Diving Malibu tomorrow night - parking?

[scubie girl]

My buddy and I are planning a night dive tomorrow night. Conditions look fantastic everywhere and we do Vets quite regularly but wanted to try something different. Conditions in Malibu are looking pretty great and it would be a pity to let that go to waste.

My buddy has been to Point Dume only during the daytime but does anyone know if the parking lot is open at night? I read in the beach diving book that it's only open during daytime hours but I just wanted to make sure. Anyone have suggestions for other night dive sites if that's the case (or are welcome to join us if you'd like)?

Thanks!

 

[NateSmith]

Ummmm, would you guys mind if someone else tagged along? Specifically.... me. Now that I've got the added time and ability to get in the water, I'm really wanting to take advantage of that fact.

 

[Rich805Howell]

and me too i got all week off of work and wanna log in some more dives =)

 

[lobstah]

My buddy has been to Point Dume only during the daytime but does anyone know if the parking lot is open at night? I read in the beach diving book that it's only open during daytime hours but I just wanted to make sure.

Lot has no barrier for sure, so you can enter at any time, but I would not be surprised if there is some kind of no parking sign from 9pm till 5am (or some random hours like that) to prevent people from sleeping in their cars. I would also expect cops to actually swoop by occasionally to check that and this usually result in ticket. But just be done by 9 and you are good.

That said, I would really reconsider doing Pt Dume by night due to the westbound current which is common there - if it kicks in, you are quite literally drifting into the darkness towards Malibu pier.

Other parts of Malibu are excellent for night diving in winter with similar parking restrictions at places. Malibu Road has several access points with some nice reefs. Gates get closed at sunset, but sometimes they don't. One way or another from Corral beach side you can always walk up. You can do Escondido creek even with access closed - pass under the bridge. All three El Matador, El Pescador and La Piedra close gates at sunset, but you can park on a PCH and walk - but that's quite a hike.

You can definitely park at Nicolas Canyon before sunset and exit by dark (even with gate closed there's a one way exit open whole night). Leo Carillo state park was letting people in till 10pm and you can stay as long as you want and leave anytime through one way gate as well. Neptunes Net or Deer Creek - parking on PCH with no parking after 9pm signs for sure.

Big Rock is another site with access open permanently (and an 8 foot grade from PCH to the beach to brave with tank). parking on PCH, excellent dive when visibility is good.

Enjoy the night dive. Malibu is significantly more interesting than Vets.

 

[geoff w]

The lot at the end of Westward Beach is locked up at some point, depending on whether there is filming going on or not. If filming is going on, the lot attendant will still be there and not let anyone else in unless they are associated with the shoot. If no filming, no attendant, but at some point a sheriff car will come by and get everyone out, then lock both the entry and exit side.

If you are thinking about walking down the stairs at Big Dume, there isn't any nighttime parking at the headlands. You would have to park on one of the residential streets with parking, but there's nothing to prevent you from going in and out there. The walk back up the stairs after diving when you're wet and tired is a killer!

 

[NateSmith]

Well, how was it?

 

[lobstah]

Hopefully not postcards from Japan