Snorkeling & Scuba California

California's underwater world is a cold-water, kelp-forest coast with far better diving than its reputation suggests. Monterey and Carmel are the heart of it: Point Lobos' Whalers and Bluefish Coves are among the most protected and most beautiful shore dives anywhere and require advance reservations, while the Breakwater, Monastery and Lovers Point cover everything from a first shore dive to serious surf entries. The Channel Islands hold the wild reefs — Anacapa's Landing Cove, Scorpion and Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island, plus Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa and San Miguel. Catalina's Casino Point Dive Park is the easiest great dive in the state, home to giant sea bass, and Farnsworth Bank grows rare purple hydrocoral. La Jolla Cove, the Shores canyon, Wreck Alley and the Laguna coves anchor the south, and a maritime heritage trail dives a wreck beneath Lake Tahoe.