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Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Avalon
Ready to check out the best sites in Avalon for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 25 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best ocean activities in Avalon to suit your needs.
#1 - Casino Point
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(4)
Casino Point is one of the most popular dive sites in California and deservingly so. The city of Avalon has done a great job making the city and Dive Sites very Diver friendly.
The Dive Site itself is easily accessible via the stairway leading directly into the water from the walkway. Once in the water, the surf is usually calm or near calm and visibility is always pretty good (15-100'). Sea life is abundant and generally easily approachable. You'll find a lot of great photo opportunities at Catalina, so bring a camera if you have one.
You'll find several small wrecks within easy swimming distance of the stairs and lots of other points of interest throughout the Underwater Park. My advise is to just Dive and enjoy the view, you'll come across many interesting things on every dive!
Concrete steps and rails right into the water
#2 - Garibaldi Reef
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(1)
East end of Catalina Island, just north of Seal Rocks
#3 - Hen Rock
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Dive Hen Rockock with its rock formations and kelp forest. Great lobster hunting in season.
SE of Long Point on the front side of Catalina Island
#4 - Little Farnsworth
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
intermediate
(0)
SE of Avalon
Little Farnsworth is also known as Pinnacle Rock.
#5 - Italian Gardens
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
This dive site is a large boulder-strewn area surrounded by sand. Great for Lobstering. Home to a large population of Giant Sea Bass.
West of Long Point, in the front side of Catalina Island.
#6 - Suejac Wreck
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
54' Gaff-rigged schooner. Sunk November 14,1980.
Eastern side of Catalina, immediately outside of Avalon Harbor in front of the Casino. Anchor to the eastern buoy of the Casino diving area.
#7 - China Point
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Rocky with kelp and sea Lions
Around the corner from Avalon
#8 - Church Rock
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Kelp and a lot of fish. Some Abalone
South of Avalon
#9 - White Cove
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Sand and rocky bottom. Halibut and rays in the sand with lobsters in the rocks.
South of Long Point
#10 - Seal Rocks
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
annenomes sand and kelp
South of Avalon
#11 - Goat Harbor
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Sandy cove with night time lobsters marching by. Halibut and rays in the sand
West of Long Point
#12 - Twin Rocks
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Kelp and associated fish. Can have good current. Sand has rays.
North of Long Point
#13 - Little Gibraltar
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Kelp and reef fish Girabaldi. Rays in the sand. Abalone and some lobsters in rocky areas
West of Long Point
#14 - Doctors Cove
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Rays in the sand and some Halibut. Leopard sharks in the southern kelp.
Northwest of Ismus Cove
#15 - Valiant Wreck
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
intermediate
(0)
164 foot motor yacht exploded and sank off Descanso Beach, in December 1930. She is listing to Port in 110 feet of sea water.
Just North of Avalon Harbor
Valiant Wreck is also known as Valiant, Valiant Shipwreck.
#16 - The Palisades
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Pelagics and big fish
Just around the southern tip of Catalina Island
#17 - Jewfish Point
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Gariboldi, Octopus and lobsters in the rocks
South of Avalon
#18 - Torqua Springs
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Best is shallower than 40 feet. Dive thru the kelp forest, and look for lobsters (there are many everywhere !).
SE of Long Point and Moonstone Beach on the frontside of Catalina Island
#19 - Willow Cove
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Sandy bottom with small sharks and some lobster. Various shrimp in the rocks after dark
North west of Avalon
#20 - Moonstone Cove
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Sandy bottom with Horn Sharks, shovel nose sharks and rays in the sand
South West of Long Point
#21 - Pirate's Cove
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Horn sharks, Garaboldi and Halibut in the sand
Just South of Long Point
Pirate's Cove is also known as Pirates Cove.
#22 - Binnacle Rock
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Normally a follow up from Church Rock
South of Avalon
#23 - Frog Rock
USA, California, LA County, Catalina Island
beginner
(0)
Kelp with Sheepshead and Garaboldi fish
North west from Avalon