California dive sites

Catalina Express ferries run daily from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point to Avalon, with the crossing taking about an hour. You can bring your own gear on the ferry, though several dive shops in Avalon offer full rental equipment. Casino Point Dive Park is a short walk from the ferry terminal. For divers wanting to explore the island's more remote sites like the backside kelp forests, local dive boats offer half-day and full-day charters. The island is also accessible by private boat or helicopter from the mainland.

Casino Point Dive Park is a fully protected marine reserve adjacent to the historic Avalon Casino building. It was established in 1962 as California's first dedicated underwater park. No fishing or collecting is permitted, which has allowed marine life to flourish remarkably. Entry is free and no permit is required for diving. The park features easy shore access via stairs, depths ranging from 3 to 30 metres, and reliably good conditions sheltered from prevailing swells. It is one of the best shore dives in Southern California and suitable for all certification levels.

Giant black sea bass, which can exceed 200 kilograms, are most reliably seen at Catalina from late June through September when they aggregate in the kelp forests for spawning. Casino Point Dive Park and the nearby kelp beds along the Avalon coast are reliable spots. These enormous fish were nearly driven to extinction but have been slowly recovering since California banned their harvest in 1982. Encounters with these gentle giants hovering in the kelp are among the most memorable experiences in California diving.

Two Harbors is reached by the Catalina Express ferry from San Pedro in Los Angeles, taking approximately 90 minutes. Alternatively, dive boats depart from various Los Angeles and Orange County harbours for day trips and overnight trips to Two Harbors dive sites. The west end of Catalina is more remote than Avalon, with limited accommodation at the Two Harbors campground and lodge. Most divers visit on live-aboard or day-trip dive boats that access the sites from the water without landing.

The giant black sea bass is the largest bony fish in the kelp forest ecosystem, growing to over two metres long and weighing up to 250 kilograms. Once critically endangered due to overfishing, the species has recovered significantly since California banned their harvest in 1982. During summer months, particularly June through September, giant black sea bass aggregate around Catalina's kelp forests for spawning. Encounters at Two Harbors are increasingly common, with divers regularly seeing one to five individuals on a single dive during peak season.