This Scuba Diving Spot Was Just Named No. 1 in the U.S.—Here’s What It’s Like

Small bubbles trail upward, tickling my nose as cold seawater seeps into my gloves. I try to focus on the black fins of the instructor in front of me, but, in between two looming kelp plants, a shadow stares at me. At first I think it’s a statue or a submerged relic placed for divers to discover. But I double take when I realize there shouldn't be a statue 50 feet below the surface.

I gasp—no easy feat with a regulator in my mouth—as I lock eyes with a giant sea bass. At nearly 250 pounds, the critically endangered fish is drifting effortlessly in its natural realm.

Encounters like this are almost routine off the coast Catalina Island, one of Southern California's famed Channel Islands. Home to lush kelp forests and an astonishing array of marine life, Cataline has earned its reputation as a diver's dream. And recently, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s largest diving organization, named it the best place to scuba dive in the United States. 

According to PADI, Catalina is one of the most popular diving spots in the world thanks to the vibrant marine life, unique wreck dives, and the majestic kelp forests that are up to 100 feet tall.

Catalina’s diving scene was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, the man who innovated modern underwater diving, fought for the protection of marine life, and educated the world through powerful documentaries. Cousteau’s internationally renowned documentary about Catalina put it on the map, so he is fittingly honored by a plaque 40-feet below the surface. (Travelers can also honor his memory by participating in a Dive Against Debris, where divers remove litter from precious reefs, advocate for marine protections, and contribute to a global database.)

Casino Point, one of the island’s most popular dive sites, is the first nonprofit underwater park in the country. This 2.5-acre space is a marine-protected area, which is part of the reason why the underwater creatures are so comfortable around humans. 

While I spotted a giant sea bass and California's state fish, the bright orange garibaldi, there are far more than fish in these waters.

“Aside from the expansive kelp forest, divers will find horn sharks, sea urchins, spiny lobsters, sea cucumbers, seals, and giant sea bass,” Kristin Valette Wirth, the chief brand and membership officer for PADI Worldwide, told Travel + Leisure.

My In2Deep scuba instructor, Greg Rhines, also gave me advice on what to do if I see the cheeky sea lions or elusive moray eels. According to Rhines, who has been diving since the 1970s, “You’ll see things in Catalina that you won’t see anywhere else.”

For those who do not know how to scuba dive (yet), Catalina is a fantastic place to learn. Sign up with In2Deep, a dive center in Santa Monica, whose friendly instructors and regular Catalina day trips make it easy to plan a quick trip from Los Angeles. 

Travelers who plan to spend a few days on the island can also stay at the Catalina Canyon Inn, a relaxing hotel that has a restaurant, pool, and plenty of organized excursions around the island. 

Sail in style in the Catalina Express’s Captain’s Lounge, a private room on the ferry with priority boarding, complimentary drinks, and plush seating. Catalina Express offers ferries from Los Angeles and Orange County, and they extend their hours during the summer months.

In addition to Catalina, PADI also recognizes John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Florida, Flower Garden Banks in Texas, and Crystal River in Florida.