[RydDragyn]

The more eastern areas of Laguna are a little rough and rocky in my experience, depending on the swell conditions. Plus the last time I was there I saw a lot of sharks relatively close to shore. Just juvenile leopards, but enough maybe for a child to get scared of. Lots of interesting life to see in the vegetation though.

Diver's Cove in western Laguna can be calm if you get beyond the surf. There's lots of coral, purple urchins, starfish, and sea slugs to see. Diver's Cove has its own metered parking just of off PCH, too. I've seen dolphins and sea lions there as well.

If you've never been to Catalina before, I'd take her to the areas just East of the Avalon port - just for starters. They're calm, shallow areas that attract a lot of families with kids.

Hope that helps.