Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach · United States · Artificial reef · Night
Corona del Mar State Beach
A boulder breakwater at the Newport Bay entrance, best at dawn
Photo: Kdelaney7 · CC BY-SA 4.0
At the northwest corner of Corona del Mar State Beach a breakwater jetty divides Big Corona from the entrance to Newport Bay. Its piled boulders run south across a sloping sand bottom and form an artificial reef packed with invertebrates and reef fish. The dive follows the rocks out to the tip of the jetty at about 11 m (35 ft); it suits a predawn start, and night divers hunt lobster here in season.
Also known as Big Corona.
Where it is and how deep
33.5939° N, 117.8765° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers enter from the beach at the northwest corner and follow the jetty as it runs due south over a sloping sand bottom. A sediment plume near the beach clears once the team is past the surge zone. With the boulders on the right, the rocks carry laminaria, sea fans, starfish and giant keyhole limpets, and green abalone has been seen among them.
Halfway along, the gaps between the boulders reward a torch: senoritas, opaleye and calico bass are everywhere, moray eels hide in the cavities and lobster tuck into the rocks, which night divers hunt in season. Rock crabs and sheep crabs move over the sand and boulders, and garibaldi guard small tunnels. The depth reaches about 11 m (35 ft) off the tip of the jetty, where the dive turns back.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach: 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.
Know before you go
- Beyond the tip of the jetty lies the harbour channel with steady boat traffic; turn the dive at the tip rather than crossing into it.
- A sediment plume and surge near the beach reduce visibility on the way out; it clears beyond the surge zone.
Dive videos
Corona Del Mar State Beach SCUBA dive! · Lauren on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Corona del Mar jetty dive?+
The dive follows the breakwater out to its tip, where the depth reaches about 11 m (35 ft); beyond that is the boat channel.
Sources
- Shore Diving in Orange County — Scuba Diving
- Corona del Mar State Beach (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- Corona del Mar beach curving toward the Newport Harbor jetty under a clear blue sky by Kdelaney7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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