Newport Beach Center
California · Up to 21.9 m
A dive site in United States. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 22 m. The site is reached by boat.
IntermediateBoat entry
Scuba Diving in California, United States
Best dive sites in California, United States
Showing 73–81 of 81
Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island)
California · 6.1–19.8 m
The main landing and most-dived area on eastern Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, with rebounding giant kelp forest wrapping from the anchorage around Cavern Point. Popular spots include Scorpion's Rock (20-50 ft of kelp, gorgonians and invertebrates) and the wreck of the Spirit of America sitting upright on sand at about 65 ft outside the anchorage. The area is inside the no-take Scorpion State Marine Reserve.
Boat entry
Redondo Beach Center
California · Up to 21.9 m
Artificial reef built from Quarry Rock, Augmentations
IntermediateBoat entry
Stillwater Cove (Pebble Beach)
California · 3–15.2 m
A sheltered cove on Carmel Bay below the Pebble Beach golf links, accessed through the private Beach & Tennis Club. Usually in the lee of the prevailing northwest wind, it offers calm granite reefs, shallow canyons and kelp in 10-50 feet, with most reef at 25-30 feet. Access is tightly controlled: a 17-Mile Drive gate fee, diving limited to 10 divers per day on the beach east of the pier, daylight hours only, and beach parking reservable through the harbormaster.
Shore + boat
Otter Cove
California · 3–18.3 m
A quiet cove on Ocean View Boulevard about a quarter mile up the coast from Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, named for the sea otters that frequent its kelp beds. A broad shallow shelf of kelp- and coralline-covered rock in 10-15 feet extends offshore before the bottom slopes gradually to around 60 feet. Far less crowded than the Monterey classics, but the rocky shallows make it a high-tide dive.
Shore entry
Goldenhorn Verified
California · 3–9 m
Shallow historic four-masted bark wreck along the southwest coast of Santa Rosa Island. NOAA and NPS document underwater wreck imagery; the site is best represented as a protected Channel Islands boat wreck with scattered remains and cold-water exposure. Keep the record concise and avoid repeating unverified cargo/history embellishments.
IntermediateBoat entry
Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef)
California · 4.6–19.8 m
Scenic Laguna Beach cove with sandy entry and rocky reef structure on both sides, with most points of interest in 15-35 ft. Strong swimmers or kayak/boat divers can continue roughly 300-400 yards offshore to Deadman's Reef, a pinnacle complex rising to about 20 ft with 45-65 ft on its flanks. The site lies inside the no-take Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve.
IntermediateShore entry