AthletiLink
searchJoin free
Los Angeles, USA

Scuba Diving in Los Angeles: Kelp Forests, Catalina and Clubs

Southern California kelp forest diving is unlike anything else: 20-metre stalks of giant kelp, garibaldi, sea lions and, on the right day at Catalina, visibility that makes it feel tropical despite the temperature.

Find divers in Los AngelesCertification guides

Quick facts

Season
Year round; best July–October
Water temperature
13–21°C
Visibility
5–25 m, best in autumn

Dive sites in and around Los Angeles

  • Casino Point, Catalina

    Marine park shore dive, 5–30 m, the most popular site in Southern California.

  • Palos Verdes (Terranea, Christmas Tree Cove)

    Shore-accessible kelp and reef, 6–18 m.

  • Malibu (Leo Carrillo)

    Shallow reef and shore entry, good for skills practice.

  • Farnsworth Bank

    Advanced boat dive with purple hydrocoral, 21–40 m.

Boat culture and buddy culture

Weekend charters out of San Pedro and Long Beach are the backbone of LA diving, and they fill through clubs and buddy groups rather than walk-ups. Sea lions at the Channel Islands are the payoff.

Autumn is the local secret: warmest water of the year, calm seas and the best visibility.

  • 7 mm wetsuit or dry suit is standard year round
  • Charters typically 130–190 USD for two or three dives
  • Catalina can be done as a day trip via the ferry with gear

Diving is a buddy sport — find yours in Los Angeles

SportConnect is free. Add scuba diving as your sport, list your certification level and Los Angeles as your city, and you can browse and message local divers, clubs and dive centres planning trips.

Create your free diver profile

Frequently asked questions

Is diving in LA cold?

Yes — 13 to 21°C. Most divers use a 7 mm wetsuit with hood, or a dry suit in winter.

Where do beginners dive?

Casino Point at Catalina is a protected shore-entry marine park and the standard first ocean dive.

When is the best time?

September and October: warmest water and clearest conditions of the year.

More diving guides

PADI Open Water DiverPADI Advanced Open Water DiverPADI Rescue DiverPADI DivemasterPADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)PADI Dry Suit DiverSSI Open Water DiverBSAC Ocean DiverDiving in MiamiDiving in New York CityDiving in LondonDiving in BarcelonaDiving in SydneyDiving in DubaiDiving in TorontoDiving in BerlinDiving in TokyoDiving in ChicagoDiving in Singapore

Related pages

By sport

Find scuba diving dive buddies, clubs and coaches near you

Join the scuba diving community on AthletiLink. Find dive buddies, clubs, training partners, coaches and events near you, post to the feed and message members directly — free.

How-to guides

How to find a sports team in Los Angeles

How to find sports teams, clubs, leagues and training partners in Los Angeles — where local sport is organised and how to be found by clubs recruiting near you.

How-to guides

How to find a training partner near you

How to find a training partner with matching goals, level and schedule — and how to test the partnership before committing to a full season of sessions.

By sport

Find surfing surfers, clubs and coaches near you

Join the surfing community on AthletiLink. Find surfers, clubs, training partners, coaches and events near you, post to the feed and message members directly — free.

Keep exploring SportConnect

Free recruiting readiness score

Ten questions, an honest score, and your prioritized next steps.

College athletic recruiting guide

Timelines by grade, division fit and a readiness checklist.

NCAA Eligibility Center

What the NCAA Eligibility Center requires: 16 core courses, D1 and D2 GPA rules, registration timing, transcripts, amateurism and a step-by-step checklist.

Athletic scholarships

How athletic scholarships work: head-count vs equivalency sports, scholarship limits by sport, stacking academic aid, and how to compare real net cost.

How to email college coaches (with templates that get replies)

How to email college coaches: subject lines, what to include, follow-up cadence, and copy-paste templates for first contact, camps and senior-year outreach.

NCAA recruiting rules

NCAA recruiting rules explained: contact periods by division, when coaches can call, official and unofficial visits, dead periods, and what you may do first.

Guides by sport

Find teammates by sport

For clubs and coaches

For coaches and trainers

Events, tournaments and coaches

Transfers, scouting and player profiles

All sportsRecruiting blogFootball & soccerGyms, trainers & clubs near meBrowse athlete prospectsCreate a free athlete profile