Goldfish Point gains its name from the great snorkeling with garibaldi.

Through experience I’d learned that the best time to dive Goldfish Point was early in the morning. La Jolla is a very popular place, not only with divers, but also with sun worshipers and tourists. It gets CROWDED! But the beach diving is excellent, so I’m not about to let a few thousand people come between me and great diving.

This particular day was my earliest dip ever at Goldfish Point. It was barely light when I walked down the easy steps to the water’s edge. Using only snorkeling equipment, I entered the water about dawn. A Sunday morning in summer, there was not a soul around. I was the first person in the water that day. The rewards for rising early that day were great.

I’ve always enjoyed the bountiful life at this place, but I never knew just how much life was really there. I caught most of the local marine life still in bed, fast asleep. The ocean was glass flat. I headed out in front of the La Jolla Caves, moving swiftly. I always enjoy the freedom breath-hold diving affords.

There are large reefs closer to shore. The bottom drops away in shelves, first at 10 feet, then 15, and eventually to 20 or 25 feet. Much of the bottom out from there is, however, relatively flat with low-lying reefs and patches of sand. In the muted light, I could make out outlines in the bottom below. Three large guitarfish where lying on the bottom, their noses touching. A quick breath and silent descent brought me within inches. It was almost a full minute before one of them awoke to my presence, stirring the rest. All three bolted in different directions.

Bat rays can sometimes be seen in the sand near the reef.

I few minutes later, I did the same with a large halibut. The leopard sharks were less cooperative, but I was able to get close to three. Goldfish Point always holds a lot to see on a dive, but this early morning dip was turning out to be very special indeed.

The night before I had checked the tide tables. They indicated it would be high tide about dawn. My plan was, if it was very calm, to explore the sea cave that runs completely through Goldfish Point.

With the water glassy and no swell, I entered the cave from the west side of the point. The water was only about 18 inches deep—just enough to still swim. A few years ago I had tried the same thing when a slight swell was running. After a good raking across the rock, I retreated to buy a new wetsuit. Today, however, the Pacific was like a lake, and passage to the center of the large cave was easy.

Inside, the bottom dropped and the ceiling rose. There was room to relax and study the early morning light as it danced through the east passages. The beams penetrating the cave entrance were further shattered underwater. A free dive to the six-foot deep gravel bottom rewarded me with a natural light show. There were several passages, and with such calm conditions I explored them all.

By now other divers were showing up, most with scuba gear. I cruised above to watch the underwater breathers discover lobster and crabs under ledges and make friends with garibaldi. One diver found a pipefish in the eel grass. Apparently, I had not awakened all the underwater residents, but the roar of regulators was finishing the job.

Goldfish Point lies within the La Jolla Underwater Park, which prohibits the taking or disturbing of any marine life. As a consequence, lobster, octopus and other normally shy creatures can be observed undisturbed. Invertebrates such as starfish and anemones are also present and create a good backdrop for photographers.

Access to the diving area adjacent to the point can be made in either of two ways. The most direct is via a path down the point located behind the La Jolla Cave Curio Shop. The stairs and short, steep path lead to a small rock shelf at water’s edge that is perfect for entries but only in the calmest weather. The second choice is to enter at La Jolla Cove and swim to the point some 200 yards away.

Goldfish Point is a good alternative during crowded days if you have your heart set on diving the La Jolla area. Across from the Curio Shop is an underground parking area that affords easy access from your car to the top of the path. The cost is not cheap, but it beats driving around for hours looking for a place to park.

Kim and Dale Sheckler are the publishers of California Diving News, producers of the annual SCUBA Show expo (each June in Long Beach, CA), and co-authors of the newly released A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition.