Best SoCal Dives

[Ayisha]

Hi, Could you please tell me what the best dive sites are in SoCal? Any that we should request or any to avoid? Our group ranges from mostly experienced instructors to experienced advanced divers.

We will be spending 2 days on a liveaboard around Catalina Island in about a week. Any particular must-do areas?

We will then be staying at Long Beach on the Queen Mary. Any must-do areas around there?

Thanks!

 

[undrwater]

When you're in Long Beach there are a bunch of places you can visit. Laguna has several sites that are Catalina-like for shore dives.

For something different, Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach is kind of a sleeper site. It's a submarine canyon with a sand / mud bottom. Depending on how you swim it, it can be pretty boring (especially during the day), but if you slow it down, there are interesting things and behaviors to see.

If you'll be around during a wednesday night, check out divevets.com. There's a group of folks who dive there regularly. ocfundive.com is a group that hangs in Laguna.

When will you be around?

 

[Teamcasa]

This is a broad subject. I’ll toss in a few of my favorites.
Catalina Island – the USC reserve drift dive, the gardens and the reef near Bird rock.
Farnsworth Bank
The oil rigs.
Anacapa.

Many others will no doubt add to this list.

 

[drbill]

Catalina: Farnsworth Bank, Ship Rock, Eagle Reef, Middle Reef, Sea Fan Grotto, Empire Landing Quarry (Crane Point)

 

[Ayisha]

Wow, what quick responses! Thanks!

When will you be around?

We will be diving around Catalina Island on Wed November 14th and Thurs the 15th, and then around Long Point (apparently Laguna, Huntington and/or Redondo beaches) on Fri the 16th. I think we're heading toward Hollywood after that for some sightseeing...

Thanks again! :blinking:

 

[ItsBruce]

I've always found White's Cove to be an interesting beach dive and its near Long Beach. If I only had a few days to dive, I'd stay away from Vet's Beach.

 

[JMdiver]

Arrow Point by Two Harbors is a great spot.

John

 

[AllanHarr]

Ship rock... sea fan grotto.... Emerald Cove/Indian Rock. Can't go wrong.

 

[CompuDude]

Oil Rigs, Farnsworth and tons of random sites around Catalina will all be great, and unique for your group.

As for shore diving, there are some good options listed. I also would avoid Redondo EXCEPT if you're interested in checking it out as a night dive. Very boring sand and mud during the day really comes alive at night.

There are some nice dives around Laguna, and if you wanted to trek up to Malibu there are some nice sites as well. Vis is highly variable due to the shallow depths and breaking waves... but if you get lucky with 10' or better, it can be spectacular.

There is some fantastic diving at the old Marineland site ("OML") but the area is under construction right now so I'm not sure if it's accessible. It's a looong hike, however, and not always diveable once you get down there, but well worth it if you can get in. Might be best to take a local guide for that one.

How much experience does your group have with REAL surf entries? I know a number of East Coast divers with far more experience than I have who have been quite humbled by what we consider to be routine amounts of surf...

 

[Ayisha]

Thanks to all for your helpful info!