Dive-site story
Established as the country's first designated non-profit underwater park, Casino Point sits adjacent to Avalon's historic Casino on Santa Catalina Island. Concrete stairs with handrails lead directly into the reserve, which features giant kelp forests, rocky reefs, sand flats, and scuttled wrecks, including the SueJac sailboat, a crane barge, and glass-bottom boat hulls. Decades of strict no-take protections leave resident fish unfazed by divers, bringing large coastal species into close view.
Giant kelp canopy with light filtering through the stipes
Giant sea bass patrolling kelp forest margins in warmer months
Wreck of the SueJac and a commemorative Jacques Cousteau plaque
Concrete entry stairs fitted with handrails
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late summer and autumn bring the clearest water, warmest conditions, and peak giant sea bass gatherings.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Sea BassStereolepis gigas | Common | ||||||||||||
| GaribaldiHypsypops rubicundus | Common | ||||||||||||
| California SheepheadBodianus pulcher | Common | ||||||||||||
| Kelp BassParalabrax clathratus | Common | ||||||||||||
| California Two-spot OctopusOctopus bimaculoides | Common | ||||||||||||
| Bat RayMyliobatis californica | Common | ||||||||||||
| Horn SharkHeterodontus francisci | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
