I scuba dove for many years in Brooklyn on the dive boat Karen, with Captain Bob Hayes. So many great times I remember visibility approaching 20 to 30 feet some days other days around 5 feet, used to get lobsters ,Sea bass , ling cod and of course bags and bags of fresh mussles from the special wreck . It's definitely a good time if the visibility is up there I dove on another boat not as friendly captain , but I was able to find many glass bottles and inkwells that make a nice display. I got certified basic open water from a retired Marine, and I got my nitrox class from scuba New York in Yonkers.
I was fortunate to dive North Carolina coast which is absolutely incredible for seeing large sharks ,rays ,turtles and giant delicous spiny lobster and numerous numerous shipwrecks with a lot of history. Also Florida, Bahamas, California.