Malibu Road, Malibu - Is it worth it?

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SoCal Scuba

SoCal Scuba

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Location
Santa Monica, CA
Hey everyone,

I'm considering diving Malibu Road in Malibu this weekend. Does anyone have any insights on this spot? I've done Big Rock in Malibu before but was not very impressed with the sea life and bottom features.

Thanks!
 
Like much of the East - West running shoreline just off shore of Malibu, there are several reefs running parallel with the shore. And by reef we're talking low relief (1 to 4 feet high - a few yards wide) strips running along the shore line.

The first (depending on the tide) usually at about 5 to 11 feet, the next a ways out at about 20-ish, the next a ways out at 30 - 35.

Look for kelp. If there's no kelp, you're looking at lots of shallow, surgey rock or miles of sand.

Escondido beach, going west (UP the coast) has better structure, IMO. Go out a ways and you have lots of young kelp, rock outcroppings, etc.

But if you're in Malibu, why not go to the Pinnacles where there is something to see?

I dunno. I've done dozens and dozens of dives in Malibu. If I'm not bug hunting its hard to tolerate the shallow surge and bad viz of the local inshore spots. If I'm humping to Malibu, I'm going in at Dume to the Pinnacles.

This weekend I can't imagine it being good. With the weather we've had, and the surge, and the viz? If you're close, rock on. No way I'd drive to 'bu for a dive this weekend.


-Ken
 
Thanks for the info Ken. I think I'll take your advise and just go to Point Dume. I probably won't be diving until next weekend so I've got some time. I live in Santa Monica so I figure its the closest place to go that's decent. Do you know or recommend any other areas that are somewhat near Santa Monica? Sounds like you have lots of experience so I'd love any information you can share. Thanks again,

Alex
 
Malibu Road has a couple of massive reefs and since it's not overly popular with hunters, they tend to have fish life much richer than elsewhere. East end (towards LA) has a labyrinth of structures with one massive dome shaped rock sticking up good 15 feet off the bottom (30ish). It takes couple of dives to get to know it well. West end (towards Corral) - best dive is straight out from rocky point. Rocks continue out deep and end with very fun reef with swimthroughs an lots of life. It vanishes around 40 into a sand. It also raises pretty high (20 feet off the bottom).

Downside is that vis almost never exceeds 10 feet.
 
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