Diving the City of Angels

Most people don't associate Los Angeles with scuba diving, but the Palos Verdes Peninsula hides some of California's healthiest kelp forests just 30 minutes from downtown. While you won't find tropical visibility, you will find dramatic rocky reefs, dense marine life, and the convenience of diving before lunch and being back in Silver Lake for dinner.

Best time to dive: Late summer through fall (August-November) offers the best visibility as plankton clears and before winter storms stir things up. Winter can surprise with excellent conditions on calm days between swells.

Pro tip: Check conditions on DiveLine's Los Angeles page for real-time visibility, swell, and wind forecasts before heading to the coast.

1. Veterans Park (Redondo Beach)

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Type: Shore dive (sandy entry)
• Depth: 30-90 feet
• Visibility: Typically 15-25 feet

Veterans Park in Redondo Beach is LA's premier training site and arguably the most-dived spot in the county. The sandy beach entry is gentle, the underwater canyon starts close to shore, and facilities (restrooms, showers, parking) are excellent. Every local dive shop brings students here.

Don't write it off as "just a training site." Veterans is famous for night diving – the artificial reef structures attract octopuses, bat rays, and during winter months, massive squid runs where thousands of market squid mate and lay eggs on the sandy bottom. It's one of the only places in California you can reliably witness this spectacle. The on-site dive shop offers air fills and rental gear.

2. Malaga Cove

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Type: Shore dive (rocky entry)
• Depth: 25-60 feet
• Visibility: Typically 15-25 feet

Malaga Cove marks the northern tip of the Palos Verdes Peninsula where the coastline transitions from sandy beaches to dramatic rocky headlands. This is real California kelp forest diving – towering golden stalks swaying in the current, giant boulders creating swim-throughs, and fish everywhere.

The tradeoff for this quality diving is a challenging access: a steep trail hike down to the beach and a rocky entry that requires timing with wave sets. Sturdy booties are non-negotiable. The effort filters out casual divers, so you'll often have the site to yourself on weekday mornings. Expect garibaldi, sheephead, lobster (in season), and the occasional curious sea lion.

3. White Point

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Type: Shore dive (rocky entry)
• Depth: 30-60 feet
• Visibility: Typically 15-20 feet

White Point on the San Pedro side of Palos Verdes has an interesting history – it was once home to natural hot springs that made it a popular resort in the early 1900s. The springs are less active now, but the unique geology remains: rocky reefs, small caves, and crevices packed with invertebrate life.

This is a macro photographer's playground. Nudibranchs, hermit crabs, decorator crabs, and octopuses hide in every nook. The entry is rocky and can be challenging when surf is up – time your entry carefully and watch other divers navigate the rocks before committing. White Point Beach Park has restrooms and parking, making logistics easy.

Planning Your LA Dives

LA diving is heavily condition-dependent. South swells (common in summer from distant hurricanes) blow out the Palos Verdes sites. West swells affect most of the coast. Check forecasts carefully – the difference between a 2-foot and 4-foot swell can mean the difference between great diving and dangerous conditions.

• Traffic: Getting to beach cities can take forever; leave early on weekends
• Rocky entries: Palos Verdes sites require booties and wave timing skills
• Visibility: Rarely exceeds 30 feet; manage your expectations coming from tropical diving
• Thermal protection: 7mm wetsuit year-round; drysuit in winter for comfort
• Veterans Park: The go-to when you want easy diving with good facilities

For boat diving, LA divers typically head to Catalina Island (about 90 minutes by charter) where visibility and marine life are dramatically better. But for quick, accessible diving between work and other obligations, the Palos Verdes sites deliver surprisingly good experiences.

Ready to dive? Check current conditions for all Los Angeles sites on DiveLine's Los Angeles page.