Top Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Locations in Boston, United States

1. Nahant Point

A scenic rocky shore perfect for snorkeling, offering a chance to spot various marine life like seals and colorful fish.

Accessibility: Easy to reach by car, with limited parking available.
Marine Life: Offers a chance to observe seals and diverse marine life.
Seasonality: Best for snorkeling during summer months when the water is calmest.

A beautiful sandy beach with clear waters that provide a good spot for both snorkeling and scuba diving.

Beach Experience: Combines the beach experience with snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.
Visibility: Offers good underwater visibility for viewing marine life.
Accessibility: Requires a bit of walking from the parking lot, but offers a unique coastal experience.

An ideal spot for snorkeling with its calm, shallow waters, great for beginners.

Difficulty Level: Ideal for beginners due to the shallow and calm waters.
Marine Life: Offers a chance to encounter a variety of marine life, including starfish and sea urchins.
Accessibility: Easy to access by car and offers parking nearby.

A collection of islands offering multiple sites for snorkeling and scuba diving with diverse marine life.

Variety: Offers several sites, each providing unique underwater experiences.
Marine Life: Provides opportunities to see a variety of marine life, including seals and various fish species.
Accessibility: Requires boat transportation which can be arranged through tours or personal watercraft.

A freshwater location offering snorkeling and scuba diving with a focus on local river ecosystem.

Freshwater Experience: Provides a unique freshwater snorkeling or scuba diving experience.
Local Ecosystem: Focuses on exploring the local river ecosystem and its diverse marine life.
Accessibility: Requires a boat or kayak, which can be rented locally.

An island park with a beach providing opportunities for both snorkeling and scuba diving.

Island Experience: Offers a unique experience on an island with snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.
Marine Life: Provides chances to spot various marine life, including fish and sea stars.
Accessibility: Easily accessible by ferry from downtown Boston.

A unique rock formation in the ocean providing opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Unique Geography: Features a distinctive, naturally formed underwater rock structure.
Marine Life: Offers a chance to observe various marine life, including seals and schools of fish.
Accessibility: Requires a boat or kayak to reach the location.

An iconic lighthouse with opportunities for snorkeling and diving around its base.

Historical Significance: Offers the opportunity to explore a historic lighthouse while diving.
Marine Life: Provides chances to observe marine life, such as fish and sea stars around the structure.
Accessibility: Requires a boat or kayak to reach the location.

A popular island destination offering diverse snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.

Variety: Provides a wide variety of sites, each with unique underwater experiences.
Marine Life: Offers opportunities to encounter diverse marine life, including seals and various fish species.
Accessibility: Reachable by ferry from Woods Hole or Falmouth, Massachusetts.

A scenic island offering several snorkeling and scuba diving sites, perfect for spotting marine life.

Scenic Beauty: Provides beautiful ocean views alongside snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities.
Marine Life: Offers chances to observe diverse marine life, including seals and various fish species.
Accessibility: Reachable by ferry from Hyannis or Harwich Port, Massachusetts.

A coastal town with numerous snorkeling and scuba diving sites, offering a chance to explore marine life.

Coastal Town Experience: Combines the experience of a charming coastal town with diverse underwater exploration.
Marine Life: Provides opportunities to encounter various marine life, including seals and schools of fish.
Accessibility: Reachable by car or bus from Boston, with several parking options available.

A coastal town with a scenic harbor, offering opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Scenic Harbor Experience: Offers the chance to explore a picturesque coastal harbor while diving.
Marine Life: Provides opportunities to observe marine life, such as fish and sea stars.
Accessibility: Easily reachable by car or public transportation from Boston.

A historic seaport with snorkeling and scuba diving sites, providing a unique experience.

Historical Significance: Offers a chance to explore the history of a historic seaport while diving.
Marine Life: Provides opportunities to observe marine life, such as fish and sea stars.
Accessibility: Reachable by car or public transportation from Boston.

A charming coastal town with snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the Merrimack River.

Charming Coastal Town Experience: Combines the experience of a charming coastal town with unique underwater exploration.
Freshwater Experience: Provides a freshwater snorkeling or scuba diving experience in the Merrimack River.
Accessibility: Easily reachable by car or public transportation from Boston.

A long sandy barrier island with snorkeling and scuba diving sites, perfect for spotting marine life.

Barrier Island Experience: Offers a unique experience on a long sandy barrier island with underwater exploration opportunities.
Marine Life: Provides chances to observe diverse marine life, including seals and various fish species.
Accessibility: Reachable by car from Newburyport or Ipswich, Massachusetts.