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Below is the active list of scheduled boat dive trips. Be sure to contact the charter directly for confirmation, rates, booking and other info.
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Author |
: Dale & Kim Sheckler |
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Location |
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Orange County
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Date |
: July 02, 2009 |
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I felt as if we were being followed. Sure enough I turned around and a school of barred sand bass were in our wake, closer than I have ever seen any approach. Barred sand bass are generally a shy fish and it is difficult to get closer than about five feet. These guys were nearly face to face with us. This kind of encounter is not unusual for the Vedder Ecological Reserve. Nothing may be taken or disturbed and the fish are exceptionally sociable and unafraid.
The most beautiful section of the reserve, both above and below the water, is at Picnic Beach. Marine life here is both abundant and diverse. As with the barred sand bass, other fish are plentiful and friendly. At Picnic Beach, as well as most other Laguna Beach dive sites, garibaldi is everywhere. Garibaldi are named after the 19th century Italian General that wore an orange vest into battle. The garibaldi are appropriately named. They are bright orange and love to do battle, being California’s most territorial fish.
Another territorial fish here that is a favorite of mine is the painted greenling. In protection of their patch of reef they are sometimes seen nipping at the fins of fish many times their size. They will occasionally even confront divers. At about six to seven inches long, they make for good macro-photography with their banded bodies, peculiar faces and wonderful colors. The males are brighter than the females with hues varying from brown to brick to red. During mating season in the winter the male will turn very dark and flit around the female in a dance.
Other reef fish include island kelpfish, small kelp bass, sheephead, señoritas, ghost gobies and an occasional brightly colored blue-banded goby. Big guys include bat rays and guitarfish in the sand, and, according to one report a few years’ back, giant black sea bass. In short, this a good dive site for fish photography.
Invertebrates also provide for interesting observation and photography. There are nudibranchs, especially the bright blue and orange Spanish shawl, but the variety is a bit lacking. Dorids are also common probably due to the presence of sponges on which they like to feed. Other mollusks include wavy turban snails, Kellet’s whelks and an occasional chestnut cowry, the only true cowry found on the west coast of North America. Rock scallops are abundant and big, but remember, this is a no-take zone that is strictly enforced.
My favorite invertebrate here to photograph is the California spiny lobster. Being a reserve they are less wary of divers and quite abundant. Here I can get right up in their horny little faces. The best place to see lobster is on the outer reefs.
The reef profile varies and is quite interesting. Nearshore are a series of ridges that extend over to Rock Beach to the southeast. These rocky reefs are pot-marked with ledges and holes with depths ranging from 10 to 20 feet. Watch out for the surge in these sections. Better diving lies almost directly out from the beach, due south. Here a series of large ridges and pinnacles punctuate the bottom. It is 35 feet to the sandy bottom on the outside with some of the reefs rising 15 feet. On one large ridge a small tunnel passes completely under the reef. Do not try to traverse the tunnel, however, as it is too tight for passage.
If you have not visited Picnic Beach in a while you will notice some changes. First, the surface the bluff-top park (Heisler Park) has been renovated, in particular the restrooms.
A more important change for divers is the return of a small kelp forest offshore. At one time a large kelp forest covered this area but due to repeated El Niños, sedimentation and pollution, they disappeared. Enter the Orange County Coast Keepers and with their efforts to transplant kelp back to the area a small kelp forest has returned to Picnic Beach.
Access to Picnic Beach is easy and comfortable. Parking, while not exactly plentiful, is adequate along Cliff Drive. Just the same, arrive early in the morning particularly during the summer. Parking is by meter which now accepts not only quarters but also credit cards. Unfortunately with the adding of the convenience of credit cards comes the doubling of the parking rate to $2 per hour. A paved path leads right down to the beach where there is a shower. But before heading for the beach take the time to look over conditions at the sand beach. It is somewhat protected and usually easy if the surf is calm. Odds are as you stare down at the water you’ll be looking at clear, calm water that is quite inviting. Let’s suit up and go diving!
Dive Spot At A Glance
Location: Intersection of Myrtle St. and Cliff Dr. in Laguna Beach
Access and Entry: Paved ramp to usually easy sand beach surf entry.
Skill Level: All when calm.
Depths: 10 to 35 feet.
Visibility: Very good, averaging 15 to 20 feet but can reach 30 feet.
Photography: Good for both macro with a variety of subject. Fair wide-angle with good visibility.
Hunting: Vedder Ecological Reserve. Nothing may be taken.
Facilities: Excellent. Metered parking, restrooms, showers on beach, paved ramp to beach.
Limitations: No classes on beach before 7 a.m. or after 10 a.m. from June 15 through September 15.
Conditions: 949-494-6573, www.lagunaseasports.com/conditions/conditions.asp
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