a "Trailer Park" that the State removed many years ago.
On the far left is the entry to the Park, then the road
down to the day use area and beach access.
This picture was taken right where the tunnel under PCH meets the sand.
Abalone Point is the part of the area between Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach. This area is part of the Crystal Cove State Park. Being a California State park, it has all the amenities of a State park, including showers, good beach access and various regulations on what can be "Taken" as game, know the rules!! Parking fees are handled at the gate and current pricing is $15 for the day. Park closes at dusk, so don't plan a night dive here. Enter this part of Crystal Cove State park behind the El Morro School (Right turn if heading North, traffic light. Remember "No right turn on red" when returning to PCH). Loop around the school, pay your "Day use" fees and then head down the road to the "Day use" parking area. The beach access is a tunnel under PCH, no steps or steep ramps here, good access, a bit of a walk across the sand to the dive spot. You can also see Reef Point from here. |
Fast Facts: Parking: $15 for all day, closes at dusk, so be out of there by then. Structure: Rock with all different types of kelp. Precautions: Surf & surge. Avoid this area when surf is up. Experience levels: ALL levels, as conditions permit. After Diving spots: There is a small "Shake shack" going back towards Cororna Del Mar, but nothing near this area. Go to Laguna or CDM for eats/drink. Bring a camera for pictures.
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Here is a picture from PCH of the beach area where there was once a "Trailer Park" that the State removed many years ago.
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Here is a Google Earth shot showing this area. On the far left is the entry to the Park, then the road down to the day use area and beach access.
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On this next shot, it was a really overcast day here when we dove this site on a mid summer morning. This picture was taken right where the tunnel under PCH meets the sand.
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Diving here varies, and so does the SURF, make sure when you go there that the surf is low, because VIZ and surge will be directly affected by the surf. The best entries are from in front of the large lifeguard tower closer to the point itself. The park rangers call part of the u/w area here "Elevators" which is out near the end of the point. There are also some really large rocks that fell from the cliff above that sort of have a look of Stonehenge, sticking straight up out of the sand. Sea life here is very good, as long as the viz is decent. If you intend to dive the end of the point, be ready for a really long swim, this turned into our longest swim we've done around Laguna Beach. Swim back underwater, makes it easier. Compass readings here are really easy, when there isn't any surge, due South going out and due North coming in, doesn't get any easier than that.
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