Dive-site story
Beside the historic Catalina Casino in Avalon, Casino Point Dive Park serves as a dedicated marine preserve on Santa Catalina Island. Concrete stairs with handrails lead divers directly into giant kelp. Within the park, natural rocky reefs feature intentionally placed wrecks, training platforms, and sunken artifacts. Excluding boat traffic from the buoyed zone preserves calm conditions for shore diving.
Sunlit corridors through the giant kelp canopy
Summer aggregations of giant sea bass along the drop-off
Wrecks and submerged historical plaques across the rocky slope
Shore entry by concrete stairs 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 warmest water, clearest visibility, and peak numbers of giant sea bass.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GaribaldiHypsypops rubicundus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Giant Sea BassStereolepis gigas | Common | ||||||||||||
| California SheepheadBodianus pulcher | Common | ||||||||||||
| California Sea LionZalophus californianus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Horn SharkHeterodontus francisci | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Bat RayMyliobatis californica | Common |
Marine forecast
