Page 142 - California Diving and Surfing
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You can dive the island year round but if AB CITY 5’-25’ Near sea lion and elephant lobsters, but no kelp.
conditions are rough there are not many ar- seal rookery. Also has lots of abalone.
eas to seek shelter. Because of its small size, WEBSTER POINT CAVES 40’-90’ “Dragon
ocean swells can wrap around the island, LANDING COVE 20’-40’ Rocky plateau hosts Cave” is at 90’ depth. Also has walls and
so planning a trip is weather dependant. black sea bass, white sea bass, sheephead, other caverns. Divers see urchins, brittle-
The best time is in the late summer to fall rockfish, and lobsters. stars, sheephead, and Pacific electric rays.
months. Visibility here can be anywhere
from 20’-80’ but generally it is more in the THE ROOKERY 20’-35’ Sea lion haul out has SEA LION ROOKERY - shallow diving, shel-
40’ plus range and water temperature can lots of gregarious, playful sea lions. Great tered, lots of sea lions in clear water
be between low 50’s to mid 60’s. photo spot.
BLACK CAVERN - a deep site with many
HIDDEN REEF (7 ½ FATHOM SPOT ) 45’-90’ SOUTHEAST REEF 25’-100’ Large reef drops caves and caverns
Sharp peaks host purple hydrocoral, scal- off to a sandy bottom. Has two archways,
lops, and lobsters. Photogenic site also has anemones, nudibranchs, halibut, sheep- BRITTLE STAR REEF - millions of brittle stars
pelagic fishes. Only dive when calm. head, calico bass, bat rays, and sea lions. carpet the floor at 60-75ft depth, with a
nice rocky reef and kelp
THE ARCHWAY 30’-80’ A big dive-thru arch SUTIL ISLAND 20’-130’ Islet is 301’ tall. Site
is at 70’ depth. Also there are sea fans, features walls, canyons, caves, dense kelp PYRAMID COVE - large dive site with beauti-
sponges, stone corals, sheephead, scallops, forests, lots of fish, invertebrates, and large ful kelp, sea fans and structure
and lobsters. lobsters. Caution: Can be surgy. A large off-
shore rock, with beautiful kelp forests CASTLE ROCK - nice kelp forest and shallow
SHAG ROCK 30’-50’ Islet is 145’ tall. A shal- caves
low, rocky reef has sand, thick kelp, and RUBSCHLAGER REEF 35’-50’ Reef has ur-
angel sharks. Visibility is often poor. chins, gorgonian corals, and lots of small
