City: Saint George, ME

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (207) 685-4693

Description: Divers will find a lot to like about Sea Ventures Charters, based in Saint George. The small outfit provides all types of certification courses—from beginner to advanced stuff like nitrox and ice diving—and they do several cool charters as well. The most notable perhaps are the shark dives offered in August, when Maine waters are busy with 12-foot blue sharks (they sometimes even see big and scary makos). Divers are sent down in a cage, the waters are chummed, and they get an up-close-and-personal visit with these menacing predators. It can be spine-tingling, and it’s available to anyone with basic certification, because the cage, while in 500-foot-deep waters, is only 10 feet below the surface. The company also regularly dives off Monhegan Island, a treat because of the unusually rich sea life and great underwater terrain, as well as to the Scottish Pride, a 44-foot fishing boat wrecked in 115 feet of water. Deep-sea fishing is another option from these guys. Prices vary per trip and are based on six people participating; they can be $660 for an open-water dive to $1,140 for shark dives. Call or visit the Web site for full details.