In this paper, SNR maximization in coded diverging waves is studied, and experimental verification of the results is presented. Complementary Golay sequences and binary phase shift keying modulation are used to code the transmitted signal. The SNR in speckle and pin targets is maximized with respect to chip signal length. The maximum SNR is obtained in diverging wave transmission when the chip signal is as short a duration as the array permits. We determined the optimum diverging wave profile to confine the transmitted ultrasound energy in the imaging sector. The optimized profile also contributes to the SNR maximization. The SNR performances of the optimized coded diverging wave and conventional single-focused phased array imaging are compared on a single frame basis. The SNR of the optimized coded diverging wave is higher than that of the conventional single-focused phased array imaging at all depths and regions.