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LA - Marineland
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Submitted By:
Phil Garner
Submitter Comments:
Marineland has a lot to offer, but is not known as a producer of many large bugs. There are a few here and there. The landslide caused by the Ocean Trails golf course has temporarily ruined a lot of diving in the area between Abalone Cove and White Point. Try diving here after a few days of Santana winds. The diving from White Point to Pt Fermin is mostly 20-40' with sand, rocks and kelp. Visibility can be good a few days out of the year, but it averages between five feet to fifteen feet most of the time.
Directions:
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Diver
Reviews: (Please share your
own experiences by clicking
here!)
01/09/2008 Kenny R (Avg: 2.87 Review) - Went diving with the DiveVets on New Years day. Parking lot is at the end of Nantasket Drive. Viz was about 15 feet. Almost no surf at all. The long hike is not that bad. Saw a 5ft Angel Shark!! If you go there and the chain is blocking access to the parking lot, go to the front of what used to be OML (Resort being built) and ask the security guard to unlock everything as this site is supposed to be unlocked during the day time.
08/29/2005 Jeff P (Avg: 2.88 Review) - My buddy Brandon and I planned an early morning beach dive to Old Marine Land only to find half a dozen other divers in the water and a few others crawling out. I can't believe how early these guys get out there! Went to the beach to check things out and see what side the beach would have been best for diving. The word was NEITHER! Divers that were in the water for fewer than 5 minutes were back out again. It was reported that the visibility was below 3 feet and the surge was extremely strong. With our ladies in tow, we headed out towards Redondo Beach to see if things were going better. Arrived at Vet's Park and the word was that diving was okay! We found the visibility was decent, 15' at best. No surge and truly easy entry and exit from the surf… There's not that much life on the sandy bottom, but if you lost your scuba pro fin strap, we saw it at about 45'.
06/22/2005 Brian in LA (Avg: 3.47 Review) - First time to marineland and won't be the last. Entered at the cove and nav'd out into the kelp. Lots of stars, nudi's, garibaldi, kelpbass, surfperch and a HUGE crab!!!!! Had to be 3ft across eating a nudi. Amazing, but the surf kicked in and vis diminished. I love this place. Can't wait to get back.
02/09/2005 Jason NYC (Avg: 3.59 Review) - When I visited this site the first time I couldn't believe that such lovely places existed in America! It really is a picture perfect spot. As mentioned in other reviews, access is only permitted from 9-4pm and security guards on site may ask what you are doing. Just say you are there for "coastal access." It looks like construction is about to start up again after many years so dive it now before beach access is halted. I actually saw a group of free roaming sheep and goats both times I was here. Insane! A somewhat long hike in gear to the rocky/pebble cove beach area brings you to the water along a sloping sand path. It is best to bring a friend who has done this before because surf can be high and hard. Picking the right place to enter is key here. Too much surf caused me to abort my dive attempt on the first trip here. Watch out for very sharp pieces of an old pier sticking out of the water at the cove entry. They can only be seen during low tide. Free parking and security but no bathrooms or any other facilities. Dolphins, Sea Lions and more here! I really felt like I was diving from some remote beach in another country, but I live in NYC so...
12/21/2004 Kimberly Woods (Avg: 4.12 Review) - This spot truly feels like you are diving in an aquarium but only when the surf is down and the visibility is great. If not, the water remains very cloudy when the surf is up. There are great shallow areas to check out at the point but the current can be strong. At the southern end, it is calmer and easier to enter the water, although it is rocky. Some of the cool reef are farther out from the natural cave on shore but be prepared for a long swim. These reefs have some unusual critters and occasionally you can come across a mantis shrimp and some seal lions. If you're entering at the beach, keep an eye out for the few pilings that remain of the old Marineland pier. If the conditions were consistently great, I would dive this spot everyday.
11/11/2003 Peter Wansick (Avg: 3.27 Review) - Went to Marineland today, gates open between 9 and 4, make sure you are out by 4 or you will be locked in. The walk down the dirt road and entry over the rocks were a little rough, definitely not for the beginner or weak. The best diving is off to the right (north) once in the water and clear of the rocks the diving was great. Visibility was around 25 feet. Lots of fish and plant life, like swimming in an aquarium. Saw a couple small lobster and two big ones but couldn't get my hands on them. Another guy there with a spear gun came back with a nice bag of fish. Nice dive, I will be back again.
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Aerial.
Submitted by Kenny R
Aerial.
Submitted by Kenny R
The rocky entry.
Submitted by Kenny R
Diver
Averages for LA - Marineland (1=worst,
5=best) |
Number of reviews for this site: 6
442-4-4-29
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2.50
3.17
3.83
4.17
1.50
2.83