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

Santa Barbara 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

It is truly great.  Tgher are many fish and the marine life in the kelp is great.

Drive along Highway one southbound past Gaviota State Park until you reach Refugio state Beach.  Go into the park and park along the beach by the point.  Dive in the kelp beds along the point.

Refugio is also known as rights.

Goleta

Refugio

Directly off the beach are large sand flats. Look for pipefish and (at night) cusk-eels.  A short underwater swim to the right are low rocky reefs and shelfs.  Giant kelp and gorgonians are plentiful.  Occasionally you'll spot abalone, giant sea bass, and maybe a cormorant.

Drive North from Santa Barbara and Goleta on US 101.  2.8 miles past the entrance to Refugio State Park, make a U-turn at the turnaround, watching of oncoming traffic.  Pull into the turnout on the right.  Look for trains, then cross the tracks and carefully walk to the beach.  Make a careful surf entry.

Tajiguas

If you are lucky, you may be able to see actual oil seeps as well as gas seeps, coming from the ocean floor. The oil seeps look like long black sticks from the ocean floor on calm days. These seeps make up the tar accumulation on the beach.  Not the oil platforms offshore

Park in IV and follow the bike trail down to the beach.

Coal oil point is also known as Deveroux point.

Coal oil point

Cool reef overhangs, fish in the kelp beds... Great place for a summer-time free dive.

Park on Mesa Lane and lug your gear down the stairs. Enter the water between the kelp beds. If you have a boat, you are stoked...

Mesa

Several low reefs off the beach provide habitat for fish and footing for kelp.  Occasionally you'll see horn sharks on the sand.

Traveling South along US 101, take exit 94A to Olive Mill Road.  Go straight along Spring Road, and turn right at the first stop sign, onto Olive Mill Rd heading South.  Olive Mill Road bends to the right and becomes Channel Drive, along the beach.  Park along Channel Drive, preferably on the ocean side across from the Biltmore Hotel.  Gear up and take the stairs to the beach.  The dive is off the beach and generally to the right (East).

Biltmore

Kelp and reef fish, Calico Bass, Halibut sand sharks and more.

Western side of Santa Cruz Island

Forney Cove is also known as Forneys Cove.

Forney Cove

Sea Lions around the entrance and in the inner chamber. Take a light. It is dark in there and the noise of the Sea Lions is deafening.

North side of Santa Cruz Island

Painted cave

big scallops and lots of stuff on the rocks

West of Santa Rosa Island

Wilson Rock

Kelp, Calico Bass, Garaboldi, Ling Cod and sheepshead

Western Side of Santa Cruz Island

Refugio

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Refugio