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Map of Bird Rock (Catalina Island)
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IntermediateBoat entry

Bird Rock (Catalina Island)

California, United States
Open Water suggested6–26 m depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Bird Rock (Catalina Island) at a glance

Bird Rock (Catalina Island) is a intermediate boat dive site in California, United States with depths of 6.1–25.9 m (20–85 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see California spiny lobster, Garibaldi, and Gorgonian sea fans. Recent reports put the water around 23°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 3h 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 current on the outer sections, boat traffic in and out of Isthmus Harbor, undercut wall sections

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 5:35 · Sunrise 6:02 · Sunset 19:58

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 11 km from site · graded 3h 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: California spiny lobster, Garibaldi, Gorgonian sea fans
Best time: Summer and fall; visibility averages 40 ft and often exceeds 60 ft

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

  • California spiny lobsterCommonly seen
  • GaribaldiCommonly seen
  • Gorgonian sea fansCommonly seen
  • Kelp bass (calico bass)Commonly seen
  • California sheepheadCommonly seen
  • Harbor sealOccasionally seen
  • OctopusOccasionally seen

  • Hermissenda crassicornis recorded here May (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Heterodontus francisci recorded here Mar (1 record)

    most recent 2016

  • Panulirus interruptus recorded here Sep (1 record)

    most recent 2020

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

A large white-domed rock at the edge of Isthmus Harbor near Two Harbors, offering varied terrain: shallow reef, an underwater arch, and a wall that drops vertically from about 20 ft to 70 ft, with another section running from the surface to 85 ft with deep undercuts. Scattered boulders and kelp continue to 60-80 ft. The boundary of the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area cuts through the reefs here, so most divers treat it as a no-take site.

boatreefwall

Occasional current on the outer sections, boat traffic in and out of Isthmus Harbor, undercut wall sections

Reviews

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