Dive Site: Nicholas Canyon, Malibu, California.

Nicholas Canyon is not dove as often as other spots in Malibu, but it has lots of benefits. The facilities are good, the entry is sandy, and the reefs are large and shallow. The downside is that sometimes the waves can be large here, and the vis poor. The reefs are a little ways from shore. On a calm day the diver will be rewarded with a large area to explore filled with reef fish, and not heavily dove. marineland

Interests: Blacksmith, senoritas, Sand bass, perch, opaleye, halfmoons, Spanish shawl, and kelp rockfish are common here. Lucky divers will see bat rays, angel sharks, guitarfish, thornback rays, and other rockfish species.
Entry & Exits: Sandy beach. You have to walk down a ramp and a flight of stairs, but the climb is not as bad as Marine-land or Malaga.
Suggestions: Reefs and kelp forests are either to the left or right of the beach. The best reefs are past 30ft depth, and they are a long swim out.
Best time to Dive: During small south swells and high tide. vis is best from late summer to early winter.
Visibility: 5-20ft
Warnings: Entry can be hazardous during large south swells.
Depth Recommendations:18-40ft is where most of the points of interest are for this site. 60 ft is Recommended maximum depth for novice beach divers .
100 ft is Recommended maximum for advanced beach divers. 130 ft is Maximum Depth for recreational divers.
Safety: Use of float, flag, anchor and descent line is required for beach diving. Cell phone and oxygen first aid kit should be available.

Dive Site Photos

Directions: Click on map for GOOGLE MAP directions

Parking: Parking is $2 - $6, depending on the time of day. It rarely fills up due to the large lot. Nice bathrooms and showers are available.

parking parking

Photos of the Nicholas Canyon Parking lot, and the path going down to the dive sites.

by Scott Gietler.