Buchon Reef

This is a small pinnacle that comes up to 23 feet deep from nearly 150 feet on the offshore side. At the widest it is less than 0.2miles wide, so it is easy to miss. Once you spot it on your fish finder you may want to drop a marker so you don't lose it. Wind and swell are frequently problems in this area. The pinnacle can have incredible visibility and it is covered in life. Fish that are common here are: lingcod, cabezon, rockfish(black/yellow, gopher, blues, blacks, olives, kelps, tree, china, vermilion), kelp greenling, sheephead (big ones), gobies, Bathymasterids, and other standard fare. The entire pinnacle is covered with invertebrates including purple california hydrocoral. Amazing for photography. This is inside the MPA so hunting is 100% off limits. I get checked by wardens about a quarter the time I am out here. This is an amazing dive! A must see for all divers. Boat access only! Launch from Morro Bay and Head South. Or Launch from Port San Luis and head up the coast, giving Diablo Canyon a wide berth (1 mile is required by law). I suppose a true die hard could launch a small boat or kayak from Spooners and get here from there. The Magic is a dive boat which operates out of Morro Bay and makes special trips out here for small groups (6-pack). Go to the coordinates and look for the pinnacle on your depth sounder. the spot should be just inshore of the red buoy about 0.2nm. This is within the Pt Buchon MPA, so leave the pole spears at home. Buchon Reef is also known as Pt Buchon Reef, Buchon.