Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro · United States · Kelp forest · Reef
Malaga Cove
Thick, shallow kelp forest over rock, full of fish
Malaga Cove is a shallow Palos Verdes shore dive with a thick, healthy kelp forest over rocky structure. Little current and depths mostly of 3–9 m (10–30 ft) make it popular, and garibaldi, blacksmith, kelp bass and sheephead crowd the rocks, with bat rays, horn sharks and angel sharks turning up in season.
0Where it is and how deep
33.8040° N, 118.3953° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Follow the path down and choose the entry: the rocky boulders are moderate, the sandy beach is easy. Swim out to the kelp, which grows thick and healthy over rocky structure. Most of the points of interest are at 3–9 m (10–30 ft), and 12 m (40 ft) is the recommended maximum, so the whole dive stays shallow with little to no current.
Garibaldi, senoritas, blacksmith, kelp bass, sheephead and blue-banded gobies live among the rocks and kelp. Large bat rays, horn sharks, angel sharks, octopus, barracuda and bait fish also turn up, though some are seasonal. Plan the dive for small north and north-west swells and a high tide, and save energy for the strenuous climb out.
Marine life and season
- Eagle rays
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro: 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.
Know before you go
- The climb back to the parking lot is extremely strenuous; take it slowly and with care.
Dive videos
Scuba Divers Encounter MASSIVE School of Fish. Salema Fish @ Malaga Cove, Los Angeles California · California Shore Divers on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Malaga Cove?+
Most of the points of interest are at 3–9 m (10–30 ft), and 12 m (40 ft) is the recommended maximum depth.
Sources
- Malaga Cove in South Bay, CA — Eco Dive Center
- Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates — OpenStreetMap
More dive sites in Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
Wreck
Half-demolished concrete breakwater caisson at 49 m (160 ft)
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
Similar dives elsewhere
Concrete steps into the first underwater park in the US
A 77-metre wall at 18-20 m, off the cove boat ramp
Thick kelp beds along Highway 1 just past Cayucos
Kelp forest
Duck Island
Isles of Shoals · United States
Harbor and grey seals resting on the rocks above a kelp-covered cove