Some dive sites around Palos Verdes are extensions of the shoreline. Rock piles gradually dropping off to deeper water are common. There are many offshore reefs that are solitary rock formations that resemble islands surrounded by sand, disconnected from any nearby reefs. Portuguese Point has a series of reefs that stand alone. Fortunately for beach divers, these reefs are close to shore.
Five hundred feet southwest of Portuguese Point is the high spot of a solitary reef that rises from fifty-six feet to eleven feet in thick kelp. Sponges, gorgonians, and fish dominate the reef. Schools of opaleye flitter through the kelp in the shallows. Sheephead patrol to bottom of the reef. The reef itself is more like an offshore reef, not covered with urchins the way nearshore reefs can be. It is a healthy ecosystem just a few minutes swim from shore.
The high point is located at 33° 44.151 118° 22.566, southwest of the point. Dropping along the eastern edge of the kelp bed will put you right over the reef. Enter from the Sacred Cove side of the point using a car shuttle dropoff near the ski jump on Palos Verdes Drive South or park in the Abalone Cove parking lot at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South and hike down to the point. It's a long hike to the water, but not as steep as most Palos Verdes dive sites are.
There are nearby reefs to the west of the high spot reef. All of these reefs are just inside of the Abalone Cove State Marine Conservation Area.
It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource for recreational and/or commercial purposes, with the following specified exceptions:
Five hundred feet southwest of Portuguese Point is the high spot of a solitary reef that rises from fifty-six feet to eleven feet in thick kelp. Sponges, gorgonians, and fish dominate the reef. Schools of opaleye flitter through the kelp in the shallows. Sheephead patrol to bottom of the reef. The reef itself is more like an offshore reef, not covered with urchins the way nearshore reefs can be. It is a healthy ecosystem just a few minutes swim from shore.
The high point is located at 33° 44.151 118° 22.566, southwest of the point. Dropping along the eastern edge of the kelp bed will put you right over the reef. Enter from the Sacred Cove side of the point using a car shuttle dropoff near the ski jump on Palos Verdes Drive South or park in the Abalone Cove parking lot at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South and hike down to the point. It's a long hike to the water, but not as steep as most Palos Verdes dive sites are.
There are nearby reefs to the west of the high spot reef. All of these reefs are just inside of the Abalone Cove State Marine Conservation Area.
It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource for recreational and/or commercial purposes, with the following specified exceptions:
- The recreational take by spearfishing of white seabass and pelagic finfish; and market squid by hand-held dip net is allowed. That means no lobsters or spearing reef fish allowed.
