Huntington Beach C Center
California · Up to 18.3 m
Artificial reef built from Quarry Rock
IntermediateBoat entry
Scuba Diving in California, United States
Best dive sites in California, United States
Showing 61–72 of 81
Shaws Cove
California · 3–15.2 m
Shaw's Cove is arguably the most popular shore dive in Orange County: a small, swell-protected sandy cove in north Laguna Beach reached by a 58-step staircase off Cliff Drive. The best diving is along the rocky reef on the west side, where a channel called the Crevice cuts through a rock arch toward Crescent Bay, with kelp, gorgonians and abundant fish in 15-40 ft of water (about 50 ft maximum). Calm conditions and an easy sandy entry make it a standing venue for weekend training classes, and it lies within Laguna Beach's marine protected waters, so no take is allowed.
Shore entry
Emerald Bay - Florence M and Boat Camp Wrecks
California · 5–18 m
Part of California's first underwater maritime heritage trail, opened in Emerald Bay State Park in 2018. This stop features the Florence M, a 27-foot passenger launch built in 1915 at Stephens Brothers boatyard that ferried Emerald Bay Resort guests from 1926 and now sits in about 60 feet of water, plus two small sunken fishing boats near the boat-in campground. The collection is the largest, most diverse group of small sunken watercraft in their original location known in the United States. High-altitude freshwater diving with often excellent visibility.
IntermediateShore + boat
Monastery Beach North (North Monastery)
California · 3–39.6 m
The north end of Monastery Beach (San Jose Creek Beach) on Carmel Bay, sitting on the eastern rim of the Carmel submarine canyon — a 200-yard swim can put a diver over 200 feet of water. Granite reefs and pristine kelp forest start close to shore, but the steep, coarse-sand beach produces violently plunging shorebreak and a washing-machine undertow. The beach is infamous for diver and wader fatalities (roughly 20 deaths since 2004, earning the nickname 'Mortuary Beach'); enter and exit only at the extreme north end and only on small-swell days.
AdvancedShore entry
La Jolla Cove
California · 3–18.3 m
San Diego's classic easy shore dive inside the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, where a protected entry leads to rocky reef, eelgrass, and kelp in roughly 10-45 feet of water. Sea lions, garibaldi, kelp bass, lobster, rays, and occasional giant sea bass make it one of the most reliable marine-life dives in San Diego.
Shore entry
Ingraham Street Bridge
California · 15–21 m
When San Diego's old Ingraham Street Bridge across Mission Bay was demolished in 1992, its concrete slabs and rebar were sunk in about 60 feet of water in Wreck Alley by the California Department of Fish and Game's Artificial Reef Program. The criss-crossed slabs cover roughly a quarter mile of seafloor, creating dense cover that holds more fish than the nearby ship wrecks, plus abundant lobsters, eels and gorgonians. Its shallower depth makes it the rare Wreck Alley stop accessible to entry-level open-water divers and a favorite night dive.
Boat entry
Crystal Cove State Park - Reef Point (Scotchman's Cove)
California · 6.1–15.2 m
The most popular dive access within Crystal Cove State Park, reached by a long trail and ramp down from the Reef Point parking lots. Distinctive tilted rock fingers run offshore, with the best reef structure in roughly 30-50 ft straight out from the rocks, and a 150-year-old historic anchor sits in about 20 ft near the Muddy Creek ramp. The area lies within the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area, which restricts take of most invertebrates.
IntermediateShore entry
Point Pinos
California · 6.1–36.6 m
The rocky northern tip of the Monterey Peninsula, where Monterey Bay meets the open Pacific. Rock ridges, kelp beds and depths from 20 to 120 feet reward divers with dense invertebrate life, but the boulder-covered beaches, breakers and currents make it an advanced shore dive that is only safe in ideal conditions. Several pullouts along the shoreline serve different entries; many divers prefer to dive it by boat.
AdvancedShore + boat
Avalon Dive Park
California · 3–30.5 m
Casino Point Dive Park (Avalon Underwater Park) is a roughly 2-2.5 acre roped-off, no-take marine reserve beside the landmark Catalina Casino in Avalon, widely regarded as the best shore dive in California. Custom concrete stairs with handrails lead straight into a lush giant kelp forest over reefs, mini-walls and sand flats from 10 to 100 ft, with several small wrecks including the 54-ft sailboat Suejac (bow at ~95 ft), the Kismet, a glass-bottom boat and a sunken swim platform, plus an underwater Jacques Cousteau memorial plaque at about 35 ft. Established in the 1960s as the first non-profit underwater park in the country, its protected status makes the fish unusually bold and the site ideal for everyone from open-water students to photographers.
IntermediateShore entry
Veterans Park (Redondo Canyon)
California · 4.6–30.5 m
Sandy-beach shore dive just south of the Redondo Beach Pier where a gently sloping bottom drops into the head of Redondo Submarine Canyon, which begins around 50 ft and plunges past recreational limits. A short surface swim reaches 60-100 ft, making it a popular deep-training and night-dive site, with a noticeable thermocline around 40 ft. Local clubs dive it on Wednesday nights and classes run most weekends.
IntermediateShore entry