While California is better known for the cable cars of San Francisco, the rides at Disneyland and Yosemite’s majestic peaks, its 1,350 km (840 miles) of coastline and islands offer incredible shore diving opportunities. Discover some of the best shore diving sites in California.
Where To Find The Best Shore Diving in California
Both Northern and Southern California offer an amazing array of dive sites. We’ll highlight five in each region to help you decide where to dive. We also recommend packing a 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit, a hoodie, thick gloves and booties to stay warm in these cold to temperate waters.
Shore Diving in Northern California
Northern California offers rugged coastline diving with kelp forests, rocky reefs and cool waters rich in marine life.
Van Damme Cove, Mendocino County
At Van Damme Cove on Little River Beach along the rugged Mendocino County coast, you’ll encounter chilly water temperatures in the 4–11°C (high 40s to low 50s°F).
It’s well known among shore divers and snorkelers for its protected, calm conditions and 10- to 15-foot (3- to 4.5-meter) visibility, where you may encounter steelhead, coho salmon, sculpin, rockfish, bat stars, rock crabs and sea cucumbers.
Gerstle Cove, Sonoma County
Located within Salt Point State Park, Gerstle Cove stretches along 6 miles (10 km) of the Sonoma County coastline. This rocky beach site is ideal for beginners. In 15-30 feet (5-10 meters) of water, you can observe a variety of marine life. This includes crabs, lingcod, blue rockfish, cabezon, purple urchins and orange sea cucumbers, all within a designated protected area.
Parking is available nearby with restrooms and two spacious campgrounds.
Lake Tahoe
Straddling California and Nevada at an altitude of 6,230 feet (1,900 meters), Lake Tahoe is America’s highest and largest alpine lake. It offers excellent shore diving with visibility of 60 to 100 feet (20 to 33 meters) in cobalt-blue water, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Sand Harbor on the Nevada (eastern) site is the lake’s most accessible shore diving site. The Emerald Bay Heritage Trail has four sites on the California (western) side. You can explore two barge wrecks and encounter three varieties of trout (rainbow, brown, and mackinaw), kokanee salmon, largemouth bass and crawdads.
Water temperatures can be very chilly, so a dry suit is recommended. Because of the lake’s altitude, divers should also follow altitude diving procedures. This altitude also makes it a great place to complete the PADI Altitude Diver Specialty. Read more about scuba diving Lake Tahoe and explore a map of its dive sites.
Point Lobos, Carmel-By-The-Sea
The popular Point Lobos State Natural Reserve sits just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Protected since 1960, its cold waters offer breathtaking diving at depths of 30 to 120 feet (10 to 40 meters). Sites here feature pinnacles, rocky reefs, sandy channels and a wide variety of vibrant marine life.
The California State Park limits the number of divers here to help preserve the ecosystem. Only ten teams of two divers are admitted daily. So be sure to make a reservation through the California State Parks website up to two months in advance.
The Breakwater, Monterey Bay
The National Marine Sanctuary at Monterey Bay is one of the most popular sites in Northern California for shore diving. Protected from ocean waves and offering a gently sloping sandy shoreline, it’s suitable for divers of all levels, from beginners completing their certification dives to experienced divers.
Please note: when the winds are strong, the surf can equally strong, making entering and exiting during this time challenging.
With a maximum depth of 50 to 60 feet (16 to 20 meters), this site is home to nearly three dozen species of marine mammals and hundreds of fish species. Divers often see friendly sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, rainbow nudibranchs and octopuses.
Shore Diving in Southern California
Southern California features easy-access shore dives, kelp forests and diverse marine life in generally warmer and calmer waters.
Malibu
Malibu’s beautiful coastline and relatively easy accessibility attract surfers and shore divers of all levels.
As Marine Protected Areas, Point Dume and Leo Carrillo State Beach enable you to dive with an abundance of marine life, including crabs and lobsters, rockfish, sheepshead, halibut, surfperch and the occasional dolphin or sea lion.
Casino Point, Avalon, Catalina Island
Catalina is one of the Channel Islands and home to one of the top shore diving sites in California. Casino Point Underwater Park is just a one-hour ferry ride from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point, followed by a five-minute taxi or ride-share from the ferry terminal.
This site was established next to the iconic Casino building in 1962 as America’s first nonprofit underwater park. Gear up, grab the handrail, walk down the concrete stairs and swim out to a depth of about 85 feet (28 meters).
Water temperatures in this protected 2.5-acre park typically 50 to 72°F (10 to 20°C). Divers can explore lush kelp forests, along with plenty of octopuses, moray eels, lobsters, sea bass, bright gold Garibaldi and electric rays. The park is also popular with certification classes, so diving on a weekday is recommended.
Palos Verdes
Just south of Los Angeles, you’ll find two little-known shore diving sites. Long Point and Cobble Beach offer shore diving opportunities. Both sites feature somewhat challenging rock entries, but divers can encounter gorgonians, nudibranchs, octopuses, pinnacles, rockfish, scorpionfish, sea bass and rays.
Depths range from 15 to 50 feet (3 to 13 meters), with an average visibility around 20 feet (7 meters). These are great sites to shoot macro or underwater imagery.
Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach
One of Southern California’s best-kept shore-diving secrets is Shaw’s Cove, a small sandy beach that boasts an impressive array of fish. Protected by an outer reef and with a shallow 20-foot (7-meter) depth, divers can swim past large boulders to see golden Garibaldi, gorgonian sea fans, colorful nudibranchs and more.
Plan your dive at low tide due to strong winds and currents. Parking is limited, so drop off your gear at the top of the 58 stairs at Cliff Drive and Fairview Street.
La Jolla Cove & Shores, San Diego
There are five shore dives at this area’s most famous site within the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve. La Jolla Cove offers canyons, caves and wrecks, all in the state’s warmest waters, though visibility can vary widely from 10 to 90 feet (3 to 30 meters).
Divers frequently spot giant black sea bass, sevengill and leopard sharks, as well as sea lions and seals. On the bluffs above, arrive early to secure one of the 14 free parking spaces. There are also restrooms with showers available.
Ready To Shore Dive in California?
Now that you’ve discovered some of the best shore diving sites in California, it’s time to start planning your adventure. Connect with the dive travel experts at PADI Travel for advice or use the PADI dive shop locator to find a local dive center near the sites you want to explore.
