California has three beautiful diving regions.

The North coast region is renowned for lush, moist forests of the world's tallest trees, coastal bluffs, secluded coves and wildlife areas. From the pristine beaches and coves of Carmel by the Sea and Monterey Bay, the coastline includes numerous dive locations North of San Francisco, all the way to Mendocino and Crescent City. Each site offers its unique underwater topography and associated marine life.

The California mid region includes diving locations from South of Pt. Lobos State Park (Carmel by the Sea) to Laguna Beach. This long stretch of beautiful beaches can be categorized as open-water diving, with some protected coves and inlets. Capitalizing on optimal weather as well as observing tides and current conditions are crucial to an enjoyable dive experience.

The California South listings include the greater San Diego area (Pt. Loma North to La Jolla) continuing up through Orange County to Laguna Beach. Each ShoreDiving location has unique conditions -- and beauty!

As always, check with your local resources for exact local conditions for the ultimate safe and rewarding dive experience.

California

San Diego County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Shallow so longer bottom times. Usually about 25 feet. Vis is fair for the San Diego region. Can be up to 20 foot vis.  This is a good backup dive site if the shore diving is to rough and you just have to get in the water.

It can be hard to climb in and out because of the size of the rocks but there is always a lot of snails, stars, cucumbers, some fish and lobster. People fish here so it's good to take a flag to drag with you.

San Diego

Mission Bay Jetty South

Mission Bay Jetty North

Those who have dived on the oil platforms know of the abundance of marine life that clings to the vertical steel members. And wreck divers know also how those hard metal surfaces attract much of the same kind of wonderful marine growth—thick, lush, vibrant and colorful. Wrecks and towers make for a bountiful oasis across often barren sand plains. San Diego is lucky. Not only do they have a good amount of wrecks (Wreck Alley), they have a great dive on a former tower and is now a wreck—the NOSC Tower. The twisted metal of the toppled rig is now home to a huge amount of marine life and is one of the best dives in all of San Diego.

Although the resemblance was strong, the NOSC Tower was not in any way connected to oil exploration or production. Rather, this was a research platform, placed by the Naval Ocean Systems Center (NOSC) for oceanic research. Sitting in not quite 60 feet of water, the small steel platform was used by scientists from a variety of institutions for research on the ocean environment before it was toppled by a large storm wave in 1988. 

Because much of the platform had already been underwater for over two decades, it was already a great dive site. Now that the rest has been underwater for nearly as long, the entire structure is a cornucopia of underwater scenery and photo opportunities. 

The thick growth of mussels attract a large number of pisaster stars including ochre, giant-spined and short-spine stars. They grow to enormous sizes, as much as two feet across, feasting on the abundant food of mussels and other bivalves. 

Steel that is not covered in mussels is adorned in anemones. The deeper sections are a patchwork of different color versions of corynactis while shallow portions are home to carpets of aggregating and green anemones. 

Amongst the anemones and algae, look for nudibrachs, tiny crabs and small reef fish. This is a good dive site for the macro-photographer. Not only are subjects abundant, but the many angles of the structure allow for shooting in a variety of positions. 

Wide-angle photographers will do well at the bottom. Shoot up through the wreckage to capture the blizzard of fish in the colorful labyrinth of twisted steel. Barred sand bass are abundant on the bottom. Cabezon cruise the debris. Hovering mid-water are numerous sheephead and calico bass. Keep an eye out mid-water also for jellies as they seem to be common in this area.

This is a relatively small dive site that can be explored on a single tank. A mooring line marks the wreck and leads down to the shallowest portion at 35 feet. If you are new to the wreck, drop to the bottom and circle the wreckage first, just to get your bearings. Most of the debris is on the east end of the site. Scattered all around are bits of the rig. Seaward you will find the mangled bent over legs. The best part, however, is the multi-leveled section that use to make up the top portion of the small platform. Don't worry if you can't make sense of what used to be what—it is all good and generally easy to pass through. Beware, however, of fishing line and loose rope in the wreckage. Always carry a sharp knife on this dive site. Moving through the wreckage is good practice for buoyancy control and stability. 

The NOSC Tower is the only "wreck" in Wreck Alley that was not intentionally sunk. Nearby are the Yukon (100 feet of water) and Ruby E (85 feet down) and others. If you dive a charter boat for Wreck Alley, odds are you will visit one of the deeper wrecks first, saving the Tower for last as a shallower dive. I love diving the Yukon and Ruby E, but if you are going to save the best for last, why shouldn't it be the Tower!

Naval Ocean Systems Tower. About a mile off Mission Beach, San Diego in the area known as "Wreck Alley".

The site is usually marked with a mooring buoy, but if it is gone you'll need a depth finder to help you find this one.  Access by boat only. Short boat ride. Launch ramps in Mission Bay.

Based on two different locations for GPS:
32.46'18.94" / -117.16'07.25"
32.7725 / -117.2675



NOSC Tower Wreck

The Ruby E. sunk June 18, 1989 (intentional sinking for use as an artificial reef). It sits upright and intact on a sandy bottom, 90ft deep.

Vessel size:
- Length: 165'
- Breadth: 38'
- Tons: 150



Off Mission Bay, San Diego

Ruby E. Wreck is also known as Cyane, WPC-105, Can Am.

Ruby E. Wreck

Yukon wreck is a 110m (366 ft) long Canadian Mackenzie class destroyer. It sunk July 14, 2000.

Vessel site:
- Length: 366'
- Breadth: 42'
- Tons: 2,380
- Built: Launched july 27, 1961 (by Burrard Dry Dock & Shipbuilding)

The ship lays on a sandy floor, on her side.

WARNING: Be absolutely sure you know what you're doing if you penetrate the wreck!

1.8 miles off Mission Beach, San Diego.

Yukon Wreck is also known as HMCS Yukon.

Yukon Wreck

This is a rocky reef that peaks at less than 20 feet deep and drops down to almost 60 feet. There are a ton of cracks and huge caves that hold an unbelievable variety of fish and invertebrate life. The whole reef is less than a quarter mile wide at the widest. It almost seems to have a horseshoe shape of pinnacle rocks. 
At the base of the rocks it is a little deep (for me) for freediving, but the tops are easily reached and it is enjoyable to snorkel on a clear day. 
Photography here is great as there are a ton of small inverts and a lot of macro algae to frame your shots. The Macrocystis canopy gets pretty thick in the summer, but this is in the vast Point Loma Kelp Beds. Hunting can be okay, and if you shoot calicos there can be some sport here. Lobster are present but most are tiny little crayfish, especially after the commercial guys have put out their pots. Expect to see a few thousand baby little bugs and nothing of any size.
As for life, we have seen: calico bass, sand bass, rockfish(kelp, black/yellow, gopher, brown, tree, etc), sheephead, senorita, garibaldi, blacksmith, banded guitarfish, giant skates, bat rays, thresher sharks, giant seabass, moray eels, silversides, macks, Bathymasterids, lobster, sea stars, urchins, nudis of all makes...pretty much everything SD has to offer.
The rocks are covered with encrusting inverts (c/s tunicates, encrusting bryos, rock scallops, anenomes, etc), kelps (Pterogophora, Eisenia, young Macros) and gorgonians. 
Bring a flashlight to have a look in the abundant and sometimes huge caves. Inside you may be rewarded with the sight of a treefish, lobster or male sheepie. 

Boat access only. Launch from Shelter Island launch ramp in San Diego Bay, or go down from Mission Bay.
Go to the coordinates and look for some structure on your sounder.

New Hope Rock

Kelp diving with a lot of fish

Just south of Mission Bay

Point Loma



850 Coast Boulevard

Children's Pool is also known as Seal Beach, The Casa.

Children's Pool



The Cave is located in the heart of La Jolla. I recommend diving entering from La Jolla Cove, except if you are a very good climber ;-)

The Cave

The Cove is a rocky reef with an abundance of sea life (Garibaldi, Sea Lions, invertebrates and kelp).

One of the most famous dive area of La Jolla. Don't miss it!

La Jolla Cove is located in the La Jolla ecological preserve (Marine Park). Two dive sites: Kelp Beds and Little Wall.

La Jolla Cove

This is the most popular beach in La Jolla.  Sunners, surfers, picnickers, divers and dive classes use this area extensively during the weekends.  The area is a fantastic underwater park, with fish hanging around for a handout.  This can be an easy or a technically-advanced dive, depending upon your skill level.

11 miles North of San Diego, take the Ardath Road exit to the West.  In 1.4 miles turn right on La Jolla Shores Drive. Turn left on Avenida De La Playa, and you'll find the park in 1/2 mile.

Mission Bay Jetty South

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Mission Bay Jetty South