| There are many folks who ask, “how do you | | | | which offer trips throughout the Channel Islands, |
| Scuba dive in Phoenix”? Arizona is, after all, the | | | | Catalina and San Clemente. These live-aboards boast |
| “all beach, no ocean state”. However, those | | | | fantastic menus and austere sleeping/bunk |
| of us who dive … that crave blowing bubbles, no | | | | arrangements. While accommodations may be |
| matter what the temperature is outside or how far | | | | “tight”. you are well fed and these |
| away the nearest ‘mega resort’ may be, will | | | | live-aboards offer more diving for your dollar than |
| find a place to strap on a tank and make a dive. | | | | most other weekend dive vacations. |
| Fortunately, Arizona is ripe with options for local | | | | Another option for overnight driving trips is the Sea |
| Scuba divers of all levels. You don’t have to | | | | of Cortez. Puerto Penasco and San Carlos are two |
| spend $3000 and take a week’s vacation to go | | | | popular dive destinations that are within driving |
| make a dive or two. | | | | distance. In the summertime, water temperatures |
| Arizona has a well developed dive community. | | | | can reach over 80 degrees in the Sea of Cortez. |
| Phoenix is home to a tight local contingency that dive | | | | Dive shops around Phoenix offer trips to both |
| together, travel together and socialize together. This | | | | locations and generally package a hotel stay with it. |
| community dives, actively and locally, on a year round | | | | Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) is about a 4 hour drive |
| basis. Supporting this network of Scuba divers is over | | | | trip and San Carlos is about an 8 hour drive trip. You |
| 20 dive shop locations that represent several major | | | | will need a passport for both destinations. If it is your |
| dive agencies including PADI, NAUI, SDI/TDI, SSI and | | | | first time driving to either destination, it is |
| others. | | | | recommended that you go with a local dive shop to |
| Diving Phoenix Arizona | | | | get the lay of the land. |
| In these economic times, not everyone has the time | | | | If you are looking for an overnight dive trip, with a |
| or money to escape the desert to go Scuba diving. | | | | little spice to it. Laughlin Nevada makes a great little |
| Rest assured, there is still plenty of opportunities for | | | | excursion. Only 15 minutes away from the Lake |
| these bubble blowing desert dwellers to head out | | | | Mohave Scuba Diving Park (at Cabinsite Point), divers |
| spend some time underwater. Phoenix is home to | | | | can spend the day diving the sunken school bus, van |
| several lakes that divers can Scuba dive. The best, | | | | and 2 sailboats in the dive park and spend the |
| and most popular location, is Lake Pleasant Arizona. | | | | evening playing in Laughlin. Laughlin is a 4 hour driving |
| Just 30 minutes North of downtown Phoenix, Lake | | | | destination from Phoenix and diving in Lake Mohave |
| Pleasant has multiple shore diving locations. | | | | has some altitude considerations. Make sure you are |
| Additionally, there are several charter boats that | | | | trained in Altitude diving prior to diving Lake Mohave. |
| offer two tank boat diving for less than $60. Another | | | | Exotic Dive Trips |
| fun option for experienced divers is diving the Salt | | | | In Phoenix, we are pretty lucky to have several |
| River. While the Salt River may be famous for its | | | | major airlines servicing many popular exotic dive |
| weekend tubing events, Monday mornings make for | | | | destinations. Many of these destinations can be |
| great “treasure hunting dives”. Of course, | | | | reached, non-stop, out of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. |
| diving rivers requires additional training and can only | | | | Others, in the South Pacific or Caribbean require an |
| be done when the river currents are at their lowest. | | | | easy connection through LAX or Houston. While you |
| Overnight Drive Scuba Trips | | | | can search many of these great trips online, almost |
| Phoenix is located close to several world class dive | | | | every dive shop in Phoenix has 2 or 3 exotic trips |
| destinations. San Diego California, Catalina Island (just | | | | per year to places like Cozumel, Turks and Caicos |
| West of Los Angeles) offer hundreds of | | | | and Fiji. These same dive shops spend many hours |
| opportunities for a diver to experience the Kelp | | | | research the destination, doing all the logistical |
| Forests, Wreck Diving, Shark Diving and more. | | | | preparation and ultimately escort divers on these |
| California is a quick 5 to 7 hour drive trip and can be | | | | trips. |
| a nice inexpensive getaway for those who need salt | | | | While we may live in the desert, we are not confined |
| water and a great dive experience. San Diego is | | | | to diving only 2 or 3 times per year. As a “desert |
| home to Wreck Alley which is a world class wreck | | | | diver”, we can spend as much time underwater |
| diving destination that attracts divers from all over | | | | as our personal lives allow. Continue your training, go |
| the world to train and dive.Catalina boasts a | | | | on some dive trips, attend the many local socials |
| spectacular marine park for shore divers staying | | | | sponsored by dive shops and stay active in the |
| overnight or visiting Catalina for the day. Southern | | | | Phoenix Scuba Diving community. |
| California also offers “overnight live-aboards” | | | | |