Santa Catalina Island
Scuba diving at Santa Catalina Island is a favorite destination for divers of all skill levels. For shore diving, the main dive site is Casino Point at the Marine Park, right next to the Casino building in Avalon.
The “front side” is the leeward (sheltered) side of the island and with such good water clarity, little current and calm waters, photography, sightseeing and dive training are very popular activities around the Island. The backside of Catalina is exposed to the weather and therefore is not the most accessible but when it is it offers some excellent diving opportunities.
One well known dive site on the backside is Farnsworth Bank, about two miles off the center part of the island. Farnsworth Bank is a deep offshore pinnacle mainly known for its abundance of purple hydrocoral and because of its exposed location it can be very hard to get to.
With large kelp beds, a variety of life, Black Sea bass, bat rays, fish, seals, invertebrate life, rocky reefs, pinnacles and walls, it offers something for everyone.
Just an FYI-In April 2003, sargassum grass was found at three sites along the front side of Catalina. As time went by it invaded most all the dive sites around Catalina plus it spread to some of the other islands but not like it did at Catalina. At Catalina it seemed to take over everything and diving many of the front side dive sites just were not the same.
Now in 2018 it seems some of the kelp is coming back to dive sites along the front side of Catalina and things are starting to get back to a somewhat normal state. The west end and backside have very little of the sargassum grass and healthy kelp so these sites are probably the best to visit if you plan to dive Catalina Island.
Because of Catalina’s size we will cover it in two parts-North side (front side) from the west end to the east end and the South side (back side) from the east end to the west end.
Listed are a few of the great dive sites around Santa Catalina Island: Northside (frontside) from the west end to the east end:
- Black Rock-This is actually Black Point and the inside eastern area is large rocks with lots of kelp, sealions, sheepshead, lobster, harbor seals and it slopes gradually to a sand bottom around 60’. The point that is Black Rock is very rocky with lots of large crevices, ledges, walls and gorgonians. It drops abruptly to about 100’. This is a great dive for hunters or photographers with depths between 15’-100’.
- Parsons Landing-Large rocks the size of cars or bigger with large crevices creating small cavern like areas. Lots of kelp, gorgonians, sheepshead, calico, kelp bass and lobsters. Sandy bottom between the large rocks making this another excellent dive. Depths are between 30’-50’.
- Arrow Point-The point here drops down sharply with lots of rocky structure, ledges and crevices. There can be strong current at the point so be careful when in that area. The usual Ca
- Eagle reef-Large reef structure that is more like a sea mound. There are small walls, ledges, crevices and rocks sloping down to a sandy bottom. Lots of kelp, gorgonians, sheepshead, calico, kelp bass, lobsters, sea lions and sometimes a good place to see giant black sea bass. There are actually two areas to this site with a small valley in between them. Good invertebrate life on the reef and good for hunting and photography. Depths are between 20’-100’ plus.
- Ship Rock-This site is about 2 miles offshore from Isthmus Cove and a short way out form Bird Rock. You cannot miss it as it is exposed and looks like a very small Matterhorn like at Disneyland. The south and east side are shallow and extend a distance off the main rock with large rocks, lots of kelp, lobster, moray eels, sheepshead, calico, kelp bass and other rock fish. You could even see a bat ray or sealion cruise by you. The north side drops steeply with small walls, large crevices and ledges. It gets deep fast and the sargassum grass stops at a depth of about 60’-70’. You can see schooling fish out along the slope with big gorgonians and lots of invertebrates. Great spot for the photographer. Depths are between 20’-130’.
- Bird Rock-This is easy to find by all the white snow on it. It is a large rounded exposed rock out from Isthmus Cove that has reef all around it and is part of the Bird Rock State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). Depths On the north side it is a wall with large rocks, big crevices and some ledges. It drops down to a rocky/sandy bottom with lots of kelp, gorgonians, rock fish, kelp bass and lobsters. The south side is shallow with rocky reef and gradually slopes to deeper water. Depths are between 15’-80’.
- Isthmus Reef-This is another good site that has both nice shallow and deep areas. It has steep walls with lots of ledges to the west, north and east sides and the south side as well as the top is shallow. Lots of rocky structure here with crevices, healthy kelp, kelp bass, rock fish, sheepshead, lobsters, sea lions, harbor seals and more. Depths are between 15’-110’ plus.
- Blue Caverns-This site is part of the Blue Cavern State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) and no anchoring of a boat is allowed. When diving this area you must either anchor outside the area or do a drift dive which is really the BEST way to dive it. There is rocky reef with kelp along the top close to the island and then it drops off fast to mini-walls, caves, large crevices and ledge with LOTS of gorgonians hanging off the wall. The main point of interest here is the large wall and cavern that is close to the middle of the preserve that drops from 30’ to about 75’. You can find large calico, kelp bass, rock fish, sheepshead, bat rays and sometimes giant black sea bass. Depths are between 20’-100’.
- Rock Quarry-This site gets its name from being next to the rock quarry at Catalina Island that provided much of the rock for the break walls around San Pedro and LA Harbor. It is has large break wall type rocks running the length of it that slope steeply to a sandy bottom. It has thick kelp, kelp bass, sheepshead, sea lions but the main point of interest here is the scythe butterfly fish you can find here typically at a depth of about 25’. Depths are between 20’-120’.
- Italian Gardens-Rocky reef in the shallow area and some smaller rock outcroppings with lots of sand as it slopes away sharply to the bottom. Kelp, some fish such as calico, sheepshead and kelp bass but better spots for giant black sea bass viewing. At times there have been up to 10 or more giant black sea bass at this site. Depths between 20’-100’.
- Long Point-This area is in a good anchorage so beware of boaters not knowing anything about divers. The protected area is rocks along the island leading gently down to the sandy bottom. As you get further out towards the point the rocky structure gets steeper with large crevices and ledges. Be careful as the current can get strong along the outer edge. Here you can see some schooling fish along with calico, rock fish, moray eels, and maybe halibut in the sand, kelp and lots of invertebrate life on the rocks. Depths are between 20’-80’.
- Valiant Wreck-The Valiant was built in 1926 as a luxury yacht. In December 1930 a fire broke out on her that burned for three days after which she finally sank. There are a number of stories about her and she has been salvaged much over the years. She now rests under a mooring buoy in Descanso Bay and permission from the Harbormaster must be given before attempting to dive her. She sits upright in the sand with some kelp growing from her. Lots of invertebrate life on her along with sheepshead, kelp bass, some rock fish and sometimes a giant black sea bass or bat ray will be spotted. Depths are between 75’-100’.
- Casino Park-Here you will find everything for everyone and that is the reason this is a VERY popular site for classes. This site is located on the island next to the large Casino (ballroom) building and has a dive trailer for rentals and air on the premises along with bathrooms and lockers. This site is really a few in one. After walking down the stairs you can go straight out where you will find some small boats sunk in a sandy bottom with some rocks. As you reach the boundary of the park the depths are about 60’. If you go to the west you will find another rocky reef with sand gradually getting to about 40’. Down the stairs and to the east you will find it drop of rather quickly with large rocks and crevices down to depths of about 100’. There are also some other small wrecks in this area to explore. You will find lots of healthy kelp here along with large fish such as calico, sheepshead, rock fish and usually some giant black sea bass. You can also have sightings of bat rays, moray eels and octopus plus it is known to be an excellent night dive. Even in the shallows can be some great snorkeling. Depth are between 10’-100’
- Little Farnsworth-This is a pinnacle but more like a large submerged rock with some kelp on it. There are ledges, big crevices and steep sides all around it leading to a sandy bottom. You can see rock fish, sheepshead, lobster and lots of gorgonians along with plenty of invertebrate life due to the currents that pass by this site. Depths are between 50’-100’ plus.
South side (back side) from the east end to the west end: Church Rock-Large exposed rock off the east end of the island. Large boulders and rock with crevices creating mini walls and swim through’s. Sandy area on edge of reef where halibut can sometimes be found. Lots of kelp, large calico, sheepshead, lobster, rock fish and kelp bass making it good for hunters. Some sighting of bat rays, sea lions and harbor seals along with much invertebrate life on the rocks. Depths are between 20’-70’.
- Salta Verde Point-Rocky reef with lots of crevices to explore along with kelp and sandy bottom in areas. Plenty of fish life with sheepshead, calico, kelp bass, rock fish, halibut, lobster and maybe a bat ray or two. Large gorgonians and lots of invertebrate life make this an excellent dive site when weather permits. Depths are between 20’-80’.
- Farnsworth Bank-This site is a famous pinnacle dive in a few miles offshore from Catalina. It is very weather dependent area that can have strong currents with fishing boats that know nothing about divers so be extra careful when diving this site. It is actually a series of large pinnacles that in some places are more like a sea mound. It is all very rocky with jagged rock at the top, valleys, walls, large crevices and ledges. You have it all here! It is known for the large concentration of purple hydro coral that grows on the rocks, large schools of fish along with lots of kelp, rock fish, kelp bass, large sheepshead, octopus, sea lions, electric torpedo rays, lobster, morays and more. It also has LOTS of invertebrate life and excellent for the photographer. There is much to dive and see between 50’-90’ with depths exceeding 130’ plus. Farnsworth is also part of the Farnsworth Offshore State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA).
- Pedestal Rock-Pinnacle that is more like a large rock mound with large crevices, ledges and steep sloping walls leading to a sandy bottom. Lots of kelp, gorgonians, kelp bass, rock fish, lobsters, sheepshead, calico and more. Lots of invertebrate life on the rocks and tube anemones, halibut and more in the sand. Some say there is a cave at 90’ and depths are between 20’-100.
- Cape Cortez-There are actually two sides to Cape Cortez and both are good dives and very similar. The area to the west is a little lusher with more rocks and dense kelp and the area to the west seems to be more spread out and not as dense but equally as good. Both have large rocks similar to quarry rocks with lots of crevices, ledges and small walls. Lots of kelp, rock fish, kelp bass, some octopus, bat rays, sheepshead, sea lions and lots of gorgonians growing on the rocks. The shallow area has some eel grass with some large calico and is a fun place to explore and the reef slopes to a sandy bottom. Depths are between 10’-80’.
- Iron Bound Cove-Nice protected cove with lots of kelp and large rocks sloping steeply to the sandy bottom. Sheepshead, calico, rock fish, kelp bass, gorgonians, octopus, bat rays, sea lions, harbor seals and more. Lots of invertebrate life and great for the photographer. Depths are between 15’-60’.
- Eagles Nest- Eagles Nest is very similar to Iron Bound Cove except that Eagles Nest it is named for the eagles nesting at the top of the cliffs. There is a video cam setup to see them and you can view that
- Wild West-This site has large rocks the size of cars and bigger with large crevices creating small cavern like areas and some small swim through’s. Lots of kelp, gorgonians, sheepshead, calico, kelp bass, lobsters, bat rays, sea lions and invertebrates on the rocks. There is a sandy bottom between the large rocks and as you dive further out the rocks get bigger to where there are small walls making this another excellent dive. Depths are between 20’-70’.[1]
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