North America · United States
Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
Market squid spawn on the Redondo canyon edge from mid-December to early March
The mainland Los Angeles County coast, dived from shops in Redondo Beach and San Pedro. Shore entries line the Palos Verdes Peninsula, from Malaga Cove and Old Marineland to White Point, over kelp and rock. Veteran's Park in Redondo drops onto the Redondo Submarine Canyon, where market squid spawn in winter. Offshore lie the Palawan, a 134-metre Liberty ship (441 ft) at 35–38 m, and the Olympic II at 30 m off San Pedro.
About diving in Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
At Old Marineland on the Palos Verdes Peninsula the entry is a hike down to Long Point, a swim south-east and an exit at Cobble Beach, with a tow service checking the lot for stragglers after 4 pm. At Redondo the entry at Veteran's Park sits just south of the pier. Wrecks need a boat, and the Island Diver runs out of Kings Harbor to the Palawan, a ten-minute motor. Pacific Wilderness has a shop in San Pedro and Dive N' Surf one in Redondo Beach.
The peninsula is rock and kelp; Old Marineland is dived at 5 to 15 m, with good kelp growth off Long Point. At Veteran's Park the bottom falls away into the Redondo Submarine Canyon, where a thermocline around 12 m (40 ft) cools the water; octopus, scorpionfish, pipefish, giant starfish and baby horn sharks share the sand. Offshore, the Palawan has its deck at 35 m and carries nudibranchs, calico and sand bass, crabs, lobsters and lingcod, while the Olympic II lies on her side at about 30 m.
Visibility runs from 3 m to 15 m on a good day, and rain runoff from the Los Angeles River and the harbour storm drains clouds the water near the port for days. Abalone Cove is closed by the Portuguese Bend landslide with no reopening date announced, and diving inside Redondo harbour needs a Harbor Master permit.
Best time to dive Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
The squid run at Veteran's Park, mid-December to early March, falls in the coldest water of the year; August is the warmest month at about 19 °C.
Dive types & marine life
Market squid spawn along the Redondo canyon edge at 11–15 m (35–50 ft) from mid-December to early March in most years. White sea bass show on the kelp fringe at Old Marineland from March through June. Night dives at Veteran's Park bring out bat rays, eels, crabs and nudibranchs, and mola mola pass the Palawan.
- Kelp forest
- Reef
- Wreck
- Night
- Squid
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Eagle rays
- Nudibranchs
- Mola mola
Best dive sites in Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
- 1
Veteran's Park
Shore entry south of Redondo Beach Pier onto the submarine canyon, dived at 9–18 m (30–60 ft).
- 2
Palawan
A 134-metre Liberty ship (441 ft) 3 km off Redondo Beach, deck at 35 m (115 ft), sand at 38 m.
- 3
Olympic II
Wreck on her starboard side in about 30 m (100 ft) in a high-traffic area off San Pedro.
- 4
Old Marineland (Long Point and Cobble Beach)
Shore dive from Long Point south-east to Cobble Beach over kelp at 5–15 m (15–50 ft).
- 5
Malaga Cove
Western reef on the Palos Verdes Peninsula used by scuba divers, freedivers and spearfishers.
- 6
White Point
The one shore site on this stretch where gear can be driven to the water; under construction 2026–2028.
Site guides
Wreck
Half-demolished concrete breakwater caisson at 49 m (160 ft)
Kelp forest
Thick, shallow kelp forest over rock, full of fish
Point-to-cove kelp swim from Long Point to Cobble Beach
An 1877 Harland and Wolff sailing ship lying on her side
Wreck
Stripped Liberty ship hull with its deck at 35 m (115 ft)
Sand slope
Easy beach entry onto a canyon edge with a busy night community
How to get to Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
LAX and Long Beach Airport are both within 40 minutes of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Dive N' Surf is at 504 North Broadway in Redondo Beach and Pacific Wilderness is in San Pedro. Wreck boats sail from Kings Harbor in Redondo (Island Diver) and from Marina del Rey (Giant Stride).
Dive videos
Saving Entrapped Animals in Redondo Beach · Scuba Juan on YouTube
Diving Adventure 7/31/22 - Redondo Beach CA · Airjo2x on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When do market squid spawn at Redondo?+
Market squid spawn along the Redondo canyon edge at 11–15 m (35–50 ft) from mid-December to early March in most years, in the coldest water of the year.
What certification does the Palawan at Redondo need?+
The Palawan, a 134-metre Liberty ship (441 ft), has its deck at 35 m (115 ft) and sand at 38 m (125 ft). It is an advanced dive, nitrox recommended, while Veteran's Park suits beginners.
Which Palos Verdes dive sites are closed?+
Abalone Cove is closed by the Portuguese Bend landslide with no reopening date announced, and White Point is under construction 2026–2028. Diving inside Redondo harbour needs a Harbor Master permit.
How is the visibility at Redondo and Palos Verdes?+
Visibility runs from 3 m to 15 m on a good day, and rain runoff from the Los Angeles River and the harbour storm drains clouds the water near the port for days.
Sources
- Los Angeles dive sites — Nautical Nick
- Redondo Beach — Nautical Nick
- White Point — Nautical Nick
- Abalone Cove — Nautical Nick
- Pacific Wilderness — Pacific Wilderness
- About us — Dive N' Surf
- Vet's Park Redondo Beach — Eco Dive Center
- Old MarineLand — Pacific Wilderness
- Wreck Diving Los Angeles — Bluewater Photo
- Olympic II — Wrecked in my rEvo
- Redondo Beach water temperature — Sea Temperatures
- Palos Verdes Peninsula — Wikipedia
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