Located in Orange County, and easy to access from Los Angeles, San Diego, and inland Southern California cities as well as Las Vegas, Laguna Beach offers beautiful coves and beaches, one after another. From north to south, they are Crescent Bay, Shaw's Cove, Fisherman's Cove, and Diver's Cove. All are located within easy walking distance of one another, and all are accessed via stairways squeezed between beach homes on Cliff Drive, which is easy to find as it is located just off Pacific Coast Highway.
Crescent Bay
About a quarter of a mile long, Crescent Bay features two access points, with a vehicle ramp and sidewalk leading to the beach at the south end, where there is a restroom building with outdoor showers, and a set of stairs leading off the bluff at the north end. More exposed to the weather than the rest of the Laguna Bay dive sites are, the site is a favorite for encountering sea lions, which often rest at Seal Rock, about 350 feet off shore. You'll find most of them off to the west, along the reef. About 600 feet from the west reef, you'll find Dead Man's Reef at a depth of 45 feet; here, the marine life is a bit more diverse, and the visibility is better.
Shaw's Cove
You'll find the stairs leading to Shaw's Cove directly across the intersection of Cliff Drive and Fairview. Often crowded due to its sheltered location, this site is at its best on weekdays, although you can escape the scuba classes that are normally held here with relative ease, as the site is large. Notable features include an archway located near the entrance to the channel that leads through to Crescent Bay, as well as another swimthrough known as the Crevice, which is at a depth of just 20 feet. There are piles of huge boulders along the west side of the cove that lead seaward for a distance of about 600 feet, plus there are lots of little crevices and tunnels where critters like octopus and lobsters can be found. While some of these are big enough to enter, there is often too much surge to do so safely. Finally, there's a 3 foot tall statue of a goddess located here called Shelly of Shaws, which is at a depth of just 30 feet, and which is fun to try to find. While Shaw's Cove has no restrooms or other facilities of its own, you can use the ones at Crescent Bay.
Fisherman's Cove
Also known as Boat Canyon, Fisherman's Cove is marked with an access sign. The stairway that leads to it is located right next to the end of the Diver's Cove parking area. One of the easier Laguna Beach sites to access, thanks to a set of 37 stairs and a concrete ramp leading to the water's edge, this compact cove features a miniature wall that runs partway across at a depth of about 30 feet, plus it offers some truly stunning rock formations. With plenty of marine life, this little site is normally the least busy of the four.
Diver's Cove
While this cove is a favorite with scuba divers, it is named in honor of the cliff divers who used to leap off the bluff located at the cove's northwest end, back in the 1920's. Located close to Heisler Park's restroom facilities, it is easy to access, thanks to steps at the west end of the beach and three separate sets of concrete landings; the fact is, you can enter and exit just about anywhere. About 100 feet from shore, you'll find a trio of rock reefs teeming with small fish and invertebrates, all in about 35 feet of water. Be sure to check tide tables before you visit, and be careful about where you setup, since the entire beach is covered with water at high tide.
At all of these sites, you'll encounter plenty of marine life including different types of sea bass and orange Garibaldis, along with damsels, cabezon, greenlings, kelpfish, gobies, bat rays, and more. If you're very lucky you might encounter dolphins, barracuda, or small horn sharks. Whether you dive just one of these sites, or if you get to enjoy them all, you're certain to find yourself completely captivated by the many creatures you'll encounter along the way.