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

Los Angeles 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

Kelp and reef fish Girabaldi. Rays in the sand. Abalone and some lobsters in rocky areas

West of Long Point

Avalon

Little Gibraltar

Sandy cove with night time lobsters marching by. Halibut and rays in the sand

West of Long Point

Goat Harbor

Kelp and associated fish. Can have good current. Sand has rays.

North of Long Point

Twin Rocks

Barracuda and an occasional White Sea Bass. Garibaldi and Calico Bass

North of Long Point

Seal Point

Beautiful Cove for lunch off gassing between dives with kelp and a lot of small fish

North west of Avalon on catalina

Paradise Cove

Kelp forrests make home for many beautiful fish.

West of Long Point

Rippers Cove

This dive site is a large boulder-strewn area surrounded by sand. Great for Lobstering. Home to a large population of Giant Sea Bass.

West of Long Point, in the front side of Catalina Island.

Italian Gardens

Horn sharks, Garaboldi and Halibut in the sand

Just South of Long Point

Pirate's Cove is also known as Pirates Cove.

Pirate's Cove

Multi-level dive site including several type of dive: Cave, Wall, etc. Snorkeling area is to the East.

Frontside of Catalina Island

Long Point

White Seabass, Barracuda. Kerlp with Calico Bass

North of Long Point

Yellowtail Point

Dive Hen Rockock with its rock formations and kelp forest. Great lobster hunting in season.

SE of Long Point on the front side of Catalina Island

Hen Rock

Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center is a scuba dive shop based in Catalina Island, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center

Catalina Divers Supply is a scuba dive shop based in Avalon, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Catalina Divers Supply

Deep Blue Scuba & Swim Center is a scuba dive shop based in Long Beach, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Deep Blue Scuba & Swim Center

Dive N' Surf is a scuba dive shop based in Redondo Beach, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Dive N' Surf

Beach Cities Scuba Centers are the largest independent full-service dive centers in Orange County. We offer all levels of scuba dive training and services from instruction and rentals to repairs and travel. Visit any of our five locations and you’ll appreciate the difference of a professional dive center with experienced staff. Or join us on our dive boat, The Riviera - a 40ft, Coast Guard certified vessel serving divers, snorkelers, underwater hunters, photographers and private charters.

Beach Cities Scuba Center

Ocean Gear Scuba Center is a scuba dive shop based in Huntington Beach, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Ocean Gear Scuba Center

Scuba.com is owned and operated by scuba diving instructors who have served the needs of scuba divers for over 25 years. Our dive center has been featured in magazines, newspapers and on television. Our website offers 30,000 scuba gear & snorkeling items from every major scuba brand. 
When you shop with us, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Our scuba diving instructors assemble your scuba gear before delivering it to you. We also perform repairs in our diving service and scuba repair facility & offer diving classes from our Irvine location in Southern California. 
We have supplied the scuba diving equipment needs of scuba lab, NASA, CBS News, O'Neill, NASCAR, many national and international aquariums and even the White House.

Scuba.com

Dive and Photo is a scuba dive shop based in Costa Mesa, United States. They are a PADI certified dive shopand offer a variety of dive and snorkel related services, gear, and guided tours.

Little Gibraltar

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Little Gibraltar