tmaxx222
Registered
Anyone have any suggestions? can never get my scuba buddies to go out when i'm available and want to get wet. Is there any fun places to go snorkeling in souther cali?
Snorkling Spots in SoCal
- Thread starter tmaxx222
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
dpbishop
Contributor
La Jolla cove is a great snorkel when the visibility is over 15 ft. Since it's a marine park there is lots of sea life to see; Garibaldi, Lobster, Sheepshead, etc. Check it out if you get down to San Diego.
Laguna Beach has several locations which are suitable for snorkling when conditions are clalm; for example Moss Street has a small reef; Divers Cove and Fishermans Cove along the cliffs, etc... Also, between Palos Verdes Beach and Redondo Beach there is a kelp bed/forest which maybe decent.
dashark
Contributor
Big Dume in Malibu. If you are up that way.A bit of a hike, but, well worth it.
seaschralped
Registered
If you're in the LA area do check out the Palos Verdes Penninsula. It's located in between the south bay beaches and the los angeles harbor. There are many coves but, most are difficult to access. Get your hands on a Franko's Map of Los Angeles to find exact locations since the entire back side of the map is a large detail of the PV area. What to expect to see in the area: bass, perch, rockfish, senoritas, garibaldi, sheephead, rays - halibut - small sharks if near sand, kelp, sea lions, bait fish, stars, urchins, mussels, etc. I'm still looking for eels, crab and lobster... they're there, I know.
HBDiveGirl
Contributor
- Messages
- 1,329
- Reaction score
- 44
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Casino Point Dive Park in Avalon, Catalina Island.
Yes, it is a "dive park" but the lush kelp and loooong rocky break wall in calm water makes it a top notch snorkling experience.
Many snorklers bring food for the fish, also, so there's lots of big fish action right at the stairs.
Oh!! I forgot to mention the stairs!!!
A dozen concrete stairs lead from the broad tarmac in front of the Casino building directly into the water. There are three handrails to steady your entry and exit. At extremely low tides there are large boulders exposed at the bottom of the stairs, but you can check the tide charts ahead of time to avoid these days.
The Dive park is protected from waves over 90% of the year. Only high Santa Ana winds cause local waves which can make the stairs dangerous. Rarely do storms roll in from an angle that hits the dive park.
If you go to Avalon, snorkling at the dive park is better than the snorkling at "Lover's Cove", an area that prohibits scuba diving due to the glass bottom boats that visit this cove. There is little kelp in the protected area of the cove... that's why the boats go there. Lots of fish, but the kelp is the only on the far point of the cove.
Palos Verdes: Malaga cove has lovely kelp and lots of fish, and acres of water that's less than 20 feet deep. Waves and poor visibility can shut down underwater fun here, but when it's good, it's very, Very good. Shovel-nosed guitar fish and bat rays and little horn sharks are often seen here, as are lobsters and sheep crabs. Garibaldis nest like crazy here in the spring and summer. Nice schools of fish inhabit the kelp forest. Very rocky shoreline, so wear tough dive boots. A paved (steep) road leads from the free parking area to the water's edge.
Other P.V. sites require scrambling down and up cliff paths... some people like this, others don't.
Have fun! Snorklers get to see more fish!!
~~~~
Claudette
P.S.
You need new buddies!!!!!
The SoCal shores are alive with divers, especially now that the water is warming up. The Wrinkles dive will be this Saturday in Laguna, click HERE for the link.... I've watched many divers made new buddies and friends at this monthly shore diving event. Come on down! And check the schedule for future Wrinkles events.
There's another local event in Redondo Beach on July 26th, 2008: The SoCal Dive-In. Click HERE for info.
Yes, it is a "dive park" but the lush kelp and loooong rocky break wall in calm water makes it a top notch snorkling experience.
Many snorklers bring food for the fish, also, so there's lots of big fish action right at the stairs.
Oh!! I forgot to mention the stairs!!!
A dozen concrete stairs lead from the broad tarmac in front of the Casino building directly into the water. There are three handrails to steady your entry and exit. At extremely low tides there are large boulders exposed at the bottom of the stairs, but you can check the tide charts ahead of time to avoid these days.
The Dive park is protected from waves over 90% of the year. Only high Santa Ana winds cause local waves which can make the stairs dangerous. Rarely do storms roll in from an angle that hits the dive park.
If you go to Avalon, snorkling at the dive park is better than the snorkling at "Lover's Cove", an area that prohibits scuba diving due to the glass bottom boats that visit this cove. There is little kelp in the protected area of the cove... that's why the boats go there. Lots of fish, but the kelp is the only on the far point of the cove.
Palos Verdes: Malaga cove has lovely kelp and lots of fish, and acres of water that's less than 20 feet deep. Waves and poor visibility can shut down underwater fun here, but when it's good, it's very, Very good. Shovel-nosed guitar fish and bat rays and little horn sharks are often seen here, as are lobsters and sheep crabs. Garibaldis nest like crazy here in the spring and summer. Nice schools of fish inhabit the kelp forest. Very rocky shoreline, so wear tough dive boots. A paved (steep) road leads from the free parking area to the water's edge.
Other P.V. sites require scrambling down and up cliff paths... some people like this, others don't.
Have fun! Snorklers get to see more fish!!
~~~~
Claudette
P.S.
??? You LIVE in SoCal, and you can't get buddies to go diving???
You need new buddies!!!!!
The SoCal shores are alive with divers, especially now that the water is warming up. The Wrinkles dive will be this Saturday in Laguna, click HERE for the link.... I've watched many divers made new buddies and friends at this monthly shore diving event. Come on down! And check the schedule for future Wrinkles events.There's another local event in Redondo Beach on July 26th, 2008: The SoCal Dive-In. Click HERE for info.
cagemaker
Contributor
On the Palos Verdes Penn. (already mentioned) is Point Vicente. This is just north of the site where the original Marineland used to be. I believe that it is now a protected park. It had a cleared straight trail down to the water. In my youth I would snorkel here frequently. It is somewhat protected from the current so the vis. can be better here than other areas.
"Little" Corona Del Mar is just south of the bigger beach. This has a nice sandy beach access. There are a few rocky reefs just past the break.
Laguna Beach can be difficult to hit with good vis. However, sometimes just past the break (when the surf is light) it can be nice.
For the most part, if it is sandy and has surf there is nothing but good body surfing.
As mentioned previously, La Jolla Cove is a fantastic place except for the parking. In front of you is La Jolla Cave and one of the deepest trenches on the coast that is still studied by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Go to Scripps and see the aquarium.
cagemaker
aka. fredfish
"Little" Corona Del Mar is just south of the bigger beach. This has a nice sandy beach access. There are a few rocky reefs just past the break.
Laguna Beach can be difficult to hit with good vis. However, sometimes just past the break (when the surf is light) it can be nice.
For the most part, if it is sandy and has surf there is nothing but good body surfing.
As mentioned previously, La Jolla Cove is a fantastic place except for the parking. In front of you is La Jolla Cave and one of the deepest trenches on the coast that is still studied by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Go to Scripps and see the aquarium.
cagemaker
aka. fredfish
Similar threads
