Difficulty
beginner
Viz (last reported 99659h ago)
Max Depth
20 ft
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Christmas Tree Cove
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.
Access
shore
boat
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Tide Report
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Mike Barr
Aug 19, 2006, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is my first snorkeling experience since Marineland closed its "Baja Reef" swim-through aquarium in 1987. A friend took me down to see tide pools further South of the cove, but pulled out a snorkel and jumped in right there at the cove's southern tip. We went across to the small rock island, and in between was a big Garibaldi, tons of stars and purple urchins, and some sleek, silvery fish with horizontal blue stripes. I was hesitant due to my lack of experience, but my friend's own confidence and experience hyped me up. I hooted with excitement when I reached the island, and scared off a seal that had been sunning itself, camouflaged on the rocks. It swam around and checked us out, and took his spot back after we left. Visibility was about 20 ft. Incidentally, my friend calls this Crystal Cove, "because the water's so clear." He's a lifetime local; go figure.
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