Laguna Beach, Dana Point & Newport Beach · United States · Reef · Kelp forest
Little Corona
Rocky reef spine and replanted giant kelp a short swim off the sand
Photo: Austin Neill arstyy · CC0
Little Corona is a shallow shore dive at the southeast end of Corona del Mar State Beach, about 0.8 km (half a mile) east of Newport Harbor. Divers walk in from the beach, head for the rocks and descend onto an exposed reef with a kelp bed, reaching no more than 9 m (30 ft). Bathrooms, showers and a lifeguard station sit at the beach.
Also known as Little Corona del Mar.
Where it is and how deep
33.5898° N, 117.8686° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts on the sand: divers cross the beach, enter the water and head over to the rocks before descending. The western side of the cove tends to be murky, so the usual plan is to work the eastern side, where a reef system lies about 90 m (100 yards) off the beach, marked by a boat buoy. Elongated rocks form a reef spine with crevices along its sides, and the whole profile stays between the surface and 9 m (30 ft).
Along the rocks live turban snails, ochre sea stars, red feather dusters and golden gorgonians, with eelgrass between them, and a cabezon may sit guarding a rock spire. Garibaldi, sheephead, senoritas, sand bass and sculpin are regular reef fish, and bat rays pass through. Once picked over by divers and overrun by purple urchins, the reef has recovered since local dive instructors began transplanting giant kelp here in 1995. South of Arch Rock lies a garden of giant kelp, where kelp bass, rockfish and horn sharks are common.
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
- Little Corona is an exposed reef, so entries and exits need care; a lifeguard stand overlooks the beach.
- Visibility is often poor on the western side of the cove; plan the dive on the eastern reef and carry a surface marker buoy.
Photos from Little Corona
CharleBernardo · CC0
Dive videos
Scuba Diving Little Corona, Corona Del Mar, CA 11Jan2014 · J Atienza on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Little Corona?+
Little Corona is shallow: the dive runs from the beach entry to a maximum of 9 m (30 ft), which suits newly certified divers.
Is Little Corona a shore dive?+
Yes. Divers enter from the sand at the southeast end of Corona del Mar State Beach and swim to the rocks before descending.
Sources
- Dive Site - Little Corona — Beach Cities Scuba
- Shore Diving in Orange County — Scuba Diving
- Little Corona Del Mar Beach (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- Golden rock spires and a boulder-strewn shore meeting a calm sea at Little Corona by Austin Neill arstyy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- View over a sheltered cove and rocks toward the Newport Harbor entrance jetty by CharleBernardo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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