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Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Palos Verdes Estates
Ready to check out the best sites in Palos Verdes Estates for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 8 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 Palos Verdes Estates to suit your needs.
#1 - Christmas Tree Cove
California Mid, USA West
beginner
(15)
Steep hike over slippery sand, then entry over shallow, slippery rocks. There is nice snorkeling available along the shoreline and a small kelp forest in the middle of the cove. The best diving is on the reef beyond the cove. The high spot breaks the surface at low tide. Follow this reef south and you will find overhangs, walls, lobsters, sponges, fish and nudibranchs. The east side of the reef has vertical walls as high as fifteen feet. The reef continues to eighty feet where it ends at the sand.
Located in the posh Palos Verdes area, grab your street map and follow along: From the Pacific Coast Highway, head South on Palos Verdes Blvd for 1.4 miles. Turn right on Palos Verdes Drive West. In 3.8 miles, turn right on Paseo Lunado which becomes Paseo Del Mar. You'll see the park on your right.
#2 - S.S. Dominator
USA
beginner
(0)
From outside of the heavy kelp canopy anchor west or northwest of the point. Reefs are rocky shelved and gradually flat, filled with fish and crustaceans in certain times of the year. The wreck SS Dominator grounded in heavy fog March 13 1961 having no modern navigation equipment and getting stranded on the reef, carrying 10,000+ tons of wheat and beef, heavy surf, wind and high tide prevented it's recovery. 2 days of trying the crew abandoned ship It was a WWII Liberty Ship 441 ft long by 57 feet wide. As of now the wreckage is almost gone by eroding forces and salvage. Under water there are only traces of metal scattered. Sections of bilge room may still be found. The overall area is excellent diving, thick kelp forests.
long and I mean real long hike over steep rock cliffs make this an excellent boat dive. Coming from Marina Del Rey it's about 13 miles and from San Pedro it's 13-14 miles. The closest is Redondo Beach's Kings Harbour at 5 miles (it only has a hoist there for private non resident boat entries.)The spot is basically around Rocky Point.
S.S. Dominator is also known as Rocky Point Palos Verdes.
#3 - S.S. Avalon Wreck
USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes
intermediate
(0)
269' passenger steam steel ship; sunk september 16th, 1964.
Of Palos Verdes.
#4 - Haggerty's Crane
USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes
beginner
(0)
Haggerty's Crane is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.
#5 - Malaga cove
USA, California, LA County
beginner
(0)
Malaga cove is located in the posh Palos Verdes area.
#6 - Flat Rock
USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes
intermediate
(0)
The toughest trail to climb in Palos Verdes with dive gear! Flat Rock is a vast, healthy kelp forest, home to many local species. It is a great night dive for lobster and wonderful photography site during the day, but shore access is not for the faint of heart.
#7 - Honeymoon cove
USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes
intermediate
(0)
Easy entry/exit in high tides, outgoing tides bring shallow slippery rocks to cross. Viz is excellent at times up to 40ft. Shallow over-all cove, reaching to only 40ft deep in the farther reaches of the kelp. Boat traffic can be close to the outer kelp so be careful there! Lots of marine life!
One cove south of Lanuda Bay, in Palos Verdes, watch the hike down as it is steep, and yet soft in spots and like walking on marbles in others. 7mins down. 3 anchor points to attach a line to, sometimes a line is at the bottom. Balance is a good thing to have, sure footing!
#8 - Landing Craft LCM3
USA, California, LA County, Redondo Palos Verdes
beginner
(0)
Former US Navy Landing Craft Mechanical possibly used by Al Kidman to salvage the Dominator wreck. Not much remains of the wreck, but what is there is home to a small collection of marinelife. Octopus, Blacksmith and Giant Sea Bass make the landing craft home.