Is there cave diving on the West Coast?

[beldridg]

Osborn(e) Bank Caves (225 fsw)

The original plan was to dive the USS Burns on Sept 2, 2020. Alas, it was not to be. Two days before our scheduled trip, the military shut down access to that part of San Clemente island. We consid…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

 

[lostsheep]

Cave Creek near Ruby Mountains Nv sounds promising too. I’m planning on having a look this fall when I go out there for the annular eclipse.

 

[vitaly]

Hall City

Devils Den

Black Chasm

I suspect California Caverns but not certain.

Allegedly some in Kings Canyon / Sequoia NP

And at least one more well known one

Edit: there’s a cave called “Vanishing River” in Santa Cruz but good luck getting access. I don’t actually know if there’s diving there but the name is promising and there is extensive mapped passage.

I suspect that none of the caves on your list have public diver access

 

[lostsheep]

I suspect that none of the caves on your list have public diver access

Hall City is open as far as I know. It does require some work to get to.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

There are some sea caves on the outside of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands down in the California Channel Islands. I don’t know if that counts? but they are pretty long and fully submerged but not too deep. Lot’s of lobsters in them I’ve heard.

 

[rjack321]

Hall City is open as far as I know. It does require some work to get to.

Been awhile since I saw that video. That actually looks granitic to me not sedimentary/limestone. I have to say their definition of "heavy sediment" is different than mine lol.

 

[rjack321]

I suspect that none of the caves on your list have public diver access

To get information and access to cave dive anywhere west coast (or really anywhere in north america outside of the tourist spots in FL or MX) you need to invest in developing relationships with land managers, your local grotto(s), and dry cavers.

 

[lostsheep]

Been awhile since I saw that video. That actually looks granitic to me not sedimentary/limestone. I have to say their definition of "heavy sediment" is different than mine lol.

I am by no means an expert on rocks nor have I been to Hall City (yet) but I do know there are many Karst areas up that way. One of Californias biggest and deepest caves, Bigfoot, is relatively close by.

To get information and access to cave dive anywhere west coast (or really anywhere in north america outside of the tourist spots in FL or MX) you need to invest in developing relationships with land managers, your local grotto(s), and dry cavers.

There's another option, spend a bunch of time studying and then get out and do some ridge walking, just watch out for the growers. We learned that one the hard way . Took us about 7 years and a dozen trips to find Crystal Palace. Probably could have started my own grotto in that time but where's the fun in that?