Fisherman’s Cove, also known as Boat Canyon, is one of my favorite dive sites in Laguna Beach. Fisherman’s is situated between Shaw’s Cove (to the west) and Diver’s Cove (to the east). Park in front of Diver’s Cove. While facing the ocean, turn to your right. If you want about 30 feet down the sidewalk, you’ll see the sign for Fisherman’s. Head down the stairs behind the hotel. The beach area is small, but well protected. It is also usually quieter than the dive class laden spots, like Shaw’s. That being said, the entry is usually a relatively easy one. The main thing to be aware of are the rocks to the left, as you head out. Walk towards the west end of the beach (to the right), and enter away from the rocks. Be sure to swim out parallel to the rocks. Pay attention on the way out and you have a decent change at seeing a leopard shark or two (usually between one and two feet in length). Once you get towards the end of the large rock that drops off into the water, you can drop down and begin your dive. This dive is chock full of cracks, crevices, and even a few swim throughs, for the adventurous. Some of the swim throughs can get rather tight, so use caution and common sense. This dive site has a plethora of garibaldi, kelp bass, sea cucumbers, urchins, starfish, gorgonians, and lobster. Sometimes, the area abounds with schools of half moons and blacksmiths. If you search the cracks and crevices, you have a good shot at seeing an octopus or two. The great thing about Fisherman’s Cove is that it can be combined with Diver’s Cove, for a great dive. If you head to the left on your dive, you can swim around the cove and explore Diver’s Cove, before exiting on the Diver’s Cove beach. When the water warms up, you can see quite a few large bat rays on the Diver’s Cove side, in the open sand. They can be found in the shallows, so be certain to shuffle your feet and be mindful of the bottom. When exiting, be certain to keep a safe distance from the rocks, as the surge tends to pull divers towards the rocks. Getting stuck on and / or between the rocks can certainly become a dangerous situation. The depth here ranges from 15 to 35 feet. If you want to go deeper than that, you should bring a shovel! Although this site can be dove at any time, it tends to be less volatile at high tide. Visibility can range from 6 feet to 30, on a nice clear, calm, day. There is metered parking from right in front of the Diver’s Cove steps, all the way up through Heisler Park. It is 25 cents for every 15 minutes. You can bring change or use a credit card to fill the meter. Feed your meter or you WILL get ticketed. There are facilities available at Heisler Park. When facing the ocean, turn left and walk a couple of hundred feet, and you will find the Heisler Park restrooms. There are also water fountains, pay phones, and picnic tables.
