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Barred sand bass are abundant, friendly and large.
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Picnic Beach
Located off Pacific Coast Highway at Myrtle and Cliff Drive, there is ample parking year round and early a.m. in the summer months. The park at Picnic Beach is clean and has bathroom facilities, as well as a place to barbeque and benches for the picnic. A shower and gear/feet wash-off is located at the bottom of the not too steep ramp.
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Under ledges large gorgonians can be found.
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The protected cove makes for an easy entry and exit, though you will want to watch for rocks in the center of the cove and in the surf zone. I have seen a buddy fall on their face in zero surf conditions because they were not cautious of the rocks, even a small one can throw you if you are not mindful.
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Glass eyed gobies (a.k.a. ghost gobies) dot the reef.
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Just past the surf in only about 10 feet of water, you’ll find large patch reefs fill with schools of fish darting in a around the grasses and small pieces of kelp and rock. It’s a great place to spend the day just snorkeling. You can see a great deal of fish life and a perfect place to introduce children to the fantastic underwater world of California. You don’t have to swim out too far and it’s not too deep. In addition to the snorkeling, you could spend a full dive on these patch reefs, but you will find more interesting reef formations and fish life in deeper water. You will also find that visibility gets better as you move away from the shifting sands of the shallows.
As you move farther from shore you’ll encounter three distinct rocky ridges that reach up out from the sandy bottom. Each of the ridges are in about 30 to 35 feet of water and reach as high as 10 feet from the surface.
Marine life schools around the ridges and you’ll find numerous varieties of colorful fish including señoritas, opaleye and blue-banded gobys. Sand bass are unusually curious and in your face.
The reefs have multiple cracks and crevices and in various areas straight up and down walls. You’ll find gorgonia growing quite large, extending their branches out from the reef. The reef furthest out from shore, a little over 100 yards out, has a complete tunnel from one side to the other. You have to look for the tunnel. When you come upon it, it just looks like a deep crevice. Get down low and you can see under the reef from one side to the other. Do not attempt to enter the tunnel, the sand shifting in and out and the surge makes it a potentially dangerous place to be.
We found numerous lobster molts but no live ones. Of course this entire area is a marine preserve, so it is no surprise to see the large amount of rock scallops undermost ledges. No hunting is allowed here, so make sure you take nothing but pictures. Though you will see the area heavily dotted with lobster traps during lobster season.
There is little kelp here, though that changes from season to season. The visibility is traditionally consistent at about 20 feet. It can get up to 40 feet or higher in the winter months.
Should you want an alternative dive or multiple locations, you can choose from an incredible smorgasbord of dive sites in Laguna. Try Rocky Beach to the South or good alternate dive sites, which include Diver’s, Fisherman’s and Shaw’s Cove to the North. Make a day of it and do two or three dives.
Dive Spot At-A-Glance
Location: Off Pacific Coast Highway at Myrtle and Cliff Drive.
Access and Entry: Paved path from street parking. Protected, easy sand beach entry.
Skill Level: All with beach diving experience in small surf.
Depths: To 40 feet.
Snorkeling: Very good over shallow reefs in 10-15 feet of water.
Photography: Good for both macro and wide-angle.
Hunting: Take nothing this is a marine preserve.
Facilities: Restrooms, shower on beach, metered parking on street.
Conditions: 949-494-6573 or www.scuba-superstore.com/store/conditions/conditions.asp.
Kim Sheckler is Executive Editor of California Diving News, Executive Director of the annual SCUBA Show expo held late spring in Long Beach, CA, and co-author of the book A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition.
California Diving News is published by Saint Brendan Corp.
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