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Southern California’s Beach Diving

Southern California’s Beach Diving. It’s fun and easy!. Why Beach Dive?. Flexible schedule It’s cheap It’s GREAT!. Southern California Bight. Much of Coast runs east-west Protection from islands Mostly protected from prevailing northwest weather

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Southern California’s Beach Diving

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  1. Southern California’s Beach Diving It’s fun and easy!

  2. Why Beach Dive? • Flexible schedule • It’s cheap • It’s GREAT!

  3. Southern California Bight • Much of Coast runs east-west • Protection from islands • Mostly protected from prevailing northwest weather • Some sections of coast face different directions for added dive site selection versatility

  4. La Janelle(mouth of Port Hueneme, Ventura County) • Gets its name from wreck that ran aground in 1970 and filled with rocks. Little of the wreck remains exposed today. This is not a wreck dive. • POSITIVE POINTS: • Abundant marine life • Variety of underwater terrain • Deep water close to shore • Game: Lobsters and Pismo clams • Light crowds • Good visibility • NEGATIVE POINTS: • Difficult entry and exit • Restricted areas • No facilities

  5. La Jenelle marine life • SOME THINGS TO LOOK FOR: Sheep crabs Cabezon

  6. La Jenelle practicalities • Generally easy parking but watch for sand piles on access road • 4 wheel drive can attempt to drive over sand to entry point, otherwise walk to entry point • Don’t even think about entering the water on the harbor side of the rocks. You will be cited, maybe even arrested. • Entry is possible off sand beach but it is tough and a long swim to main diving area.

  7. La Jenelle diving • Enter off rocks. Experience and training in this type of entry a must. • For a complete dive, explore the canyon. • Stay away from mouth of harbor • 20 to 85 feet

  8. La Jenelle — Silver Strand Beach • Pismo Clams! • Beach entry can be rough • Pismo clams are in 10 to 20 feet of water but best hunting is in 12-16 feet • Look for siphons in sand • You find one or two you have found many • Limit 10 per day, size 4.5 inches • Little else except sand dollar beds and occasional halibut. Can be very surgy.

  9. Leo Carrillo(West Los Angeles County) • This California State Park gains its name from an early TV actor that donated the land. • Abundant marine life • Fascinating reefs • Healthy kelp forest • Lifeguards on hand summer and weekends • Good facilities (but far from most diving) • Good visibility • Easy access and entry • Multiple dive sites • Large diving area

  10. Leo Carrillo marine life SOME THINGS TO LOOK FOR: • Sheephead • Most here are small • Most are females • Fascinating animals • Hermaphrodites • Sometimes seen fighting • Beautiful juveniles • Octopus • Big and friendly —almost too friendly

  11. Leo CarrilloPracticalities • For best diving at Sequit Point park on Highway shoulders and follow trails. No parking along access road inside of park. • Easiest entry at lifeguard tower #2. Alternate entry point at small cove to right. • For North Beach parking and diving pay entrance fee and drive access road to parking area with good facilities.

  12. Leo CarrilloDiving • Extensive kelp forest, take your pick but navigate properly and allow enough air to return to entry point under kelp • Diving off beach to south to be avoided because of surf, surfers, wind surfers, shallow depths and poor visibility • Diving off north beach fair due to reduced visibility. Watch for sharp shore break • To 45 feet deep on the outside of the kelp

  13. Corral Beach(West Los Angeles County) • POSITIVE POINTS: • Multiple dive areas — short swim and long swim • Easy access • Usually easy entry • NEGATIVE POINTS: • Only fair visibility • No facilities

  14. Corral BeachMarine life • Look For: • Halibut, some large • Lobster on outer reef to west • Kelp comes and goes

  15. Corral BeachPracticalites and Diving • Park on shoulder just east of Corral Canyon Rd. almost directly across from restaurant • Do no dive here after rain because of drainage • Portable toilets may or may not be there • Watch for rocks in surf. • Easy swim to small nearshore reef • Longer swim to larger reef to west • To 35 feet off outer kelp

  16. Old Redondo Pier #3(South Santa Monica Bay) • Underwater remains of one of three piers that use to be at Redondo Beach early 20th century • POSITIVE POINTS: • Interesting and unusual underwater features (submerged pier pilings) • Good facilities • NEGATIVE POINTS: • Hard to find

  17. Old Redondo Pier #3Marine Life • The main attraction is corynactis anemones on pier pilings • Area has been know to be overrun by scorpionfish coming out of nearby Redondo Submarine Canyon

  18. Old Redondo Pier #3Practicalities and diving • Park on street at Topaz St. • Stairs to Beach • Enter at base of jetty (NOTE: Snorkeling and even diving along jetty is quite interesting when calm) • Use heading from end of jetty • If you head off into canyon turn around and head back • Pilings are widely dispersed • 40 feet on outer pilings on edge of canyon

  19. Malaga Cove(South Santa Monica Bay) • POSITIVES: • Multiple dive sites • Large diving area • Abundant Marine life • NEGATIVES: • No facilites • When diving here is good, it is great. When poor, it is terrible.

  20. Malaga CoveMarine life • Octopus feeding on crabs and lobster • Calico bass particularly off RAT Beach reefs • Abundance of garibaldi • ALSO LOOK FOR: • Small white and black sea bass • Barracuda • Angel sharks • Bat rays • halibut

  21. Malaga CovePracticalities • Large parking area but no facilities • Gazebo offers good overview • One paved path leading to water’s edge

  22. Malaga CoveDiving • Enter off rocks only during high tide • Alternate entry off sand beach but it is a longer swim • Sometimes thick kelp. Plan dive accordingly. • Alternate dive sites: Haggerty’s and RAT Beach Reefs • Up to 25 feet on outer reefs

  23. White Point(Palos Verdes Peninsula) • Lots of history including diving history • POSTITIVES: • Easy access (drive right to water’s edge) • Unusual bottom features (hot water vents) • NEGATIVES: • No facilities near diving area • Rock entry

  24. White PointMarine life • Painted Greenlings • Green anemones • Nudibranchs

  25. White PointPracticalities • Restrooms, etc. at top of bluff or at Royal Palms • Before paying entrance fee observe conditions from park on bluff

  26. White PointDiving • Enter at eastern cove (Issei Cove). Entry is tough over medium boulders and best done at high tide. • Hot water vents close to shore in 15 to 20 feet of water • More interesting marine life and kelp on outer reefs

  27. Corona Del Mar State Park (a.k.a. “Big Corona”)Orange County • POSTITIVES: • Multiple dive sites • Abundant marine life with wide variety • Good facilities • NEGATIVES: • Crowds • Overbearing lifeguards • Hefty fee

  28. Corona Del Mar State Park Marine Life • Lobster in breakwater • Tube anemones at end for breakwater in sand • Morays eels in crevices on south reef

  29. Corona Del Mar State Park Practicalities • Sometimes if you arrive early you can get in before gate is charging • Before diving observe conditions off Inspiration Point Park • To access south reefs you can go down and up path or from parking lot in park (recommended) • Park open until 10 p.m. (fire pits on beach) • Concessions only open busy summer days • For diving breakwater arrive very early or the lifeguard will not let you dive here. Better yet, dive here mid-week winter mornings only for minimal hassles.

  30. Corona Del Mar State Park Diving • Usually very easy off sand beach but avoid in a south swell • Good snorkeling in shallow • End of breakwater 35’ • End of breakwater subject to tidal currents • South reef easy to find under outer buoy. South reef to 30’. Don’t miss pinnacle and overhang • Don’t miss critters in shallow during the summer

  31. Crescent BayLaguna Beach • POSTITIVES: • Multiple dive sites • Abundant marine life with wide variety • Good facilities • NEGATIVES: • Limited parking

  32. Crescent BayMarine Life • Sea Lions • Spanish shawl nudibranchs • Juvenile garibaldi

  33. Crescent BayPracticalities • Check out out dive site and conditions from overlook park • Parking on Circle Way very limited. You can also park on Crescent Bay Dr. and use stairs • Quiet! This is a residential area

  34. Crescent BayDiving • Watch for sharp shore break • Deadman’s is a long swim • Although large, Deadman’s Reef is easy to miss. • Shoreside in 48’. Pinnacle at top 20’ • Return underwater • Additional dive sites include Seal Rocks and reefs adjacent to Shaw’s Cove

  35. Shaw’s CoveLaguna Beach POSTIVES: • Fantastic underwater terrain • Abundant marine life • Easy diving conditions NEGATIVES: • Diving crowds • No facilities

  36. Shaw’s CoveWhat to Look For: Check Out “The Crevice”! • Underwater arch and deep crevice leading to Crescent Bay • Check out marine life in many branch crevices

  37. Shaw’s CovePracticalites: • Arrive early on weekends or dive mid-week as parking is limited on street and this is a popular dive site • Be quiet and courteous for residents • Dive shop near by

  38. Shaw’s CoveDiving: • While the Crevice is the main event, don’t ignore outer reef (to 35’ deep) and reef to southeast (to 25’ deep) • Best diving at high tide as this will allow for easier exploration of exciting shallow areas • Sand beach surf entry usually easy in this protected cove • Snorkeling is good when calm

  39. Diver’s Cove — Fisherman’s CoveLaguna Beach Gets its name not from scuba divers but swimmers that would dive from the rocks in the early 20th century POSTIVES: • Excellent underwater terrain • Abundant marine life • Easy diving conditions NEGATIVES: • Lots of other divers • Limited metered parking

  40. Diver’s Cove — Fisherman’s CoveWhat to look for: Check Out “Mermaid’s Grotto”! • Deep pit in reef with crevices radiating outward • Gorgonians with swirling fish • Deep crevice moving toward shore particularly interesting

  41. Diver’s Cove — Fisherman’s CovePracticalities: • Only a few metered parking spaces overlooking Diver’s Cove, more on street • Path to Fisherman’s Cove partially hidden northwest of condos • Facilities at Heisler Park to the southeast (currently being renovated)

  42. Diver’s Cove — Fisherman’s CoveDiving: • Dive this site in a loop, either from Diver’s Cove to Fisherman’s Cove or vice versa • Water entry and exit is usually easier at Diver’s Cove • At high tide the beach at Fisherman’s Cove can disappear • Us caution around shallow sections of reef during low tide

  43. Keys for a good beach dive: • Check surf report ahead of time and go to the appropriate facing beach • Observe conditions carefully before dressing in, time wave sets and plan carefully • With a few exceptions, dress in at car with all but mask and fins • High tide is usually the best time to dive • Keep your eyes and ears open for “Santa Ana” wind conditions • Learn proper beach diving techniques. Check out L.A. and San Diego County 3Rs programs, L.A. County ADP, or your local dive store • Enter with ALL gear in place except when very calm • Never turn your back on the ocean • Buddy system must be different in the surf zone • Get though the surf zone quickly • THE RIGHT ATTITUDE!

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