The interior hills and forests of this New England state set the scene for outdoor adventure through boating, fishing and diving, all within an hour’s drive of Hartford, the capital city, home to art and literary cultural attractions such as the Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.

At the northeast corner of the state, Bigelow Hollow State Park offers several dive areas. The three parking areas around Bigelow Pond offer shore access and feature similar topography and wildlife below. Although you can find depths up to 50 feet toward the center of the pond, most diving is shallow. Macro life, such as newts, is the main attraction. Visibility is best when it has not recently rained. Dive flags are required at all sites in Connecticut, and diving is generally not allowed near boat ramps.

On Connecticut’s southeastern shore, the dive site at Stonington Point features tropical fish carried in during summer by the Gulf Stream. Slack tide is the easiest to dive as you head out and to the right. Plan night dives at dusk to observe marine life such as dogfish coming inshore.

Need To Know

Conditions: Viz varies from 5 to 20 feet in Bigelow Pond and 5 to 30 feet on the coastline, with water temperatures around 40 degrees at depth and 70 degrees at the surface during summer.

What To Wear: Drysuit or 7 mm wetsuit.

Dive Sites

Bigelow Hollow State Park

Bigelow Pond better resembles a lake, and includes a boat ramp next to the primary dive site. Bring a cart to haul your gear to the end of a small trail, where access to an easy shore entry leads to depths up to 50 feet. Look for red-spotted newts in the shallow water at the shoreline.

Stonington Point

Located near Mystic, this beach entry leads to a dynamic macro site in depths up to 20 feet. From crabs to tropical fish and nudibranchs, the shoreline boasts an ever-changing set of wildlife. Dogfish have been seen on night dives, and horseshoe crabs come ashore in the spring.

Brownstone Quarry

Brownstone is best known as a water adventure sports park, but scuba diving is available in an area of the quarry filled with sunken attractions such as speedboats, motor vehicles and training platforms. The deepest and clearest water is closest to the far quarry wall, but a navigation tour has also been created for divers near the shore.

Trip Tips

Good Eats

From the iconic Rein’s Deli in Vernon to the Wheatmarket in Chester, experience authentic deli fare that includes heaping sandwiches, crustless cheesecake, molasses cookies and sizable latkes. Cure after-dive hunger at these eateries on your way back to Hartford.

Submarine Force Library and Museum

Tour the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, as well as exhibits on submarine development. Learn how Admiral Hyman G. Rickover helped usher in the nuclear Navy. Bushnell’s Turtle, the first submersible vessel used in combat, is on exhibit along with submarine escape suits and a mixed-gas Mark V diving helmet.

SECONN Dive Club

The largest dive club of New England welcomes visitors and can offer expert insight on diving in the region. Connect with a member to find a dive buddy or to participate in a number of activities, including an annual event at the Mystic Aquarium and geo-caching dives.