Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0Real snorkeling lives on Los Angeles' rocky points, just not the tropical kind. Leo Carrillo, Point Dume and Palos Verdes hold kelp, garibaldi and tide pools, and some of it sits inside marine reserves. Expect cold water, a wetsuit and visibility that changes day to day.
Most of Los Angeles County's coast is sandy beach with little to see underwater. The good snorkeling is at the rocky points: Sequit Point at Leo Carrillo State Park, Point Dume in Malibu, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There you find giant kelp, garibaldi, California sheephead, tide pools and the occasional bat ray or sea lion.
Know the water before you go. It is cold much of the year, often the upper 50s to mid 60s F. Visibility can drop to 10 feet after swell or plankton, or reach 20 to 30 feet on a calm day. A wetsuit is close to essential, and a spot that is fine one morning can be unsafe the next. For the best snorkeling near LA, take a boat to Catalina Island (see our Catalina Island page), with clearer water and sheltered coves.
Several shores are marine protected areas. At Point Dume you can snorkel but take nothing. At Abalone Cove the beach is currently closed because of landslide movement, so verify access first. Check water quality too: Heal the Bay grades beaches, and LA County issues rain advisories after storms.
Tap a spot to see what it is like, then open its guide or get directions.
Tap a card for spotting tips and the Guardian rule for each animal. Filter by what you most want to meet.
California's bright orange state marine fish. Males guard their rocky nests fiercely and will swim right up to your mask.
Guardian rule: Fully protected in California. No taking, ever.
Hypsypops rubicundus
A big wrasse with a black head and tail and a red middle in males. It crunches urchins and crabs in kelp and rocky reef.
Semicossyphus pulcher
An olive green fish with bright blue eyes that schools in shallow, rocky water and tide pools along Southern California.
Girella nigricans
A fast-growing seaweed that rises from the rocks to the surface and forms underwater forests along Southern California. Sunlight through the fronds is the classic California snorkel view.
Macrocystis pyrifera
A large ray with wide, pointed wings and a raised head, common over sand and kelp edges in Southern California. It digs in the sand for clams and crabs.
Myliobatis californica
Playful, noisy and fast in the water. Sea lions haul out on rocks around La Jolla Cove and Catalina and sometimes zoom past snorkelers.
Guardian rule: NOAA asks you to stay at least 50 yards (150 ft) away. Never approach pups, and let curious sea lions come to you.
Zalophus californianus
A spotted, round-faced seal that rests on beaches and rocks in Southern California. Shyer than sea lions, it often slips into the water if people get close.
Guardian rule: Stay at least 50 yards (150 ft) away, especially during pupping season.
Phoca vitulina
Tiny, brightly colored sea slugs that crawl over rocks and kelp. Slow down in the shallows to find them.
Nudibranchia
Kelp and tide pools at Sequit Point, entered near lifeguard tower 2. Expect reef, sea caves and big octopuses, plus cold water and surge.
State park day use is $12 per vehicle or $3 per hour (checked on the state park page). Free parking exists along Pacific Coast Highway at your own risk. Directions
A kelp-covered headland inside the Point Dume reserve and SMCA. Best on very calm mornings, since currents and shore break can be serious.
Parking fees conflict across sources and operator is unclear. Confirm current rates before you go. Directions
A rocky San Pedro shore with a lot by the water. Enter by the jetty at mid to high tide, and watch for surge and slick rocks.
A dive-site guide lists $10 parking; recent reports say parking is limited by sewer construction through 2027. Confirm with LA County Beaches and Harbors. Directions
Kelp and rocky reef in a Palos Verdes SMCA. The beach and its access trails are closed because of landslide movement, so check before you go.
Paid lot, 9 am to 4 pm: free for 30 minutes, $6 up to 2 hours, $12 over 2 hours; card only; free for seniors 62+ and disabled visitors. The beach is closed. Directions
Shore entries with easy parking and calm water on a normal day. Still check the surf and ask the lifeguard.
Kelp and tide pools at Sequit Point, entered near lifeguard tower 2. Expect reef, sea caves and big octopuses, plus cold water and surge.
A rocky San Pedro shore with a lot by the water. Enter by the jetty at mid to high tide, and watch for surge and slick rocks.
Calm Choppy Rough. Wave heights are offshore model values.
Loading tides…
Forecast: Open-Meteo. Tides: NOAA station 9410840. Model data, not a lifeguard report. Always check posted warnings.
We have not found a tour here that meets our standard yet. The spots on this page are best done on your own with the tips below.
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Late summer and early fall have the warmest water and usually the calmest mornings, after the summer south swell fades. Winter can be clear but is cold and often rough. Avoid days after rain.
Early morning, before wind and surf build and before the lots fill.
Skip days with a strong south or southwest swell, strong surge, or rain in the last 72 hours.
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel conditions | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Fair |
| Water °F | 58 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 65 | 62 | 59 |
Locals and guides point to a handful of rocky shores. Leo Carrillo State Park has kelp starting in under 15 feet near Sequit Point. Point Dume in Malibu is the most protected, but entries are advanced. White Point and Royal Palms in San Pedro have a lower lot near the water and a rocky entry. Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes is an SMCA, but its beach is currently closed. Other spots mentioned by guides, such as El Matador and Nicholas Canyon, are swell-exposed and need a calm morning.
Diver reports show about 57 F in March and 66 F in late May. A 2 to 3 mm shorty or full wetsuit is a sensible baseline outside peak summer, with booties for rocky entries and a hood in winter. Many people choose a full suit all year.
Seals and sea lions rest on beaches and rocks. Stay at least 50 yards away, including in the water, per NOAA. If an animal approaches you, move away slowly. Never feed or touch one.
Stingrays bury in sandy shallows. Shuffle your feet instead of stepping so rays feel you and move away. If you are stung, soak the wound in hot but not scalding water (about 104 to 114 F) for roughly 15 minutes and see a doctor if pain persists. Lifeguard towers often have hot water.
Heal the Bay grades more than 400 California beaches on bacteria levels at beachreportcard.org. LA County rain advisories apply for 72 hours after rain. Stay away from the water near storm drains and creek mouths.
For clearer water, kelp forests and sheltered coves, take a boat to Catalina Island. See /snorkeling/california/catalina-island/ for Casino Point and the other Catalina spots.
Several Los Angeles snorkel shores are marine protected areas, and marine mammals are protected by federal law.
The Point Dume State Marine Reserve prohibits taking all living marine resources. The adjoining Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area allows limited take such as recreational spearfishing for certain pelagic finfish, but snorkeling and other non-consumptive uses are allowed in both. Do not collect shells, animals or rocks. Official rule
The Abalone Cove State Marine Conservation Area limits take. The beach and access trails are currently closed by the city. Follow the city's notices. Official rule
NOAA asks you to keep at least 50 yards from seals and sea lions in the water and on shore, never feed or touch them, and give pups extra room. Official rule
LA County issues Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisories that stay in effect for 72 hours after rainfall ends. Avoid water contact especially near storm drains, creeks and rivers. The county's 24 hour beach hotline is 1-800-525-5662. Official rule
How snorkelers protect reefs · Choosing a reef-safe sunscreen
Yes, but it is cold-water rocky-shore snorkeling. Leo Carrillo and Point Dume offer kelp and fish when swell is low. Visibility varies from about 10 to 30 feet. For the best snorkeling in the area, take a boat to Catalina Island.
Strongly recommended. Reported temperatures range from about 57 F in March to 66 F in late May and warmer in late summer. A 2 to 3 mm shorty or full suit is a common choice.
No. Point Dume State Marine Reserve and Conservation Area prohibit take. Snorkeling and observing are allowed.
The beach and access trails have been closed by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes since a landslide acceleration, with no reopening date found. Call 310-491-5775 or check rpvca.gov/trailalerts.
LA County rain advisories remain in effect for 72 hours after the rainfall ends. Avoid water contact, especially near storm drains, creeks and rivers.
What we pack for every snorkel trip. Each link searches the category on Amazon so you can compare brands and prices.
Non-nano zinc oxide only. No oxybenzone or octinoxate, which Hawaii bans.
Shop on Amazon →The best sun protection is fabric. Less sunscreen in the water, less sunburn on your back.
Shop on Amazon →Southern California water runs 58 to 72°F. A 5/4 mm suit in spring, 3 mm in late summer.
Shop on Amazon →An inflatable vest lets you rest without standing on the reef. Lifeguards love them.
Shop on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
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We check fees, rules and access against official sources first, then local operators and recent visitor reports. Conditions change, so always follow posted signs and lifeguards. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
