If you’re into SCUBA diving, you don’t have to fly to Hawaii or the Caribbean for exceptional experiences. There are some truly unusual sites that are closer to home.

In Missouri’s Ozarks, the Bonne Terre mine is the largest year-round freshwater dive spot in the world.

The abandoned mine is filled with more than a billion gallons of water.

You won’t see any exotic sea life here.

But you will get an up-close-and-personal view of cavern walls made out of calcium, and original mining equipment.

Off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, you can drive among the wreck of the USS Oriskany, a former U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

It was sunk in 2004 to create one of the largest artificial reefs in the world.

Or you can go diving in the desert in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

A natural phenomenon called the Blue Hole is an 80-foot-deep pool, where the water is 64 degrees cold, but is so crystal-clear you can see up to 80 feet.

Remember, no matter how unusual the site, you have follow all the usual diving rules and codes, including the always-important buddy system.

For more adventurous, active vacations, check out the Travel Health & Fitness section.

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