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IntermediateShore entry

Avalon Dive Park

California, United States
Open Water suggested3–31 m depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

Avalon Dive Park at a glance

Avalon Dive Park is a intermediate shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 3–30.5 m (10–100 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Garibaldi, Kelp bass (calico bass), and California sheephead. Recent reports put the water around 23°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 5h ago
1.0 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 23°C · seasonal avg 21°C

Site hazards: Occasional moderate current flowing west to east along the outer kelp edge; depth drops quickly to 65-95+ ft at the outer buoys and the Suejac wreck, so watch your gauge; kelp entanglement; crowded entry/exit stairs on busy weekends; boat traffic outside the roped park boundary.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sun
Sun7:00–20:00
Mon7:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:34 · Sunrise 6:02 · Sunset 19:57

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 7.1 km from site · graded 5h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Garibaldi, Kelp bass (calico bass), California sheephead
Best time: Year-round; nearly always calm. Arrive early to beat crowds and get staging space. Summer water runs 70-74F with big visibility days (up to 100 ft); late spring-summer brings giant sea bass to the outer kelp edge.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan62%15°C1.6 m
  2. Feb60%15°C1.6 m
  3. Mar57%14°C1.6 m
  4. Apr83%15°C1.3 m
  5. May89%17°C1.2 m
  6. Jun98%19°C1.1 m
  7. Jul100%21°C1.0 m
  8. Aug100%21°C1.0 m
  9. Sep99%21°C1.0 m
  10. Oct87%20°C1.1 m
  11. Nov84%17°C1.2 m
  12. Dec72%16°C1.3 m

July and August havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • GaribaldiCommonly seen
  • Kelp bass (calico bass)Commonly seen
  • California sheepheadCommonly seen
  • Giant (black) sea bassSeasonal
  • SenoritaCommonly seen
  • Blue-banded gobyCommonly seen
  • California moray eelCommonly seen
  • California spiny lobsterCommonly seen
  • NudibranchsCommonly seen
  • OctopusOccasionally seen
  • California sea lionOccasionally seen
  • Bat rayOccasionally seen
  • Horn sharkOccasionally seen
  • SurfperchCommonly seen

  • Hypsypops rubicundus recorded here Jul–Oct (11 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Myliobatis californica recorded here Jun, Oct (5 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Panulirus interruptus recorded here Aug–Oct (3 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Enteroctopus dofleini recorded here Sep–Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Halichoeres semicinctus recorded here Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2011

  • Paralabrax clathratus recorded here Jul, Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2012

  • Semicossyphus pulcher recorded here Aug, Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2009

  • Stereolepis gigas recorded here Aug (2 records)

    most recent 2015

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

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.

reefshorewallwreck

Occasional moderate current flowing west to east along the outer kelp edge; depth drops quickly to 65-95+ ft at the outer buoys and the Suejac wreck, so watch your gauge; kelp entanglement; crowded entry/exit stairs on busy weekends; boat traffic outside the roped park boundary.

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