Skip to content
Map of Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef)
Add the first photo
IntermediateShore entry

Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef)

California, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested5–20 m (15–65 ft) depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef) at a glance

Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef) is an intermediate shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 4.6–19.8 m (15–65 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see California sheephead, Barred sand bass, and Blacksmith. Recent reports put the water around 23°C (73°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–19:00 · favorable · sunset 18:05

Forecast for this hour · 3:00 · run 4 h ago
0.7 m (2.3 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about two feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 23°C · seasonal avg 20°C ( · Forecast 73°F · seasonal avg 67°F)

Site hazards: Surf and surge on the reef edges, long surface swim to Deadman's Reef, boat traffic offshore, rip currents near the points

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.4 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 6 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.5 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 6 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:39 · Sunrise 7:05 · Sunset 18:05 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 1.1 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 22:23 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Crescent Bay (Deadman's Reef)

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: California sheephead, Blacksmith, Kelp bass (calico bass)
Best time: Calm summer and fall mornings with small south swell

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. January, 68% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  2. February, 67% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  3. March, 71% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  5. May, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (66°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (71°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  10. October, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  11. November, 93% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  12. December, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots

June and July have typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Hypsypops rubicundus recorded here Feb–May, Dec (6 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Chromis punctipinnis recorded here Feb–Mar, Dec (4 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Oxyjulis californica recorded here Feb–Apr, Dec (4 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Zalophus californianus recorded here Feb–Apr (4 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Phoca vitulina recorded here Feb, Oct (3 records)

    most recent 2015

  • Gymnothorax mordax recorded here Apr, Jul (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Halichondria panicea recorded here Jul (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Oxylebius pictus recorded here Feb–Mar (2 records)

    most recent 2013

Newest record here: 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.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

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.

pinnaclereefshore

Surf and surge on the reef edges, long surface swim to Deadman's Reef, boat traffic offshore, rip currents near the points

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.