Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Discover The Thrill Of New England Scuba Diving

By Ladonna Chambers


For most people, the ultimate diving destinations are those located at the coral reefs of tropical climates. The Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef are often at the top of their list of must-visit dive spots, famed for their colorful and varied marine life. However, diving in cold water is nothing to be sneered at. It offers a completely different yet thrilling experience. If you want to try your hand at something new, be sure to explore the many adventures that New England scuba diving can offer you.

New England isn't only a destination to visit for its fall foliage or maple syrup. Its seashore, may islands and abundance of inland lakes offer plenty of dive sites for the adventurous. Even Vermont, which is landlocked, is a popular destination for scuba divers in the know.

The variety of dive sites in the area means that you'll be able to find a suitable spot, no matter what type of thrill you're looking for or what your level of skill is. There are plenty of wreck diving opportunities or you can go ice diving or cave diving. It's even possible to go diving at high altitudes if you head for some of the inland lakes.

The states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut border on the Atlantic coast. This means that they are the places to go to if you're looking for saltwater dive sites. Wreck diving is a favorite pastime here, with everything from fishing boats to warships lying at the bottom of the ocean. If you've always thought that submarines can't sink, be sure to visit Rhode Island and explore the wreck of U-853, a German U-boat sunk during World War 2. Marine life in these waters includes shoals of fish as well as sharks, whales and seals.

Heading inland, you'll find quarries, ponds and lakes to explore. There are in fact more than 2,500 of these bodies of water in the north-eastern part of the United States. Many freshwater diving enthusiasts head for Lake Champlain in Vermont, where the lake floor is strewn with historic wrecks.

Another option is to go aquarium diving. The New England Aquarium has a large and very active dive club. If this sounds too tame for you and you want to get out there during winter, you may want to try ice diving. This is challenging but there is a very special thrill to watching your air bubbles float up to the thick frozen ceiling above you.

In terms of equipment, you'll need the usual safety gear for scuba diving. You'll also need a wetsuit in summer or a drysuit in winter, since the water is cold even when the weather is warm. Another thing to keep in mind is that visibility isn't great and a dive light will come in very handy.

If you're interested in New England scuba diving, first do some online research. There is such a variety of options that you may want to get some advice from fellow divers on what is best for your level of skill. The area has many dive clubs and shops that can help you.




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