LA - Marineland

The majority of my post certification dives has been here at marineland. There is two different dive spots at marineland and they are both very different. 120 reef is on the far south side of the dive site. It is called 120 reef because you take a 120 compass heading after swimming directly out from the cobblestone beach. At 120 reef you can find a variety of animals and plant life on small reefs in about 20-35ft. As far as fish, I've seen opaleye, blacksmith, garabaldi, sheephead, barracuda, senorita, baitfish, treefish, and various types of rockfish. Nudibranchs can also be found here and I have personally seen Yellow Dorids and Spanish Shawls. Long Point is the second dive site located at marineland and is more for the advanced to intermediate diver. In order to get to the Long Point dive site you must either enter at the north point 'Long Point' or take a 15-20 min. surface swim from the cobblestone beach. After getting out past Long Point, you should look for a storm drain grate and metal pole. Descend about 150 feet out in about 35 feet of water between the metal pole and storm drain grate that can be seen from shore. Once you descend, dial in 180 degrees and head down till you hit 55-65ft of water. In this area you'll find large pinnacles which are covered in life. In the 35-45ft range there are still some pinnacles but are less numerous and not as large. Long Point is where you get the TRUE marineland experience. Here you'll find all the normal reef suspects of the 120 reef but also blue banded gobi's, black eyed gobi's, LingCod, Cabazon and a multitude of Nudibranch's. On one dive I've heard of people seeing more then 14 varieties of nudibranchs! Personally my record has been only four, including Spanish Shawls, Yellow Dorids, Porter's Chromodorids, and Hermi's. Long Point is a great site which cannot be passed up by any So Cal diver. Certain things must be noted though. Do not attempt a dive at Marineland in high surf! The cobblestone shores and rocky entries are deadly in anything larger the 1-2ft swells. Even 2ft swells can be difficult to manage here. Long Point is also notorious for strong currents. Be careful and be safe.