Pinnacle
down to 40 m
Farnsworth Bank
Offshore pinnacles off Catalina whose main attraction is the large stands of purple hydrocoral, with drop-offs into very deep water.
- Experienced
- Giant sea bass
Open Water≤18 m
Casino Point Dive Park (Avalon Underwater Park)
Dive site in Channel Islands & Catalina, United States
- Max depth
- 30 m
- Level
- Open Water
- Best months
- Aug–Dec
- Entry
- From shore
The story
Casino Point Underwater Park in Avalon was designed in 1962 and formally established in 1965, the first non-profit park in the country dedicated to underwater exploration. All marine life inside its buoy-and-rope boundaries is protected.
Source: catalinadiverssupply.com
The dive
A kelp forest dive from the shore. Known for sea lions and octopus.
Who it's for
Open Water≤18 mSource: scubadiving.com
Recommended minimum: Open Water (PADI Open Water, CMAS/FFESSM N1).
Conditions
- Dive type
- Kelp forest
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Sea lions
- Octopus
- Garibaldi
- Giant sea bass
- Moray eels
Season in Channel Islands & Catalina
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: Aug–Dec.
Source: dan.orgPrices in Channel Islands & Catalina
- One dive
- €116
- Try dive
- €121–133
- Open Water course
- €891
Prices found at the area's dive centres, not specific to this site. Details and sources
Where is Channel Islands & Catalina?
The point shows the Channel Islands & Catalina area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Channel Islands & Catalina
Drift
down to 27 m
Blue Cavern Point
Drift dive past caverns carved into a deep shelf in a strict marine preserve, home to sea lions, harbor seals and soupfin sharks.
- Advanced
- Sea lions
Kelp forest
down to 20 m
Sea Lion Rookery (Santa Barbara Island)
Shallow kelp site off Santa Barbara Island where California sea lion pups play in the kelp beds among hundreds of pinnipeds.
- Advanced
- Sea lions
Reef
down to 18 m
Cat Rock (Anacapa)
A prominent rock on West Anacapa's south side forming a small bay sheltered from currents, with kelp, schools of fish, gorgonians and lobsters.
- Open Water
Reef
down to 12 m
Cathedral Cove (Anacapa)
Marine-reserve reef on East Anacapa's north side with good reef structure, lots of fish and gorgonians in 6-12 m.
- Open Water
Reef
down to 18 m
Goldfish Bowl (Anacapa)
A class favourite in the Anacapa Island Marine Conservation Area: rocky reef with large rocks, crevices and some kelp.
- Open Water
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.