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Diving United: The best dive opportunities in the United States and United Kingdom

Close to home or the chance for a great holiday overseas, there are plenty of dive opportunities throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

U.S.A Diving

• Big animal opportunities in Southern California: From open ocean shark dives to sea lion and harbour seal spotting, there is a wealth of options for diving in the Pacific Ocean. California has over a thousand miles of coastline in total, and the weather is pretty much warm and sunny year-round.

• Loving it in the Aloha State: A remote archipelago, untouched reefs, stunning islands, and sublime dives; Hawaii offers it all. For American divers it's even better, as all this is at your fingertips without needing to hassle with passports or visas! From Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, the Manta Ray Night Dive is a treat – but many other options are available in Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Molokai.

Getting there and away:

As many of the Southern California dives are offered from Catalina Island, the Greater Los Angeles Area, and San Diego, your best bet is to fly into Los Angeles and then sort out local transport from there, either in the form of car rental or public transportation. Cheap and central hotels in Los Angeles are recommended if you're looking to base yourself for multiple dive locations.

As for Hawaii, Honolulu is a major Pacific airline hub and many flights stop over here en route to the Americas from Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Why not take advantage of a few days break in your travels further afield?

U.K. Diving

While the south coast is the primary pick for divers in England, there are a whole lot of options throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the crown dependencies, like the Isle of Man.

• Diamonds, a girl's best friend: Quite possibly the most popular diving site in Ireland at the moment, Kilkee is renowned for its sheltered location, abundant marine life, and clear waters. Best of the bunch according to the locals is Diamond Rocks, a fair-weather dive that owes its name to the glittering quartz in the surrounding rocks.

• Scuttled in Scotland: The main British naval base in World Wars I and II, Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands of Scotland is now frequented by divers of all levels, from all over the world. The chief attraction is the remains of the interned German ships, scuttled in 1919 to avoid falling into the hands of the British at the conclusion of the war.

• Isle of Man: Here's the spot to give a shout out to Booroo, Sound Drift, and Chickens Rock, all renowned sites around the crown dependency of the Isle of Man.

Getting there and away:

It's the old two birds with one stone if you fly into London to launch your dive expeditions in the U.K. and Ireland. Serviced by all major airlines, London is a central air traffic hub, and a stopover in the capital with a few nights at a London hotel is a great way to combine a few days of sightseeing with your water sports.