Casino Point

Casino Point in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island is arguably the most famous shore dive site in California — a designated Underwater Park established in 1965 that has become a pilgrimage destination for Southern California divers and a beloved training ground for new divers making their first ocean dives. The park is located at the base of the iconic Casino building, Avalon's most recognizable landmark, and entry is via concrete stairs cut directly into the breakwater — a convenience that makes this one of the most accessible shore dive entries on the California coast. The park covers approximately 30 acres of rocky reef and kelp forest in depths from the surface to about 100 feet, with the most popular and productive zone in the 20-to-50-foot range. Giant black sea bass are among the park's most celebrated residents: these enormous fish, which can exceed 400 pounds and seven feet in length, have made a dramatic recovery in Catalina waters since receiving full protection in 1982, and Casino Point is one of the most reliable locations in California to encounter them. Seeing a black sea bass hovering motionless in the kelp — dwarfing the kelp bass and sheephead around it — is one of the signature experiences of California diving. The kelp forest itself is spectacular in structure: giant fronds rising to the surface in golden-green columns, the canopy filtering light into a dappled underwater glow. Garibaldi are abundant and bold, the males particularly territorial around nesting sites. Kelp bass lurk at canopy edges and boulder bases. Spiny lobster shelter in reef crevices in good densities within the protected park. Multiple permanent mooring buoys facilitate boat access, and the park sees regular visits from Catalina dive operators. Casino Point has introduced generations of California divers to the ocean, and its combination of accessibility, protection, and marine life makes it one of the finest dive experiences on the West Coast.