One of the best things about being a diver in Southern California is the relatively easy access to a magnificent array of dive sites along the coast of the temperate Pacific. Kelp forests have made a comeback along the coasts of Orange and Los Angeles counties, and with the newly formed marine protected areas (MPAs) in place, both flora and fauna are showing signs of how the underwater world looked in years past. So load up your car, stop by the local dive shop for air fills, and take the nearest exit off the 405 freeway to enjoy one of these SoCal gems.

Shaw's Cove

The beach-side community of Laguna Beach is gorgeous enough, and diving Shaw’s Cove is the icing on the cake. Shaw’s Cove is arguably one of the most popular dive sites in Southern California, and definitely the most popular site in Orange County. When you first drop down behind the surf zone and kick west, you’re greeted by waving eel grass in a shallow area known by locals as “the foyer.” This is where you’re most likely to encounter sleek leopard sharks and small schools of shimmering bait- fish. Following the reef down to 25 feet will eventually bring you to one of the most iconic structures of Shaw’s Cove: the Arch. This rocky arch is home to large pods of spiny lobsters and is the gateway to the crevice, which fragments into a series of easy-to-navigate channels. Keep your eyes peeled as you make your way along the reef for vividly colored and cryptic nudibranchs, two-spot octopuses hiding behind shells, and lightning-fast blue-banded gobies. A thick, healthy kelp forest welcomes you as you continue along the sloping reef past 35 feet. Curious sheephead and ubiquitous bright-orange garibaldi will keep you company as you reach the end of the reef, well within open-water-certification limits. Here you’ll encounter large, wispy tube anemones, a variety of colorful sea-star species, and more barred sand bass than you’ll be able to count. While navigating your way back to shore, be sure to pay a visit to the beloved “Shelly of Shaw’s” statue.

In addition to all the astonishing variety of marine life and structure just steps from shore, divers at Shaw’s Cove might see rare roughjaw frogfish or get the occasional visit by any number of gelatinous pelagic drifters like the Thetys vagina salp. Once, divers encountered a migrating California gray whale.

Veteran’s MemorIal Park

Located in the city of Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County, Vets Park is perched just above the edge of a massive submarine canyon. As you kick out from shore, you’ll notice a gently sloping sea floor covered in beds of perfectly aligned sand dollars. Once you drop deeper than 30 feet, the wall quickly drops to depths well past recreational-dive limits. At first glance, the sandy bottom of Vets Park might seem barren. Look closely, though, and you’ll notice the sea floor is alive with crabs and shrimp of all sizes, flatfish lying in wait, camouflaged red octopuses on the hunt, and Sarcastic fringeheads guarding their turf. The detritus patches along the sandy bottom are home to serpent-like pipefish, a multitude of nudibranch species and schools of juvenile fish.

As you make your way back up the slope, searching the topography for all things tiny, be sure to check the water column. Vets Park is no stranger to big schools of baitfish, acrobatic sea lions and pulsating fried-egg jellyfish.

Vets Park is an incredible site for a night dive as well, especially during a squid run. Market squid, in the thousands, make their way up from the depths; after mating, they lay their white cigar-shaped eggs in baskets across the sandy sea floor. Sometimes these egg baskets cover many acres, attracting predators like spiny lobsters, large bat rays and crabs. During mating, the squid can be so thick that you can’t see your dive buddy right next to you. It’s an amazing sight to see, and one that should be experienced at least once.

Old Marineland

Once the home of Marineland of the Pacific, this dive site was also the location of many episodes of the 1950s television show Sea Hunt, starring Lloyd Bridges. This rocky shore entry along the gorgeous Palos Verdes peninsula boasts some of the most diverse marine life along the coast of Southern California. Now the site of the beautiful Terranea Resort, the pathway down to the shore is paved, and even sports an outdoor shower, which is perfect for a quick rinse during the trek back up to the parking lot. Although not the easiest of shore entries, it is worth the effort on calm days due to the abundance of macro life.

After donning your fins past the surf zone, you have two main options: Take a compass heading of 120 degrees and make a few kicks to the 120 Reef, or hug the shoreline along the resort property toward Long Point. The extra effort it takes to kick out to Long Point is rewarded by an amazing variety of nudibranchs. Wherever you decide to drop down, you’re sure to encounter magnificent sunflower stars, schools of jack mackerel and thick kelp forests. Occasionally you’ll be treated to a visit by a playful harbor seal nipping at your fins, or a school of Pacific barracuda. What this nutrient-rich site lacks in stellar visibility is more than compensated for by its ability to deliver critter-packed dives time and time again.

To discover more USA local diving, visit the Drive and Dive section of our website.