Beach Scuba Site: Big Rock in Malibu, California

Big Rock is hands down one of the quickest dive site's to get to! Big Rock offers great diving so close to Santa Monica you can see the pier in the distance! It has Light Kelp and an abundance of Marine Life make this site a special place. Big Rock offers a wonderful Kelp Forest and shallow Pinnacles close to shore exhibiting many: Garibaldi, Senoritas, Blacksmith, Perch, Opaleye, Spanish Shawl and Croaker Fish. Lobsters, Sheep Crab, Cabezon and Scorpionfish are also present. The lucky diver with spot a Horn Shark, Swell Shark, or large Bat Ray. Difficulty Level 7.5/10 (Beach Entry) Difficulty Level 8.5/10 (Rocky Entry).

Click on Map to enlarge

map

Maps are not to be used for boaters or navigational purposes.

Interests: Many Garibaldi, Senoritas, Blacksmith, Perch, Opaleye, Spanish Shawl and Croaker Fish are plentiful here. Lobsters, Sheep Crab, Cabezon and Scorpionfish are also present. The lucky diver with spot a Horn Shark, Swell Shark, or large Bat Ray. A large pinnacle exists at 10ft to a depth of 30ft and offers great diving, but visibility is often limited.

Entry & Exits:Use prudent judgement when Beach Diving, perform an environmental assessment of the area before you gear up. Rocky boulders (moderate) or sandy beach (easy). Only divers with rocky entry experience should attempt the rocky area, do so at your own risk.

Suggestion-1: Charter a local Dive Boat on one of our Island Trips, you'll love the visibility!

Suggestions-2: Enter just to the left of the "Big Rock", its more protected there.

Best time to Dive: During small to flat South Wwells and High Tide. August through October offers the best visibility, but the site is "divable" year round when conditions permit.

Visibility: 5 - 20ft

Warnings: The entry and exit is very rocky, slippery and dangerous. Divers should have rocky entry experience or use prudent judgement at this site. Do not attempt to dive this site if the surf is high.

Depth Recommendations:18 - 35ft is where most of the points of interest are for this site. The maximum depth for this site should not exceed 40ft.

Safety: Use of a Float, Flag, Anchor and Descent line are required for Beach Diving. Cell Phone, Oxygen Kit and First Aid Kit are always recommended.

Directions: Click on map for GOOGLE MAP directions

map

Parking:

Parking is difficult, there is one legal spot in front of the gate, but lots of parking across PCH from the site.

Photos of the Big Rock Parking lot and the stairs leading down to the dive site.

By Dylan J. Johnson

Tags: Padi-idc, Pch-scuba-sites, Parking-on-pch, Best-dive-sites, Beach-dive-sites, La-county-beaches-orange-county-beach-dive-sites