North America · United States
Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
Easy cliff-foot shore dives, with young sea lions hauled out at Seal Rock
Photo: Jukka from HELSINKI, Finland · CC BY 2.0
The Orange County coast between Newport Beach and Dana Point, known above all for its shore diving. Laguna Beach has 14 shore sites at average depths of 6–15 m (20–50 ft) beneath its cliffs, among them Shaw's Cove, the sea lions of Seal Rock at Crescent Bay and a ditched airplane in Wood's Cove. Little Corona sits by Newport Harbor, and a dive boat from Dana Point runs to reefs out of reach from shore and to the A.C.E. wreck at 34 m (113 ft).
About diving in Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
Shore diving is the main draw here. Laguna Beach has 14 shore sites in coves at the foot of the cliffs, and a day there begins early: at Shaw's Cove, the most popular of them, divers aim to be in the water between 7 and 8 a.m., because parking becomes a problem by early afternoon. The boat alternative is the Riviera, a 12 m (40 ft) vessel licensed for 30 passengers that sails from Dana Point to reefs hard to reach from shore, among them Broadway pipeline, Deadman's Reef, Heisler Park, Wood's deep reefs and Treasure Island. Beach Cities Scuba runs one of the oldest dive shops in Southern California there, and Lost Winds has two retail shops.
The bottom is reef broken by coves and kelp, mostly at 6–15 m (20–50 ft). Diver's Cove has mini-wall reefs, Fisherman's Cove hides Mermaid's Grotto, a starfish-shaped reef chamber, and a ditched airplane rests in 12 m (40 ft) at Wood's Cove. South of Arch Rock, giant kelp rises in vines of 9 m (30 ft). Garibaldi fill the crannies with orange, kelp bass, sand bass and rockfish are common, horn sharks cruise the reef, and spiny lobster hide in its rocks. Most of the Laguna coast, from Irvine Cove to Treasure Island Beach, has been a no-take state marine reserve since 2012.
The coves suit newer divers; at Shaw's Cove the surf rarely exceeds 1 m (3 ft), although surge in its crevice can be tricky. Deeper interest lies offshore on the A.C.E. wreck at 34 m (113 ft), a dive kept for experienced divers. The water runs about 12–20 °C (53–68 °F), and visibility at Little Corona ranges from 2 to 8 m (5–25 ft).
Best time to dive Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
The water averages about 20 °C (67.6 °F) in July and 15 °C (58.5 °F) in January; spiny lobster season runs October to March.
Best months: July
Dive types & marine life
Juvenile and sub-adult sea lions often haul out on Seal Rock at Crescent Bay, though some days only a couple are there. Garibaldi, kelp bass, sand bass and rockfish are the everyday reef fish, horn sharks cruise the reef, and spiny lobster hide on its shelves.
- Reef
- Kelp forest
- Wreck
- Seals & sea lions
Best dive sites in Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
- 1
Crescent Bay (Seal Rock)
The only near-shore site in Southern California where divers mingle with hauled-out sea lions.
- 2
Shaw's Cove
Laguna's most popular shore dive: a beach entry where surf rarely tops 1 m (3 ft), and a crevice with surge.
- 3
A.C.E. wreck
Wreck at 34 m (113 ft), home to thousands of organisms; a boat dive for experienced divers.
- 4
Wood's Cove
A ditched airplane resting in 12 m (40 ft) of water off a Laguna Beach cove.
- 5
Little Corona
Reef at the southeast end of Corona del Mar State Beach, 0.8 km (half a mile) east of Newport Harbor.
- 6
Diver's Cove
Laguna Beach shore dive over a set of mini-wall reefs.
Site guides
Wreck
Drum seiner lost in 2005, now home to marine life at 34 m
A boulder breakwater at the Newport Bay entrance, best at dawn
Young sea lions dropping down to divers at Seal Rock
Rocky reef spine and replanted giant kelp a short swim off the sand
How to get to Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
John Wayne Airport serves Orange County and borders Newport Beach; MacArthur Boulevard south from it leads to SR 73 toward Corona del Mar, and taxis and shuttles leave from its Ground Transportation Center. Beach Cities Scuba and the Riviera dive boat are based in Dana Point, and the shore sites spread along Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar.
Photos from Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
Jukka from HELSINKI, Finland · CC BY 2.0
Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it! · CC BY-SA 2.0
Davefoc · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Scuba Diving Fisherman's and Divers Cove | Laguna Beach | California · SDScuba on YouTube
My First Night Dive | Laguna Beach, California · Patrick Explores on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification does diving at Laguna Beach need?+
Shaw's Cove suits novice divers, with surf that rarely exceeds 1 m (3 ft), although surge in its crevice can be tricky. The A.C.E. wreck at 34 m (113 ft) is a boat dive for experienced divers only.
Is diving at Laguna Beach from shore or by boat?+
Laguna Beach has 14 shore sites in coves at the foot of the cliffs. The Riviera, a 12 m (40 ft) boat sailing from Dana Point, reaches reefs that are hard to get to from shore.
When should divers arrive at Shaw's Cove?+
Divers aim to be in the water between 7 and 8 a.m. at Shaw's Cove, the most popular of the Laguna Beach sites, because parking becomes a problem by early afternoon.
Are there sea lions at Laguna Beach?+
Juvenile and sub-adult sea lions often haul out on Seal Rock at Crescent Bay, though some days only a couple are there.
Sources
- Shore Diving in the O.C. — Scuba Diving magazine
- Scuba Diving & Snorkeling — Riviera Yacht Charters
- Dive Site: Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach, California — Scuba Diver Life
- Dive Site - Little Corona — Beach Cities Scuba
- About Us — Beach Cities Scuba
- About Us — Lost Winds Dive Shop
- Laguna Beach Water Temperature — seatemperature.org
- Laguna Beach, California — Wikipedia
- John Wayne Airport — Wikipedia
Photo credits
- Sandy beach curving toward dark rock reefs and tide pools on a calm blue sea at Laguna Beach by Jukka from HELSINKI, Finland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Flat sandstone reef exposed at low tide below a palm-lined bluff, with rocks offshore by Jukka from HELSINKI, Finland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cove and beach below flowering shrubs, with the Laguna Beach hillside and hotels beyond by Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green aggregating anemone open in a shallow tide pool among shells and pebbles by Davefoc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Embed
Run a dive centre, club or blog? Embed this map of 3 dive sites near Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach on your own page.
Similar destinations
Walk down the stairs at Casino Point straight into a giant kelp forest
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Playful sea lions and towering kelp forests around rocky island pinnacles.
North America
A sunken Canadian destroyer and giant kelp a short boat ride from Mission Bay
North America
Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
United States
Market squid spawn on the Redondo canyon edge from mid-December to early March