Laguna Beach

Directions

Dive Site

Beach Access

What You'll See

Facilities

Parking

  Access is off of Circle Way near Cliff Drive.  You Have Two Options: (See Yellow Arrows - Aerial Shot Below)

1. There is a stairway off Circle Way leading down to the Cove.  Circle Way is a One Way Street - Access is about 2/3 the way around the Circle.  See both Picture & "C" Below on Aerial View.

2. There is also an access way at the intersection of Circle Way & Cliff Drive (Shown at Right) and as "B" Below in Aerial View.

  Sometimes it may be more convenient to drop your gear at the top of the stairs with your buddy and then go park.

  The access is relatively easy leading down to a sandy stretch of beach below. Watch for sand on the concrete because it can make the walk a little slippery - Use those Hand-Rails!

  Please be mindful of the neighbors - Stairway access is between private homes...nobody enjoys a rude awakening on the weekends!

Access from Cliff Drive ("B" Below)

Access at Cliff Drive ("B" Below)

Access at Circle Way ("C" Below)

Crescent Bay is a Marine Sanctuary

Cliff Drive Beach Access Shown Looking up

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  Crescent Bay offers three distinctive dive spots -

• Scattered rocks and reefs which are known to most divers.
• Northwest (right side of map) is Seal Rock. Seal Rock is home to a dozen or so sea lions and that makes it the only dive site in Orange County that almost guarantee divers an encounter with sea lions.
• There is also a far off reef called Dead Man's Reef about 200 yards directly from seal rock. Rumor has it that the morbid name was coined by dead tired divers after swimming all that way out there and back. Dead Man's reef offers clearer water and more untouched scenery due to the remoteness of the site

  Crescent Bay is monitored by the Laguna Beach life guards so make sure you have a buddy and a snorkel - they check.

Crescent Bay Beach Facing South

Crescent Bay Beach facing North

A-Cliff Drive, B-South Entrance, C-North Entrance (Circle Way), D-Stair Access, E-Stair Access, F-Facilities

Picture Courtesy of Kenneth & Gabrielle Adelman © 2002-2005 California Coastal Records Project

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  For those who like to travel great distance, try crossing the sand field and dive the other end of Shaw's Cove. This side of Shaw's Cove looks nothing like the other side. Diving the sand field is by no means boring. Large rays have been observed here many times and you never know what artifacts you will find half-buried in the sand. I have found countless golf balls, some dive equipment, a railcar wheel and even power rangers figurines which must have fallen off boats.

 A Telephone is located at the top of the Pathway above the Showers at Access point "B" Above.

Shown on Aerial View Above as "F"

Sometimes it is more convenient to drop your gear at the top of the stairs (off Circle Way or Cliff Drive) with your buddy and then go find Parking on One of the Side Streets.

The Access point at the "South" Entrance to Crescent Bay on Cliff Drive is the Easier of the Two to Find because the "North" Entrance off Circle Way is more Hidden.

Either Way, Parking is limited - Especially on nice Weekend Days, so plan on arriving early for the best Parking Opportunities (Before 7:00 am).

Parking at South Entrance Point - Cliff Drive

Looking up Cliff Drive Towards PCH

DIRECTIONS

From 405 Freeway exit Laguna Canyon Road (133) South towards Laguna Beach
Follow Laguna Canyon Road till it ends at Pacific Coast Highway (1)
Turn Right onto PCH and proceed about a mile just Past "Chiquita Street" to "Cliff Drive"

Turn Left onto Cliff and go down towards bottom of hill
Turn Right onto “Circle Way” and park as close to the Stairs as you can.

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