Sea Sabres
San Clemente Island
Located 60 miles ( 6 hours)
west of San Diego, this 18 mile long island has a vast array of diving
opportunities. The sunlit shallows and vertical walls of the lee side are an excellent
place for beginners to acclimate themselves to this beautiful watery
environment. The vital all-weather protection of the world-famous Pyramid Cove
is an absolute diver's Mecca. The cove, which encompasses four miles of the
southern end of San Clemente, has dozens of dive locations with extremely
diverse underwater terrain.
The canyons ,
arches, walls, and redwood-like kelp forests have earned this area the
distinction of being rated among the best dive destinations in the world.
For the adventurous,
San Clemente's windswept backside is the place to observe nature as it was, or
hunt for the elusive dinner. Due to the prevailing wind and the open-ocean
sell, we rarely get to dive this area. When Mother Nature does allow us to
venture up the island's weather-side we feel blessed. Pristine kelp forests,
abrupt walls, huge fish and lobster: more life than can be viewed in one dive,
or one trip for that matter.
San Clemente's far west end
offers more magic. The Coral Garden and Purple Boilers, carpeted with beautiful
purple hydrocoral, are a photographer's dream. Castle Rock's shallow water
caves and kelp forest offer unparalleled exploration possibilities. Northwest
Harbor, with its calm water and small sea lion rookery is the place to come
face-to-face with a sea lion.
Finally, game
hunters take note: San Clemente's the place to be if you're feeling hungry!
Spring, summer and early fall for yellowtail and white sea bass. Then lobster
fever hits in October and lasts through March. So diver, no matter what your
objective or skill level, San Clemente has it all for you.
Back to Dive Spots & Dive Boats
((Home) (Boat Dives) (Buddy List) (Campouts)
(Diving Links) (Dive Spots & Dive Boats) (Diving Time Line) (Email)
(Meetings) (Membership) (Recipes) (Safety & Education) (News Letters AKA Snorkel Talk)
(Non Sequitur) (Updates)
Updated September 15, 2003