Camp Emerald Bay is home to a long time Boy Scouts of America camp and one of the most popular dive sites on Catalina Island. This is an easy entry dive site from the beach with a gently sloping bottom and beautiful kelp forest right offshore.

Considered the jewel of Emerald Bay, Indian Rock is full of amazing rocky outcroppings and kelp beds in the heart of Catalina Island. It’s a popular mooring spot for pleasure boats so be aware of boat traffic in this area. It’s best dived via boat charter as it’s a bit too far to swim from shore.

Parson’s Landing is a beautiful secluded cove on Catalina Island that’s just as scenic above water as it is underwater with great diving and snorkeling right from the shore! You can even camp here right on the beach. The cove is usually nice and calm as it is protected from most weather.

Eagle Reef is a large rocky structure teaming with life. This is an awesome kelp dive; Catalina Island at it’s finest. This site is only reachable by boat, either private or dive charter. Plan to dive in the morning before winds have a chance to kick up and watch for possible strong currents.

Not to be confused with its close, more popular neighbor Eagle Reef, Lulu Reef is a series of three rock pinnacles inside Eagle Reef on the mainland of Catalina Island’s west end. Since it is a bit off shore it’s best reached by boat.

Isthmus Reef is a popular dive site on Catalina Island reachable only by boat. It’s a great site for open water students and newer divers due to its sheltered location and shallow depth.

One of the best dive sites on Catalina Island, Bird Rock varies from shallow rocks to steep drop-offs and a beautiful arch. The shallow rocky area is great for snorkeling and the entire site is great for new to advanced divers. The water is nearly always clear, calm and generally without current.

Just off the shore at an old quarry site where the materials to build Long Beach Harbor were mined. This location can have strong currents, but offers both shallow and deep water exploration. This location is reachable by boat only.

With over 70 named dive sites, Catalina Island has it all and is one of the most popular diving destinations in the state of California. On Catalina Island, you can dive from shore or boat over beautiful reefs or majestic kelp beds all teeming with wildlife.

This is a steep, rocky beach with stairs to walk down to the water. The rocks have moss and can be slippery. The kelp forrest is amazing but thick, so swim through the kelp bed with caution.