Ventura, CA

[TheHuth]

My wife and I are very seriously considering buying a home in Ventura. We currently live in Long Beach, so it would be a significant move for us. Where are the dive spots in Ventura? I know the boat's are all a quick ride to the nearby islands, but I'm hoping for more than just boat dives.

 

[Ojai Diver]

Check out Dale Sheckler's Southern California's Best Beach Dives, a good book, which includes Ventura County.

Ventura County has a few spots (such as Deer Creek) but its beach diving is sparse compared to the north (SB County) or south LA County.) Still, a nice place to live, IMO.

 

[TheHuth]

My wife lived in Ventura up until her mid 20's, so she is familiar with the area. I really don't have much tying me to this area, and would prefer a change of scenery. I've seen the 405 enough for one lifetime. I'd like to live where there are trees. Luckily I work completely remotely, so my physical location isnt very relevant to my employer.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: California Mid, USA West

 

[geoff w]

So easy to get to the Peace without having to get up stupid early if you're in Ventura, and same for Spectre and a few others. Deer Creek can be really good, but all the sand has washed away so the steps stop about 3-4 feet above the sand. Leo Carrillo can be fantastic, but the north parking lot is closed to repair the streambed for the endangered steelhead trout, so it won't be open again until much later this year. Further down the coast are Nicholas, pocket beaches (El Matador, La Piedra, El Pescador), Broad Beach, Dume Canyon and Point Dume pinnacles. There are also Staircase, Harrison's Reef and Deep Hole. If you have a little Zodiac with an outboard or a kayak, there are a number of interesting looking spots. And we still have kelp here in spots