Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach · United States · Reef · Sand slope
Crescent Bay (Seal Rock)
Young sea lions dropping down to divers at Seal Rock
Area photo: Jukka from HELSINKI, Finland · CC BY 2.0
Crescent Bay is a Laguna Beach cove whose draw is Seal Rock on its northwest side, the only near-shore site in Southern California where divers mingle with hauled-out sea lions. Juvenile and sub-adult sea lions rest on the rock and come down to inspect divers waiting on the bottom at about 8 m (25 ft).
Also known as Seal Rock.
Where it is and how deep
33.5455° N, 117.8051° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
A larger passage leads underwater from neighbouring Shaw's Cove into Crescent Bay, and Seal Rock sits on the far, northwest side. It is a long swim over a sand bottom, so divers can surface and fin across on snorkel to save air. On the way, spotted scorpionfish lie camouflaged on the rocks, and bat rays may cross the sand.
At Seal Rock the plan is simple: descend to the bottom at about 8 m (25 ft), settle and wait. The rock is often peppered with juvenile and sub-adult sea lions, although on some days only a couple are hauled out. The young animals come down to the divers, hovering upside down in front of their masks before darting off.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
| 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
- The crossing to Seal Rock is long; divers keep enough air for the return or swim it on the surface with snorkels.
Dive videos
Bucket List Diving: Laguna - Seal Rock · BucketListDiving on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can divers swim with sea lions in Laguna Beach?+
Yes. Seal Rock on the northwest side of Crescent Bay is the only near-shore site in Southern California where divers mingle with sea lions, which haul out on the rock.
How deep is Seal Rock in Crescent Bay?+
Divers settle on the bottom at about 8 m (25 ft) beside the rock and wait for the sea lions to come down.
Sources
- Shore Diving in Orange County — Scuba Diving
- Seal Rock (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
More dive sites in Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach
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
Rocky reef spine and replanted giant kelp a short swim off the sand
Similar dives elsewhere
Sand slopes, low coral walls and a warship at 28 metres
Reef
Majahuitas
Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay · Mexico
A garden eel colony dense enough to look like grass
A gentle reef slope that ends at a canyon and its sandfall
.jpg){kind=link}
Spotted eagle rays at cleaning stations on rocky reef and sand