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Map of Sea Fan Grotto (White Rocks, Catalina Island)
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Boat entry

Sea Fan Grotto (White Rocks, Catalina Island)

California, United States
Open Water suggested3–18 m depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Sea Fan Grotto (White Rocks, Catalina Island) at a glance

Sea Fan Grotto (White Rocks, Catalina Island) is a boat dive site in California, United States with depths of 3–18.3 m (10–60 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Golden gorgonian sea fans, Garibaldi, and California spiny lobster. Recent reports put the water around 23°C (73°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 10h ago
1.3 mwaves — about a meter and a half expected

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

Site hazards: Surge inside the cavern on swell days, overhead environment for those entering the grotto, shallow rocks close to the cliff

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Thu
Mon7:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat7:00–20:00
Sun—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:35 · Sunrise 6:03 · Sunset 19:57

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 11 km from site · graded 10h 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: Golden gorgonian sea fans, Garibaldi, California spiny lobster
Best time: Calm days with minimal swell; visibility averages 30-40 ft, often 60+

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

  • Golden gorgonian sea fansCommonly seen
  • GaribaldiCommonly seen
  • California spiny lobsterCommonly seen
  • BlacksmithCommonly seen
  • NudibranchsOccasionally seen
  • Moray eelOccasionally seen

  • Heterodontus francisci recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Hypsypops rubicundus recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Panulirus interruptus recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Scorpaena guttata recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 2012

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 classic Catalina boat dive just east of Blue Cavern Point where massive rock slabs form a wide-mouthed cavern in about 25 ft of water, famous for 'hanging gardens' of golden gorgonian sea fans on its ceiling and walls. The cavern extends roughly 20 ft back with a chimney exit rising to 10 ft, and natural light is always visible; kelp reef outside slopes deeper for a longer dive. Lies along the Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA shoreline, so take is prohibited.

boatcavereef

Surge inside the cavern on swell days, overhead environment for those entering the grotto, shallow rocks close to the cliff

Reviews

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