Best snorkeling in California: 9 top spots to explore
Picture this: you dive into cool, crystal clear waters and are surrounded by a rainbow of colorful fish. Is this the Bahamas? Cancun? Nope, it’s California! The California coast is home to rugged cliffs, playful sea lions, towering redwoods and some of the best snorkeling spots in the U.S. — and you can see it all when you set sail with Princess. A California coast Princess cruise lets you see the best of the state with the luxury — and delicious food! — you can expect from Princess.
Before or after your unforgettable California cruise, venture into the ocean for a day surrounded by marine life. To help you plan, these are 9 of the best snorkeling spots in California!
Table of contents
1. Catalina Island
Sun, sea and serenity are all you’ll find on this island paradise that’s only an hour away from Los Angeles by ferry. Wander the colorful coastal city Two Harbors, see the turquoise water and white sand beaches, hike among the tropical green hills and — of course — dive beneath the waves on a snorkeling adventure.
The main port on the island is Avalon, and you’ll find the most popular snorkeling spot right there: Lover’s Cove. This spot is walkable from the ferry port while still offering a secluded atmosphere away from the city center. Here, you can see garibaldi, rays, rockfish, kelp bass, puffer fish and octopus, if you’re lucky!
Get away from the hustle and bustle and head to the other side of the island, Two Harbors, for a quieter snorkeling experience. Two Harbors has the cleanest water in the area — with a visibility of nearly 100 feet — and underwater gardens that fish will weave in and out of. With long stretches of sandy beaches nearby, this is the perfect spot for an all-day adventure for the whole family.
2. Diver’s Cove
Sea stars, stingrays and lobster, oh my! Diver’s Cove in Laguna Beach is home to a wide variety of marine life, which is why SCUBA divers from all over the world flock to this beach. Dive beneath the waves to see garibaldi, purple urchins, kelp bass and the occasional leopard shark.
A rocky outcropping protects you from rough ocean swells, so this spot feels secluded from the rest of the city beaches and ideal for beginners. You can reach this snorkeling spot by driving about an hour and a half south of Los Angeles.
3. La Jolla, San Diego
Swim like a sea lion — and maybe alongside a few! La Jolla cove is the spot for sea lions and seals in San Diego, and you can also swim in the same waters among the unique underwater rock formations and lush kelp and seagrass gardens. Keep your eyes peeled for bright orange garibaldi, sea cucumbers, anemones and sea stars.
La Jolla has underwater caves that are a one-of-a-kind experience to explore, but check with a lifeguard to make sure the waves, tides and swells will let you do so safely.
4. Caspar Bay
What do raccoon pelts and snorkeling have in common? Caspar Bay! This secluded pocket beach is named after one of its first residents: a German trapper who jumped ship into the bay and traded pelts for years there. Today, you can snorkel around the huge rocks that jut up 15-feet from the bottom to the surface and are covered with colorful marine life: giant green anemones, red coralline algae, purple kelp and a rainbow of sea stars.
If you head upshore to the north of the cove, you can swim among huge fields of fluffy white metridium anemones and giant green anemones, as well as abalones and rockfish. Caspar Bay is a short drive from Monterey or a 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco — a perfect day trip.
5. Emerald Bay
Not an ocean lover? Then you might love snorkeling in the second deepest lake in the U.S. with 70 foot visibility all around you! Take a day trip from San Francisco inland to the world famous Lake Tahoe and snorkel in its picturesque Emerald Bay — a tear-drop shaped cutout of bright green-blue lake water surrounded by pine trees and granite boulders.
Emerald Bay has an underwater diving trail where you can swim among the world’s largest and most diverse collection of sunken small water craft. Dive to the two barges or swim to the small island in the center of the bay to see the Scandinavian “castle” called Vikingsholm from 1929.
6. Monterey Bay
Dive into a lush underwater jungle and keep your eyes peeled for otters playing around you. That’s the draw of Monterey Bay that makes it a snorkelers’ paradise! For kelp forests and the possibility of otters and sea lions, head to Monterey Beach. New to snorkeling? Try Lover’s Point Park where the water is shallow and calm and packed full of colorful fish.
Cannery Row has underwater canyons and rock formations where you can see rockfish and sea stars. Looking for a hands’ on experience? Asilomar State Beach has tide pools along the shore where you can touch anemones and sea stars!
7. Glass Beach
You’re swimming through the California ocean and see something sparkling in the sunlight. Is it a shell? A gold coin from a pirate’s treasure? If you’re at Glass Beach, it’s probably the polished fragment of a glass bottle! This bay used to act as the local city dump, but in 1967, officials cleaned everything out except for the glass. Years later, all of the broken shards have been smoothed into a colorful array of gems that dot the ocean floor and wash onto the beach. As you collect glass, keep your eyes peeled for rockfish and large surfperch fish.
You can find this gem of a beach in Fort Bragg, a 3 hour day-trip from San Francisco.
8. McAbee Beach
Harbor seals, anyone? You might encounter a few of these speckled gray seals and their adorable big eyes when you snorkel at McAbee Beach! They’ve been known to follow divers for awhile, giving you unforgettable views of these cute creatures. While you’re swimming here, look for white metridium anemones, juvenile wolf eels and large fish. You’ll likely see large underwater pipes — a remnant from the cannery days that used to transport sardines from boats to factories. Now, these pipes act as an artificial reef and are a great place to see multicolored fish.
9. Mission Beach
A huge coral reef formation, giant Conch shells, sea slugs and colorful reef fish will make you feel like you’re swimming in the Caribbean when you’re really within a few miles of San Diego. Mission Beach is a tropical paradise with a dazzling rainbow of fish darting in and out of the coral and bright green anemones. Stick close to the reef and you might find yourself face to face with the elusive octopus or a few giant sea slugs. Lucky visitors spot stingrays and leopard sharks too!
Set sail for your California adventure
Snorkeling in the crisp California ocean water is only the beginning of what you’ll experience on your Princess vacation. Princess Cruises offers the best way to explore California where you’ll see some of the best coastlines in the U.S., trees taller than your wildest dreams and fascinating cities like San Francisco or San Diego. Let us take you to the most beautiful spots in the Golden State to create unforgettable memories. Book your cruise from California today!
