Orange County Beach Dives

[McCainiac]

I'm going to be coming to OC later this year and was wondering where the best beach dives are at? Laguna Beach has over 20 and I'm wondering about other places in the area. I'll be around for 3 days and was hoping to add several dives to my log!!!

Thanks

 

[muddiver]

Besides Laguna Beach there is 2' to 3' visability at Cornoa Del Mar.

Crystal Cove in the state park has some diving, easy entry, but long access road and it is not sheltered from the open ocean surf.

Cresent Bay and Diver's Cover are both with in easy walking distance of Laguna Sea Sports where most everyone gets fills. They also have the daily dive conditions on their web site Laguna Sea Sports

I like Woods Cove which is south of the Laguna main beach. It is a two beach cove with shallow entry that goes almost right into rocky reefs at 10' to 20'. It is also one of teh cleanest of the coves. The down side is the surge if the tide is down, but there is a lot of eel grass and other cool reef stuff.

Don't even try to dive at the main beach by the lifeguard tower. Total desert, nothing to see, must dodge surf and boogie boarders on way out and way in.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Aside from the sites listed at Beaches in Laguna Beach California I used to go to Little Corona, south of Corona del Mar. It's a shallow dive with lots to see in the rocks and surf grass. I saw four smooth-hound sharks once in about five feet of water.
There is limited parking, but ther is a restroom/shower midway down the paved trail.

 

[ScubaduoAdventures]

It is a little over a hour from south orange county to La Jolla and diving the canyon at La Jolla shores well worth the drive.

 

[CaliforniaDivingNews]

Check out our website for dive sites not just in Orange County but through out California.

California Diving News - Dive Spots - Search

 

[El Dude]

Diver's Cove is where I would send you. It's mellow entry, lots of gorgonia, really fishy and not as packed as Shaw's cove. I've actually seen traffic jams underwater at Shaw's so unless it is a weekday I would avoid Shaw's. Both Diver's and Shaw's are blocks from the Laguna dive shop. If it's a mellow ocean day shoot over to Crystal Cove. It is a state park and has the astronomical vehicle fee, but they usually post dive conditions at the gate and the diving is lot better than the more frequently dived Laguna coves plus there are showers/restrooms near the parking lots. Ask for a map and they should point you towards the more popular sites within the park. This place is big enough to explore for a lonf time. I've seen dolphins and soupfins there so I'm a little biased. These are the three easier-to-find sites in my opinion and they are just that, my opinion. Dive safe, dive strong.

 

[McCainiac]

I appreciate all the suggestions from everyone!!! Looks like I've got pleanty of good dives to choose from. What are the water temps like in August?

 

[El Dude]

Bathwater...mid-high 60's. I one time got 70F on my computer at diver's cove but that's a shallow dive.

 

[k374]

I know I will cause some heated debate with this statement but I've done a few beach dives here in OC and there is really nothing much to see unless you enjoy seeing sand, few solitary fish and uninteresting rocks... considering the trouble you have to go through to do a shore dive I found it very unimpressive. Oh, the viz is bad as well... ityparty:

ok now awaiting the flames

 

[El Dude]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Well compared to diving the REAL North Coast, ie. Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino counties. I would have to say it can, at times, be a little bland. There is something about 10+ ft viz that takes a little bit of excitement out of the next kick of the fin. Up here in Eureka there are always 10 inch abalone or 30 lb lings just a fin kick away. You may not be able to see them because of low viz (1-10ft).But the trouble you have to go through to shore dive? OC has some of the EASIEST entries I have seen in California. I am even including all the stairs at some of the South Laguna sites. I am used to billy-goating down cliffs and lowering my gear into the water via rope and then climbing that rope down into the water. I don't ever want to hear anyone say that a OC dive entry is "trouble". Anyone who says that needs a reality check...