Everything You Always Wanted To Know About the Casino Dive Park

The United States spans almost 4 million miles, and it boasts almost 100,000 miles of coastline. How fortunate are we? Coastlines around the US range from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches to unique island shorelines. For scuba divers who want to explore, there are coral reefs, majestic creatures, storied shipwrecks, and stunning rock formations in the waters surrounding the United States. And then, there is the Casino Dive Park, a destination that has been named the best place to dive in the United States. It is truly a special spot: one of the most remarkable things about it is the park’s amazing biodiversity. Whether you’re snorkeling, scuba diving, or just admiring it from the shore, there is so much to see and so much to learn about the Casino Dive Park. When you come to Catalina, Catalina Divers Supply can help you get familiar with all things scuba, snorkel, and underwater, including this divers’ paradise. Read on to learn everything you always wanted to know about the Casino Dive Park. 

Photo courtesy Explorers Photography

What’s in a name?  Casino Point Underwater Park was formally established in 1965. Since then, it has gone by many different monikers. Catalina is 22 miles long, and while it has plenty of beautiful dive spots, know that there is just one Casino Dive Park. It is also known as The Catalina Casino Dive Park, Casino Point Dive Park, Avalon Dive Park, Avalon Underwater Park, Casino Point State Marine Conservation Area, or simply as Casino Point. Take it from us: all of these names refer to the same place. It’s a place so nice, they named it seven or eight times. 

Safe and sound. In the 1960s, Casino Dive Park became one of the first underwater parks in the US. It is also designated as a Marine Protected Area, an MPA. MPAs are like underwater national parks that limit certain activities in order to protect marine habitats. In turn, this helps to maintain biodiversity and allows ecosystems to recover. This no-take zone bans hunting, harvesting, and fishing. Park boundaries are marked by buoys and rope, but the sea life comes and goes as it pleases, making the scenery different every day. 

Photo courtesy Explorers Photography

Look out for local icons. Hundreds of different species make the Casino Dive Park their underwater home–from mammals to fish, marine plants to invertebrates. Certain species stand out for iconic reasons. Meet some favorites that frequent the dive park alongside snorkelers and scuba divers:

• California’s state marine fish: They’re a protected fish, and this status seems to give them the courage to swim up close to divers. Their bright orange color makes them easy to spot–even as they swim through kelp and reefs. 

• The King of the Kelp forest: Giant sea bass start out tiny, as golden fish with black spots. Soon, they become large, dark creatures that can measure up to 7 and a half feet long. Once nearly endangered, these big fish have grown in population. If you’re lucky, one might swim near you on a dive.

• Flotsam and Jetsam: If you’re lucky enough to spy them, moray eels may make an appearance. You might even note just how much they resemble Ursula’s pets, right out of The Little Mermaid. 

• And many more: Colorful sheephead, horn sharks, sea slugs, spiny lobsters, bat rays, guitar fish, halibut, harbor seals, and sea lions love to hang out in this park too. Multiple dives will make for more opportunities to see new things each time. 

On the rocks. The 2.5 acres of the underwater park is home to a few different shipwrecks such as the Sujac and the Kismet. These ships function now as artificial reefs, which make for great scuba diving spots. 

Jacques Cousteau was here. The famous seaman did research around Catalina, and he helped to make it the mecca of diving it is today. Head to a depth of about 40 feet in the dive park, and you’ll find a memorial plaque dedicated to this legendary explorer.

At the water’s edge. So many dive sites require a boat to get to them, but not Casino Point. There, you’ll find a set of concrete stairs with handrails to help lead you into the gorgeous marine setting, complete with remarkable kelp gardens, and super clear waters. The accessibility is unbeatable. Also conveniently located is Catalina Divers Supply, with our full service dive center on the ground floor of the Catalina Casino building.

Ready to dive in? Whether you’ve been diving for years, or you’re just getting started as a scuba diver, Catalina Divers Supply can help set up a day of diving or multiple days of water adventures for you right around Casino Dive Park. Discover more about scuba through guided dives, Avelo diving, dive classes, or take a break from tanks and snorkel. Whatever you choose, Catalina Divers Supply has all the gear you need for your Casino Dive Park adventure. As stewards of the dive park, we want to help people (and nature) enjoy it for years to come. Check out our website to book.