeerThunder Bay, Mich. The cold, fresh waters of Lake Huron have preserved over 200 shipwrecks in and around Thunder Bay. This area allows snorkelers, recreational, and technical divers to explore some of the nation’s best-preserved historic wrecks. Many popular dive sites are marked with seasonal mooring buoys. Visit Thunder Bay NMS
 Hawaiian monk seal swimming underwaterHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Catch a glimpse of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and view wild dolphins, manta rays, green sea turtles, and whitetip sharks. Respect a safe distance from marine life, especially North Pacific humpback whales, as they come to these waters to breed, calve, and nurse their newborns. Visit Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS
 A diver surveys the German U-boat U-701 during the Battle of the Atlantic Expedition Summer 2008 off the coast of North Carolina.*Monitor*, N.C. *Monitor* National Marine Sanctuary, located 16 miles off Cape Hatteras in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, protects the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad USS *Monitor*. This area presents a challenging dive, with strong currents and deep depths limiting it to advanced divers. Visit *Monitor* NMS
 Diver in Channel Islands kelp forestChannel Islands, Calif. The Channel Islands are known for their rich biological diversity, featuring northern elephant seals, California sea lions, anemones, and giant sea bass. Federally-protected historic shipwrecks dot the floor of the sanctuary, and its kelp forests, sea caves, and coves offer some of the best diving in the world. Visit Channel Islands NMS
 Diver in Gray's Reef NMS off of coast of GeorgiaGray's Reef, Ga. Divers can see loggerhead turtles and more than 150 species of colorful reef fish as they explore the coral-covered ledges of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest nearshore live-bottom reefs in the nation. Drift diving is recommended, since anchoring is prohibited and no mooring buoys are provided. Visit Gray's Reef NMS
 Spotted moray eel in Flower Garden Banks National Marine SanctuaryFlower Garden Banks, Texas Located about 115 miles off the Gulf Coast, the coral meadows of the Flower Garden Banks support a broad web of marine life, including manta rays, sea turtles, and majestic whale sharks. The sanctuary offers 15 moored dive sites on three underwater formations called salt domes with dive profiles of 55-130 feet. Visit Flower Garden Banks NMS
 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary includes beautiful, extensive coral reefs and other marine life to mysterious shipwrecksFlorida Keys, Fla. The Florida Keys sanctuary, an internationally renowned dive destination, protects the only living coral barrier reef in the U.S. Within the sanctuary, discover an abundance of marine life, including reef fish, moray eels, and threatened elkhorn coral, and explore sites along the historic Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail. Visit Florida Keys NMS
 clownfish in Fagatele BayAmerican Samoa The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa offers warm, clear waters with thriving, diverse coral reefs. To snorkel, it's a short walk to Fagatele Bay, Fagalua, and Fogama'a, which can be accessed by charter boat for diving. Charters provide diving access to the islands of Aunu'u and Ta'u, home to possibly the largest *Porites* coral in the world. Visit NMS of American Samoa
 Underwater at the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveJobos Bay, Puerto Rico Come explore mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico. This is the only one of our 28 National Estuarine Research Reserve that features diving opportunities. Divers may encounter the hawksbill sea turtle and West Indian manatee, both inhabitants of the Reserve. Visit Jobos Bay Reserve
 Scuba divers explore the Flower Garden Banks National Marine SanctuaryBe a Safe Diver Join efforts with others to preserve dive opportunities in our federal waters for future generations. Safe diving tips include respect marine wildlife, don't collect underwater souvenirs, and learning the proper techniques to safely dive around shipwreck sites. Learn safe diving tips
  More **Information** Recreation.gov Website

    			Visiting National Marine Sanctuaries

				National Estuarine Research Reserves
                
                NOAA Diving Program
                
                Tips for Safe Diving  Get **Social**   Did you know? The National Ocean Service is home to 29 national estuarine research reserves, 13 national marine sanctuaries, and two marine national monuments. Find a site
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