Woods Cove - Laguna Beach, California
🌊 Woods CoveÂ
Depth: 10–45 ft (3–14 m)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Entry: Beach entry (rocky in spots; two stairways provide access)
Access: Shore and boat
Parking: Limited street parking — arrive early, especially on weekends
Recommended Gear: Surface marker buoy (SMB), dive knife or cutting tool, underwater light
Designation: Located within the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve (MPA) — No Take Zone
Tucked quietly between sandstone cliffs and old seaside cottages, Woods Cove is one of Laguna Beach’s most serene and enchanting dive sites. Whether entered by boat or from the narrow stairways that wind down from Ocean Way, each descent feels like stepping into a pocket of preserved coastal magic.
At the base of the stairs, a small crescent of sand meets the Pacific — though at high tide, the ocean often covers the beach entirely, leaving divers to time their entries with care. When conditions align, the reward is a dive rich in texture, color, and calm.
Beneath the surface, Woods Cove opens into a living tapestry of rocky reefs, sandy channels, and waving eelgrass meadows that cradle life in every direction. These beds of eelgrass sway gently in the surge, sheltering juvenile fish and invertebrates, while kelp stalks rise through the water column like emerald ribbons catching the light. The northern reef wall offers the most intricate formations — arches, crevices, and ledges where octopus, lobsters, and horn sharks make their homes. Schools of Garibaldi and blacksmith drift through, flashes of orange and silver among the shadows.
Because Woods Cove lies within the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, it is a no-take zone, where all marine life is protected. The result is a thriving ecosystem — a sanctuary for both the creatures that live here and the divers who come to witness them. Every dive here is an invitation to observe, respect, and reconnect with the ocean’s natural rhythm.
A surface marker buoy (SMB) is recommended if surfacing beyond the kelp line, as boat traffic occasionally passes nearby. Carry a knife or line cutter for kelp snags, and bring an underwater light to explore the reef’s darker corners or enjoy the quiet wonder of a night dive when the eelgrass and sand glow with bioluminescence.
Calm mornings often bring visibility up to 30 feet, turning the reef into a sunlit mosaic of color and motion. When you surface, surrounded by cliffs and sea air, Woods Cove feels both tranquil and alive — a protected corner of the coast where the ocean continues to breathe freely.
Dive Log
| Â October 4, 2025 |