Queen Creek • Serving Greater Phoenix

Scuba Diving Near Phoenix, AZ

You don't have to travel far to find great diving. From the desert lakes right here in the Valley to the Sea of Cortez seven hours south, there's more underwater Arizona, and just outside it, than most divers realize. Here's where we dive and what to expect at each site.

Call (480) 881-4013 See Upcoming Trips

Local & Regional Dive Sites

Dive Arizona is a full-service scuba shop in Queen Creek serving the greater Phoenix metro, including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Tempe. Whether you're logging your first open water dives or chasing your next adventure, we run guided dives and trips to each of the sites below.

Lake Pleasant: Your Backyard Dive Site

Peoria, AZ • About 1 hour from Queen Creek

Closest to Phoenix

Lake Pleasant is the closest open water dive site to the Phoenix metro, and it earns its reputation as the go-to training and fun dive destination for Valley divers. Located off the Carefree Highway in the Sonoran Desert, the lake offers year-round diving with conditions that change dramatically by season. Most divers opt for shore diving for a relaxed, laid-back day: dive, surface, sit in the sun, repeat. It's a great place to practice skills, log dives, or just get wet on a weekend.

What's down there: Catfish, carp, bluegill, bass, and other freshwater life. Popular sites include Sunset Ridge, Vista Point, and Desert Tortoise.

Visibility

40–60 ft in cold winter months. Just 5–10 ft in summer.

Depth

60–70 ft from shore. By boat, 100+ ft, and 200+ ft for technical divers.

Water Temp

Mid-50s at the surface in winter, so bring a drysuit. Warm enough to skip a wetsuit in summer.

Best For

Training, skills practice, weekend fun dives, and tech diving.

When you're ready to get in the water, call us and we'll get a dive day scheduled.

Book the Lake Pleasant Charter →

Lake Mohave: Wrecks in the Desert

Bullhead City, AZ • About 4.5 hours from Queen Creek

Underwater Wrecks

Lake Mohave sits on the Colorado River near Bullhead City and delivers something most Arizona divers don't expect: actual wrecks. The underwater park includes a sunken school bus and a dedicated buoyancy park, which makes it equal parts novelty and solid skills practice. There's also a couple of small boats, a van, and an old payphone underwater!

Visibility

Generally good, 40–60 ft all year round.

Depth

Around 80–100 ft, with easy shore access and plenty of shallow spots for all levels.

Water Temp

Cold year-round, so a 7mm wetsuit or drysuit is the right call any season.

Logistics

Full-day commitment: ~9 hours round-trip driving plus three dives. Pack a lunch and dry clothes.

We run trips to Lake Mohave a handful of times a year. Call or message us to find out when we're heading out next.

Book the Lake Mohave Charter →

San Carlos, Mexico: Sea of Cortez Diving

San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico • About 7 hours from Queen Creek

Best Drive-To Ocean Diving

Seven hours south of Queen Creek, the Sea of Cortez opens up into some of the best diving accessible by car from Phoenix. San Carlos is packed with life at every depth, from shallow reefs to blue water walls and a handful of wrecks that make it a standout destination for divers at any certification level.

Wildlife: Sea horses, sea lions, turtles, hammerhead sharks, and more color than you'll know what to do with in the shallows. Sea lions are notorious for showing up uninvited on dives, which is exactly as good as it sounds.

Depth

Shallow starts for beginners, with quick drop-offs for technical and rebreather divers.

Shallow Diving

Bring an underwater camera. The shallows offer enough marine life to fill a memory card.

Wrecks

Multiple wreck sites, and a great place to earn your SDI Wreck Diver certification.

Seasons

7mm wetsuit or drysuit in winter. Rash guard & board shorts in 80°+ summer water.

We run regular trips to San Carlos. Check our trips page for upcoming dates or call us to get on the list.

Reserve a San Carlos Trip →

Southern California: Ocean Diving Within a Day's Drive

Various sites • About 6 hours from Queen Creek

Kelp Forests & Wrecks

Six hours west and you're diving the Pacific. Southern California offers year-round ocean diving with kelp forests, boat trips, and some well-known wrecks, all within a manageable drive from the Valley.

Shore Sites

Diver's Cove & Shaw's Cove (Laguna Beach), the Marine Room (La Jolla), and Casino Point (Catalina Island).

What's Underwater

Giant sea bass, rays, lobster, crabs, nudibranchs, and Garibaldi moving through towering kelp.

Wrecks

The HMCS Yukon and the Ruby E, both accessible in the San Diego area.

Gear

7mm wetsuit with hood and gloves recommended. A drysuit is optimal if you run cold.

We run regular California trips, so check the trips page for upcoming dates.

Reserve a SoCal Trip →

There's a Whole World Beyond Arizona

Our local Arizona lakes, San Carlos, and Southern California are just the beginning. Dive Arizona runs trips to Roatan, Fiji, the Maldives, and so many more destinations across the globe.

Check Out Our Upcoming Trips

Scuba Diving Near Phoenix: Common Questions

Where is the closest scuba diving to Phoenix?

Lake Pleasant in Peoria, AZ is the closest open water dive site to the Phoenix metro, about an hour from Queen Creek. It's the go-to spot for training and fun dives, with year-round shore diving and depths reaching 60–70 feet from shore and 100+ feet by boat.

Can you scuba dive in Arizona lakes?

Yes. Dive Arizona regularly dives Lake Pleasant near Phoenix and Lake Mohave near Bullhead City. Lake Mohave even has underwater wrecks, including a sunken school bus, small boats, a van, and a buoyancy park.

How far is San Carlos, Mexico from Phoenix for diving?

San Carlos, Sonora is about 7 hours south of Queen Creek by car. It's some of the best diving accessible by car from Phoenix, with shallow reefs, blue-water walls, wrecks, and wildlife including sea lions, sea horses, turtles, and hammerhead sharks.

Do I need a drysuit to dive in Arizona?

It depends on the season and site. Lake Pleasant surface temps drop into the mid-50s in winter (drysuit recommended) but warm enough to skip a wetsuit in summer. Lake Mohave stays cold year-round, so a 7mm wetsuit or drysuit is best.