Deep water areas off Southern California coast

[j_c_w]

Hi all:

I've been freediving for about a couple years now, but haven't found an opportunity to really test my depth limits.

I live in the LA area, and would like to know if there are any locations nearby, or anywhere between Ventura and San Diego where the seabed drops off rapidly, to like a depth of 100 ft or so? So far, the deepest I've gone is 75 ft (just under 23 meters), and would like to push beyond. That is, if I can find a such a place within a 2 mile radius of a safe beach.

Any ideas?


Thanks,
Jon

 

[Bill]

I haven't looked at a chart for years but there are canyons at Pt Mugu and Pt Dume; possibly another at Deep Hole. Don't know about access. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18720.shtml

 

[growingupninja]

Deep Hole is about a mile out from shore (if Bill is referring to the rubble pile out from County Line beach) and you need a GPS to find it. I am still trying to get somebody to take me there, all the published numbers I found were bunk but some charters claim to have the real numbers. Probably gonna make it priority this winter when the lingcod are in. Pt Dume has some drops but currents can be really ripping around there... if you go just north of the point, basically between Pt Dume and Zuma Beach it gets a little deep and the current is not so strong and unpredictable. Point Vicente also has some steep drops that you can easily reach from shore, and currents around there are mild. I assume you have a kayak? You absolutely need one or at least a very large dive flag and float as all those spots are well outside of the kelp line and in deep water--boaters will be running fast and not looking for divers. Point Vicente is not an easy entry point with a kayak, but I think it is possible to launch from Terranea (very close) and definitely from Haggerty's. PM me if you want someone to go with.

 

[hteas]

Can you get to a Catalina Ferry? If so, at either Two Harbors or Avalon you can get to deep water close to shore.
DAve Long runs (or at least ran) the dive shop at Two Harbors. He is a long time freediver, and should be a good contact there.

 

[growingupninja]

Can you get to a Catalina Ferry? If so, at either Two Harbors or Avalon you can get to deep water close to shore.
DAve Long runs (or at least ran) the dive shop at Two Harbors. He is a long time freediver, and should be a good contact there.

If you're willing to go to Catalina, I am told there is some kind of bouyed off dive area near the casino that is 30M on the deep end. I have been to Catalina several times on spearing trips but have never been in the dive area. Catalina has some very steep drops near shore but I have no clue if there is anything you could reach via rental kayak or via overland trails. Most of the spearing I've done is far from the populated areas.

 

[j_c_w]

Hi guys:

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I haven't tried Malibu yet, so Pts. Magu, Dume and Zuma Beach sound like nice places to start!

I do have a few follow-up questions.

1. Bill & growingupninja: Is Deep Hole about 2 miles SW of Leo Carillo? I hadn't heard of it up until now, and I can't tell from the charts, but some of the GPS coordinates I found seem to mark it around there.

2. growingupninja: Unfortunately, no kayak. I've done all my dives swimming out from shore; hence the 2 mile radius request. My dive flag and float stink; any suggestions for a new one?

3. growingupninja: Since I have no kayak, it doesn't look like a good idea to swim to Point Vicente from Haggarty's even if the Church above it allowed me to park. Are they ok with that? I've dove off of Terranea several times, but it's not the easiest entry. There's no beach, just a bunch of rocks you jump off of. If you're still game for that, let me know, but I'd hesitate to bring a kayak. If you have any other ideas how to get to Point Vicente, would love to hear them.

4. hteas: Thanks for the tips, but living inland makes it hard to make regular Catalina trips. I'll PM you if I can get a few extra vacation days for an overnight stay.


Thanks,
Jon

 

[growingupninja]

Hi guys:

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I haven't tried Malibu yet, so Pts. Magu, Dume and Zuma Beach sound like nice places to start!

I do have a few follow-up questions.

1. Bill & growingupninja: Is Deep Hole about 2 miles SW of Leo Carillo? I hadn't heard of it up until now, and I can't tell from the charts, but some of the GPS coordinates I found seem to mark it around there.

2. growingupninja: Unfortunately, no kayak. I've done all my dives swimming out from shore; hence the 2 mile radius request. My dive flag and float stink; any suggestions for a new one?

3. growingupninja: Since I have no kayak, it doesn't look like a good idea to swim to Point Vicente from Haggarty's even if the Church above it allowed me to park. Are they ok with that? I've dove off of Terranea several times, but it's not the easiest entry. There's no beach, just a bunch of rocks you jump off of. If you're still game for that, let me know, but I'd hesitate to bring a kayak. If you have any other ideas how to get to Point Vicente, would love to hear them.

4. hteas: Thanks for the tips, but living inland makes it hard to make regular Catalina trips. I'll PM you if I can get a few extra vacation days for an overnight stay.


Thanks,
Jon

re 1: Those are some of the bunk numbers. Everyone reliable I have heard from who's fished it puts Deep Hole about a mile out from County Line Beach. The 'deep hole' I am referring to is = 'depot', the old train depot rubble at 80', which is now mostly called 'deep hole'.

re 2: Anybody I know who does line dives from shore usually uses an abalone float (this is basically a big inner tube inside a zippered bag) since you can pack all the rope and anchor weight into the compartment. They're stable enough that you can put a dive flag on it. For spearing I use an inflatable signal float since it is easier to swim with it rolled up and deflated, then once in position I inflate it, but unless I am on a boat, I will be hunting inside or very near the kelp beds and most boaters will not fly through a kelp bed since they risk damage to their props by doing that. Some idiots don't know this or are too drunk to care though. An anchored ab float with a tall dive flag would be visible and in my opinion relatively safe.

re 3: Point Vicente is easily accessible by a trail off Palos Verdes Dr. There is parking and bathrooms at the top of the trail. Look on Google maps for Tovemore Trail. This trail is the one known as 'Cardiac Hill' by locals/spearos. This is not 'a safe beach entry' but plenty of spearfishermen used to get in there at all hours of day and night, in all conditions. That area is closed to fishing now (BS politics) so it doesn't see much traffic. The deep water is on the east side of Whale Rock, which is the furthest rock out from the lighthouse. This is in the boat lane. You can find NOA charts of this area online that will provide soundings of the bottom. There are soundings of the entire LA coastline--between those and google maps terrain view you can figure out a lot of spots.

 

[Bill]

If you take a look at that chart, you'll see a mound, just outside the 3 mile line, that rises from 1000' to 250 as you head in. I believe that bank is the original deep hole. Sounds backwards I know. Northeast from that, about 1 1/2 miles offshore, you'll see 26 that shows up as an irregularity in the 180' line. There is a ridge from there towards the point at county line that the old time skipper's called last chance kelp and the divers called deep hole. A little east of that you see RKY. That was called John's reef or fury and may be the best place for you to dive over 100 feet with no board.
This all from an old man that hasn't been there in over 20 years. It brings back a lot of memories.

 

[growingupninja]

If you take a look at that chart, you'll see a mound, just outside the 3 mile line, that rises from 1000' to 250 as you head in. I believe that bank is the original deep hole. Sounds backwards I know. Northeast from that, about 1 1/2 miles offshore, you'll see 26 that shows up as an irregularity in the 180' line. There is a ridge from there towards the point at county line that the old time skipper's called last chance kelp and the divers called deep hole. A little east of that you see RKY. That was called John's reef or fury and may be the best place for you to dive over 100 feet with no board.
This all from an old man that hasn't been there in over 20 years. It brings back a lot of memories.

Thanks for that clarification. Yeah, the deep hole that I've been trying to find sounds like the spot you're describing as Last Chance Kelp. I'm told it's spectacular fishing, but the depth puts it beyond the comfort level of most California spearos and it would take some planning since there won't be much light or viz down there. I haven't met anyone who claims to have dove it but some old-timers claim to have been there by boat, and they all say it's not possible to locate without GPS and bottom scan. I'll probably try to get there in November when the lingcod and cabezon come in for the winter.

 

[j_c_w]

Hi guys:

Thanks for following up! I have 3 thoughts after reviewing your responses.

1. I'm glad you guys have come realize where Deep Hole is. Meanwhile, I need to study up on how to read NOAA charts, because I can't find any of the places Bill mentions on the link. Either that or I'm going blind

2. Thanks for the abalone float idea! I've been using a torpedo float from AExtrema, and in rough water it's been a major pain tying slipknots around my anchor and extra line to keep it from dropping down and snagging on kelp.

3. I didn't realize: I've walked Tovemore Trail before! I didn't think any else would be game for walking up and down it, because it's steep and rocky enough to require regular shoes (I couldn't do it in booties).

If either of you guys are in town, please PM me! These both sound like great adventures!


Thanks,
Jon