Garibaldi dance in the Crevice.

Shaw's Cove
Shaw’s Cove is one of the most special beach dives along the entire California coastline and now I had the opportunity to introduce my son to this fun dive spot. I just knew he was going to enjoy the labyrinth of caves, deep crevices, arches, overhangs, along with the fantastic variety of marine life.

Surf entry was easy as it usually is here. The cove is deep and the point extends far out to sea protecting the inside waters from the predominate winds and waves coming from the northwest.

Navigating this site is easy. You simply follow the reef line out, nearly due south, and then back north. The first interesting structure you will encounter, in about 15 feet of water, is a small tunnel. A section of the reef extends out into the sand bottom of the cove. A crack leads to dark hole. If it’s calm, and ONLY if it is calm, the short tunnel can be penetrated easily. It is about 6 feet around and 20 feet long. Halfway through it opens up a bit and there is a skylight above.

Island kelpfish

Following the reef farther out about another 50 yards and it abruptly turns to the west. This is the beginning of the “Crevice.” The Crevice is a large gash in the reef that cuts all the way through to the cove next door. 20 feet deep, it has many branches and dark corners.

The most fascinating feature is the arch near the gateway to the Crevice. The collapsed reef that forms the underwater archway creates dozens of nooks and crannies for animals to hide. As you enter the arch, look under ledge on the right side. If you are lucky, a large moray will poke out to greet you. Inside the dark arch, brightly colored yellow encrusting sponge seem almost luminous. Side cracks hold chestnut cowries, small fish and an occasional rock scallop. On our dive we came across a tight school of about 40 black croaker. These dark fish were almost invisible in the recesses of the Crevice. Shy, the fish packed even tighter as we investigated with our lights.

To the west, deeper into the Crevice, the crack opens up to about 15 feet wide and 25 feet deep. The bottom is strewn with empty mussel shells, as well as live mussels that have broken free from the shallow reef above. And the sea stars love the feast. Ochre stars in purple and orange dot the bottom and the walls.

Gorgonia abounds on the reef.

Further inside the channel there is a overhang and narrow branching crack off to the left. You’d have to be skinny to explore this crack fully. For safety sake just observe how beautifully the fish and sunbeams dance in this narrow passageway.

Beyond this the going can get rough depending on ocean conditions. When things are surgy, the Crevice can be a wild ride and you need the stomach and nerve for it. “White Outs” are common. This is the hazardous situation where the rolling and frothing surf puts so much air into the water that the tiny bubbles temporarily reduce visibility to zero. The passageway eventually leads to Crescent Bay, the cove next door, but this is an excursion for experienced divers.

Although you can spend an entire dive just exploring the Crevice and its vicinity, I recommend you not stop here. If you get a chance to make a second dive, or if you shorten your visit to the Crevice, there is a considerable amount of reef left to explore beyond the Crevice.

Continuing out the reef becomes a bit more dramatic, dropping to the sand in a steep stair-step fashion. Along the reef face are gorgonians, abundant urchins, stars and sea snails including turbans and kellet welks.

Many of the animals extend their territory into the sand, feeding and foraging. This is a good area for shell collecting. Empty moon snails and purple dwarf olives are especially prized and beautiful, but don’t miss out on California cones. Check carefully that the shells are not occupied by hermit crabs as is so often the case. And, of course, there is tons of mussel shells.

Across the flats sand dollars have taken up residence. You are at about 25 to 30 feet deep here, and it is not unusual to see small halibut and bat rays in the sand.

Out about 200 yards is “Turn Around Rock” where most divers find themselves at the point they need to head back toward shore. More deep gashes in the reef lead deep into the rock realm with caves and overhangs. In spite of this dive site’s strong popularity, many lobster still come out of this area, some quite large. If you want to explore this area fully, make it a separate dive from exploring the Crevice, saving your entire tank for thoroughly checking out the vicinity of Turn Around Rock.

You are more likely to see large, exciting life on the outer reef. On our dive, we spotted a five-foot Mola, the first I’d ever seen on a beach dive. Black sea bass have been seen here as well.

Shaw’s Cove will always be a classic “must-do” dive for Southern California divers. If you’ve not been, it’s time to go. And if you haven’t been in a while, it’s time to go again.

DIVE SPOT AT A GLANCE
Location: Access at the end of Fairview St. at the intersection with Cliff Dr., 1 block toward the beach from N. Coast Hwy. in Laguna Beach, South Orange County.
Access and Entry: Path and steps to a protected sand beach entry. Optional entry off rocks if calm.
Skill Level: All levels except experienced only deep into crevice.
Depths: 10 - 35'.
Visibility: Good, averaging 15'.
Snorkeling: Good when calm.
Photography: Good wide angle in crevice with excellent rock formations, but only when calm. Wide variety of macro material both inside crevice and along outer reef. Protected cove makes taking a camera through the surf more possible.
Hunting: Some lobster, mostly on outer reef. This is a refuge area with specific restrictions posted but allows the taking of most normal game.
Hazards: Can get quite surgy in crevice.
Restrictions: Must have a buddy, snorkel and B.C.
Facilities: None, parking limited on street. Heavily used by classes and groups. Dive store and food within two blocks.
Conditions: 949-494-6573, http://www.scuba-superstore.com/store/conditions/conditions.asp

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