Wood Cove

Once again, Laguna has provided a great entry to the beach. Even the hike down is spectacular! On good days, the entry is easy. Beware of the occasional swells. More to explore to the right with a second tank!

Entered Woods Cove for the first time at sunset, and also the first time night diving ever. I was Free diving for Lobster, and looking for Halibut also. It was a beautiful calm night with 1-2 ft surf. Surge in the 9-12ft depth was sometimes strong with incoming tide. Visibility was up to 15ft or more. Some particulate in shallow. Found Kelp in the deeper area of the bay. The reef has lots of holes and cracks and eel grass. Expected to see more lobster crawling, but maybe too early in the night, or late in the season. Surprised to not see more fish at night. Saw half dozen sand bass, some various perch, Opeleye, bait, calico. I saw 1 Lobster in a commercial trap. This Cove is has more to explore.

Came out to this site once last March. It seemed pretty dead. This might be because I am used to Northern California diving with a whole lot more fish but I was spear fishing and only saw one decent fish all day. A Cabezon. Conditions were rough, I was tossed all over the place. I don't envision myself coming out here. Places like Shaw's Cove and Crescent Cove seems a whole lot nicer in every respect.

I must have hit Wood Cove on the right day, because this was an easy and very nice dive- the best of my Laguna Beach dives. There was no big swell and we walked off the steps to the right, and dove straight out to 30 feet. Great rock formations and lots of life, with water clarity to around 30 feet. Slight surge but no problem. Would like to dive again straight out to 40 or 50 feet. One of my best all-time dives. Reminded me of Cambria Rock.

I have dove this site numerous times in every season, and I have always found good vis, low surf, and bountiful amounts of fish, lobster, and other creatures. Enter to the right of the big rock on shore for low surf and deep water near shore.

This was one of the best sites that I have dove on the West coast!

This particular reef has a great deal to offer the advanced diver. The reef is very beautiful because it's seldom dived due to average conditions. Not for the novice diver for various reasons (shallow depths, rocky and narrow entrance, waves, etc). If you have an opportunity to dive this spot when conditions permit you are in for a real treat!

Surf was just this side of do-able - thanks to long lulls between large waves, we were able to make it in ok. Plenty to see straight out and to the right, but lots of surge the day we went. Kind of cool in a way, but it did make one of our divers seasick! 88 stairs between parking and the beach, so take your time climbing back up after a dive!

This is the best advanced dive spot in Laguna for plant and animal marine life. It is also one of the most interesting sites for snorkeling when the conditions are flat.

This is the best advanced dive spot in Laguna for plant and animal marine life. It is also one of the most interesting sites for snorkeling when the conditions are flat.