California Diving News - Catalina Island Scuba Diving: Dive Spot Long Point

Giant Black Sea Bass

Long Point
Few dive sites work for all levels of divers. Even fewer offer something exciting for all experience levels. Long Point is one of those few locations.

Long Point is, as the name implies, lengthy and rocky, extending far into deep water. Away from the island is a submerged current swept cliff face ideal for the adventurous advanced diver. To the northeast the rocky point extends underwater as a multifaceted ridge, extending into deepwater to the east and offshore. This is ideal area for the intermediate diver. For the novice and beginner diver, there is Pirate’s Cove inside the point.

Pirate’s Cove is the anchorage for this dive site. Inside on the east side of the point, anchorage is easy over a sand and gravel bottom that drops rapidly from the cliffs to 20 feet and then gradually to the east. The only disadvantage is it is a small cove suitable for, at most, three small boats or a single large boat. The sand and gravel bottom is ideal for class check out dives.

Moray eel

Don’t immediately dismiss the location as devoid of life. One of the more interesting characters found here is the mantis shrimp. They burrow in the sand and venture forth at dawn and dusk to feed but can be observed hunkered down in the daytime. Mantis shrimp have the most sophisticated eyes in the animal kingdom, able to articulate independently with a wide field of view and see ultra-violet through infra-red. Keep your fingers clear, however, they sport a knife-like claw that will slice you in a flash.

Other interesting marine life across these flats include flat fish and bat rays. The reef up against the wall, however, has the most interesting critters—moray eels. There are not a lot of them but the few are accustomed to visiting divers sometimes coming out of their lairs to greet passer-bys.

Beginning divers should also spend sometime inside of the reef off the point exploring the kelp forest and many animals living there. The best part of this reef, however, is on the other side. Intermediate divers can head over the rocky ridge through one of the many deep canyons between sharp peaks onto a steep drop-off. The water is clearer here with currents sweeping the silt away. Kelp adorns the deeply creviced reef. Look for the black and yellow striped treefish. Other reef fish are abundant, including painted greenlings, island kelpfish, ghost gobies. Tiny but intensely colorful blue-banded gobies are abundant across the reef. Also providing color is a variety of nudibranchs. Take a moment to back away from the reef and kelp into the open blue (if the current is not too strong) and take in the sun as it streams through the kelp and over the jagged reef accentuated by orange dots of garibaldi, flitting blue blacksmith and slivers of green opaleye.

Toward the point and to the west, the rock face becomes steeper eventually becoming a vertical wall. This is territory for the advanced diver. Currents are common and strong usually running from west to east. This section is also more open to rough seas. Gorgonians adorn the walls of this rock face. Because the wall is in the shadow of the point, however, this can be a dark section. Look out to see and you are likely to see a common but large transient—the giant black sea bass.

If a boat load of divers of all experience levels—novice through advanced —pull up to Long Point, not only will this dive site be able to accommodate all their levels, each diver will have an exciting and fulfilling experience underwater.

Dive Spot At-A-Glance
Location: The largest promontory on the frontside of Catalina Island. GPS N33°24.335', W118°21.996' (GPS for reference only, do not use as sole source of navigation).
Depths: 15' to 50' inside cove, 20' to 80' feet on reef, 20'to 100' on wall off point.
Visibility: Good in cove, excellent on outer side of reef, averaging 50 feet.
Skill Levels: Novice or better in cove, intermediate on reef, advanced on point.
Snorkeling: Fair in cove, better to the east.
Hunting: Good for freediving spearfishers off the point for passing yellowtail and occasional white sea bass.
Photography: Good macro in all areas but sometimes difficult on wall due to current. Excellent wide angle over reef. Wall can be dark.
Hazards: Currents on outer reef and along wall. Boat traffic off point.
Suggested Boats Serving the Area:
Encore - (310) 541-1025
King Neptune - (800) 262-3483
Sundiver - (800) 555-9446
Mr. C - (310) 521-9737
Garibaldi - (310) 510-2800
Express Divers - (866) 488-3483
Scuba Cat - (800) 353-0330
or see the California Scuba Calendar section of this issue for trips to Catalina Island