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Farnsworth Bank

California, United States
AOW suggested17–40 m (55–130 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Farnsworth Bank at a glance

Farnsworth Bank is an advanced boat dive site in California, United States with depths of 16.8–39.6 m (55–130 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Giant sea bass, California purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus), and Pacific electric ray (torpedo ray). Recent reports put the water around 23°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–19:00 · favorable · sunset 18:08

Forecast for this hour · 3:00 · run 4 h ago
0.9 m (2.9 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 23°C · seasonal avg 20°C ( · Forecast 74°F · seasonal avg 67°F)

Site hazards: Depth (most of the dive below 90 ft), strong open-ocean currents and swell, no shelter, blue-water descents/ascents, aggressive Pacific electric (torpedo) rays

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 11 kn wind (3.5 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 6 kn wind (4.2 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.7 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 5 kn wind (3.3 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.0 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sat8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.1 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 6:42 · Sunrise 7:07 · Sunset 18:08 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 22:24 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Farnsworth Bank

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 purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus), Pacific electric ray (torpedo ray), Blacksmith
Best time: Flat-calm days, most often late summer and fall

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, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  2. February, 60% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  3. March, 57% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  4. April, 83% 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 11 knots
  5. May, 89% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (66°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (69°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  10. October, 87% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  11. November, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  12. December, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots

July and August 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.

  • Chromis punctipinnis recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Girella nigricans recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Semicossyphus pulcher recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2013

Newest record here: 2013. 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

Open-ocean seamount about 1.5-2 miles off the backside (southwest) of Catalina Island, with pinnacles rising from 200+ ft to peaks around 55-60 ft. It is famous for dense stands of protected California purple hydrocoral covering the walls, with most diving in the 90-110 ft range. Exposed position means it is only diveable in calm seas, and currents can be strong; the site is protected within the Farnsworth Offshore State Marine Conservation Area.

boatpinnaclereefwall

Depth (most of the dive below 90 ft), strong open-ocean currents and swell, no shelter, blue-water descents/ascents, aggressive Pacific electric (torpedo) rays

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