Diving Rocky Beach (Rockpile), Laguna Beach, CA

[DoogaDiver]

My buddy and I have been exploring various SoCal shore diving sites in Orange County. Today we planned to dive Rocky Beach, as described in Dale Sheckler's book "Southern California's Best Beach Dives", written in 1991. Upon arrival, it appeared as the location of the stairs to what appeared to be the section of the beach listed as the dive site might have changed in the last 20 years, making the location now inaccessible to a diver in gear, due to having to climb over a very large boulder. I'm curious if anyone is familiar with this specific site, having either dove it in the last or recently, and can shed some light on how to reach it. We are familiar with the nearby sites, such as Picnic Beach, Divers Cove and Fishermens Cove, but would like to explore this site to see what it has to offer.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I dived it a few times about twenty years ago. It's a very shallow tidepool for quite a ways from the beach before you reach deep enough water to swim. It's much easier to enter from Picnic Beach and swim straight out from the east end of the beach. The reef extends for a long ways offshore. It's best to drop down on the outer reefs and swim toward the shower at the base of the Picnic Beach ramp.

 

[tracydr]

For more current shore diving information try shore diving.com. I've found pretty accurate information in there for Bonaire, Hawaii, Washington State and Ca.

 

[DoogaDiver]

My buddy and I have been exploring various SoCal shore diving sites in Orange County. Today we planned to dive Rocky Beach, as described in Dale Sheckler's book "Southern California's Best Beach Dives", written in 1991. Upon arrival, it appeared as the location of the stairs to what appeared to be the section of the beach listed as the dive site might have changed in the last 20 years, making the location now inaccessible to a diver in gear, due to having to climb over a very large boulder. I'm curious if anyone is familiar with this specific site, having either dove it in the last or recently, and can shed some light on how to reach it. We are familiar with the nearby sites, such as Picnic Beach, Divers Cove and Fishermens Cove, but would like to explore this site to see what it has to offer.

Right on, man. That's kind of what I thought you might have to do to reach the reef safely, but that is one hell of a surface swim. My buddy and I could handle it, but it seems as though that definitely limits the site to those who are quite fit. (Not unlike many SoCal shore diving sites. We dove Old Marineland and Malaga Cove yesterday...wow!)

Have you been back to the site more recently? It seems as though maybe there were were stairs there 20 years ago which are no longer there and restrict access to a certain section of Rocky Beach. I'd really like to get this thing mapped out again and establish whether or not it is still a viable dive site based on the current infrastructure.

 

[DoogaDiver]

For more current shore diving information try shore diving.com. I've found pretty accurate information in there for Bonaire, Hawaii, Washington State and Ca.

I have used that website to research other dive sites, but unfortunately for this specific location there is very little information as to accessing the site or the underwater topography and aquatic life. It seems as though some of the discussions on the Heisler Park portion are actually referring to Picnic Beach, which is a separate but close dive site. Is Picnic Beach simply another access for the same reef which is accessed from Rocky Beach?

 

[jlegge]

A great resource for shore diving around Laguna Beach is:

Beaches in Laguna Beach California

Links to the various sites along with input on where to park/ how to enter.

More specific to your request is HERE.

-JOHN

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It's actually not a long swim to the outer reefs if you enter in front of the shower at Picnic Beach rather than climbing down to Rocky Beach. There are some rocks with ten foot walls on the outer reef southeast of the shower.
Google Maps

 

[stakanak]

Check out the Laguna Sea Sports sight @ Laguna Sea Sports.
They have info on almost every spot in the Laguna Area along with the conditions at Shaw's Cove.
Get Wet!

 

[DoogaDiver]

It's actually not a long swim to the outer reefs if you enter in front of the shower at Picnic Beach rather than climbing down to Rocky Beach. There are some rocks with ten foot walls on the outer reef southeast of the shower.
Google Maps

Right on, man. I think we'll try to swim out from picnic beach and declare Rocky beach a dead site. After reviewing some photos, it appears as though the steps which were once used to access rocky beach from Heisler Park are now gone. There's no point in risky a nasty climb and entry over dangerous terrain if the same diving site can be accessed from picnic beach. Thanks again for the info!