The pinnacles south of Whale Rock at Pt. Vicente is one of the few dive sites around the peninsula where you may encounter currents. I descended with friends once and we looked like flags on a pole. Never again! When the kelp is at the surface, it is one of the more beautiful dives in Southern California.

Large pinnacles rise from ninety feet to within fifteen feet of the surface. Several species of sponges, rockfish, and tunicates blanket the rocks with a healthy kelp forest surrounding the area. My favorite animal encounter happened at Pt. Vicente. I was taking my neighbor, a newly certified diver for his first ocean dive. As I reached the reef at thirty-five feet, a large Thresher shark cruised by. It glided over the top of the rocks, paying no attention to me. I was awed by its silvery shading and huge tailfin. I haven't seen any animal as spectacular since, although we did spend an hour there with Orcas playing, mating, and swimming under our boat.

At least one diver I know has dived the pinnacles from shore. He walked down Cardiac Hill to Pelican Cove, formerly Pt. Vicente Fishing Access. From the rocky shore, he walked toward Pt. Vicente. It's a long hike and swim with hazards such as a rocky entry/exit and boat traffic, but there are restrooms and a water fountain waiting for you up in the parking lot. The best diving is six hundred feet southwest of Whale Rock, but the reef covers the entire area around the rock. 33° 44.328N 118° 24.895W

• Re: Rancho Palos Verdes Dive Site; Pt. Vicente Christa 12:41:00 01/15/19 (1)
  • Re: Re: Rancho Palos Verdes Dive Site; Pt. Vicente Max Bottomtime 12:43:58 01/15/19 (0)