Big Rock is one of the quickest dive sites 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 has 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 will spot a Horn Shark, Swell Shark, or large Bat Ray swimming along the reef.
Difficulty Level 7.5/10 for the Beach Entry and 8.5/10 for the Rocky Entry.
Interests: Bounties of fish (including Horn Sharks and Bat Rays!), Crabs & Lobsters, and Nudibranchs like Spanish Shawls. A large pinnacle exists at 10 - 30ft of depth and offers great dive experience. Visibility, however, is often limited.
Entry & Exits: Use prudent judgement when Beach Diving. Remember to perform an environmental assessment of the area before you gear up. There are rocky boulders (for a moderate entry) or sandy beach (for an easier entry). Only divers with rocky entry experience should attempt the rocky area; do so at your own risk.
Best time to Dive: During small to flat South Swells 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 & exit is very rocky and can be slippery and even dangerous! Divers should have rocky entry experience. 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.