Best Beach Diving in CA?

[kfordham]

Hi

Just out of curiousity, I was wondering what you guys thought of all the beach diving spots in SoCal? I have freedived in Laguna, so if it helps, you can make comparisons to that particular location. But I'm interested specifically in San Diego and Malibu. Of course if there's any other reccommendations, I'd appreciate it too.

 

[FishNut]

Any where there is Kelp

 

[scottfiji]

malibu has lots of kelp but vis can be spotty. PV has great beach diving and rocky reefs but access is a problem. vet's has easy access, good vis but it's a sandy environment. more life is out at night.

la jolla cove has lots of kelp, but vis can be spotty and parking is hard. la jolla shores is known for good macro life, sandy environment, and long swims out.

scott

 

[MissyP]

San Diego (La Jolla) vs Laguna:

La Jolla Shores--- free parking generally (if you want a spot be there prior to 7am)... no hills or stairs to climb with dive gear-- its flat.... many bathrooms & showers... grassy areas to set up on &/have a picnic... air fill station/but a less than impressive dive shop 2 blocks away... food places (Jeff's Burgers is good) also within 2 blocks... you will endure the infamous "are you leaving?" question asked by every car passing by you who is trying to find a parking spot... must walk through 5000 people to get from the car to the water.. get through the swimmers/body & boogie boarders, and surfers (depending on if the checkered flag is up or not)...surf is 'gentler' here usually because there really isn't a shore break-- its flat sand... enjoy your 20 minute surface swim to the canyon (ridge is about 45ft), unless you decide to drop down earlier and see lots of sand while you head 270 deg. to the canyon.. The canyon is great-- tons of life and drops down gradually in "levels"-- in other words, it's not a wall dive. You won't see kelp or reefy stuff though, unless you go over to the cove.. Now the cove--Good luck parking there and be wary of the surf-- the shore break is a little steeper and its easy to get tumbled, even by a small wave. This is a shallow dive also-- you'll be lucky to get to 30ft. Also toilet/shower facilities.. some grassy areas but you'll be like sardines with the other people there.. you do have a set of stairs there but if you're lucky you'll catch high tide and wont have the giant step up to the first step when coming out of the water. Both the shores and the cove are protected-- no hunting.

Whereas Laguna as you know-- pay to park, same crowded situation, fewer facilities, hills/stairs, also a dive shop/food place nearby, shore break, short surface swim, shallow reefs w/ some kelp, less beach & grassy areas to fit the 5000 people on..

Malibu.. never dived there .. so I can't compare.

 

[Scared Silly]

A shore dive but not on the mainland is the Casino over on Catalina. When visiting SoCal. it makes for a nice day. A bit of a hassle to do the whole boat thing and then schlep gear around to the Casino but I have always found the diving to be nice enough for the SoCal.

Missy the description of LaJolla is spot on.

 

[dpbishop]

MissyP hit it on the head for San Diego. La Jolla Shores is about the only beach dive where you can get deeper than 30 ft without a 1/2 mile swim. OTOH, on the rare days with 20' + viz, there are dozens of beach dives from Point Loma to Oceanside. Some of the have easy access (e.g. Pescadero, OB & MB jetty, Wind & Sea, Torrey Pines, Del Mar, Cardiff Reef), some have stairs (Garbage, Swami's) and some are cliff scrambles ( Calumet Park, Bird Rock). The Shores is good if you like to photograph slugs, but at the reefs you'll see lobster, crab, Garibaldi, bass, perch, sheepshead, batrays, horn sharks, morays, and lots more.

 

[scottfiji]

if you're really interested in beach diving, you should pick up dale sheckler's so-cal guide to beach diving, its a great book, although it's a little light on the san diego options.

scott

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Divebums - Dive Sites

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalS/index.htm

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalM/index.htm

http://www.geocities.com/sandeaters/sites/sites.htm

 

[Osvidar]

Hit the canyon when the squid are mating this Fall - lifetime dive - every egg and squid eater for miles is out there! Save you air - go out on the surface until you can't stand it - drop to your max depth and if no bottom, level off and go 090 degrees until the chaos appears.
I taught at San Diego State in the mid 70's and did this dive three years running.
Zuma beach when the Grey Whales are near can be cool too. Go out just beyond the sand dollars and dig Pismo clams - unless they are now off limits of course.
If there is a pier to dive under - grab some crabs - used to go under the Santa Monica amusement pier. I wonder if you can get under the Scripps pier...
Schmooze someone on Pt. Loma so you can enter off their fief.

 

[kfordham]

if you're really interested in beach diving, you should pick up dale sheckler's so-cal guide to beach diving, its a great book, although it's a little light on the san diego options.

scott

would that be carried at most book stores or dive shops or is that an order online thing?

Thanks for all suggestions. I guess there's quite a bit of diving that can be done in SoCal