Northern California

Metridium Fields (★4.1)

Metridiums are pure white anemones that look like flowers on a stalk. The Metridium Field is a group of rocky outcroppings covered with Metridiums. Navigation is done by following a large pipe until it ends and then heading due north for a short distance will take you to the Metridium Field.

Mares

Folsom Point (★3.7)

Folsom Lake is one of the most frequently dived lakes in California and a very popular spot for open water training due to the lake’s calm waters. It offers plenty of parking and easy entry. The bottom of the lake is fairly silty so use good buoyancy otherwise the visibility will go from 20-30 feet to zero.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Fort Ross (★3.6)

A beach entry can make this site tricky if the surge is coming in from the wrong direction. Once in the water there are a couple of options. To the NW you can find a series of pinnacles and the remains of an old wreck (nothing to penetrate). To the south, you will find a series of rock walls.

Tahoe Dive Center, 89449 Stateline

Rubicon Point (★4.1)

Rubicon point is accessible by boat or off shore from Lester Beach near D.L. Bliss State Park. Parking would be $10 cash only. Or call us at the shop to set up a boat tour!

High Sierra Divers, 95603 Auburn

Lester Beach (★3.8)

Lester Beach near D.L. Bliss State Park, $10 cash only for parking. Then find yourself on the beach for a shore dive. There is a shelf that you can drop off, and offers part of the Rubicon Wall.

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Black Miners Bar State Park (★3.6)

One of the more popular freshwater dive sites in California found in Lake Natoma. Not the best visibility but easy to access calm conditions, and a great spot for new divers to practice their skills.

Mares

Waterman’s Landing (★3.8)

This site is located at Waterman’s Landing. It is a very shallow shelf that extends for quite a way. This is a great site to practice existing skills and learn new ones. Please do not park in the shops parking lot, they request that SCUBA divers park on the street. Restrooms are available at the little cafe.

Mares

Fair Oaks Bridge (★4.0)

Visibility depends on the flow of the Folsom damn outlet. In the Summer when the river is flowing heavily, there is a significant current; however, this is a dive site not to miss. Depth range is 20-25 feet and vis from 10-15 feet. If you like drift diving this is the place to be.

Aqualung

Doran Beach (★3.4)

An easy beach entry leads to large sandy bay. Along the south side of the beach is a rock jetty, which generally has a lot of fishermen. The area is generally protected by the headlands, so surge is usually minimal. Visibility often is not great. Currents are generally mild. Stay away from the boat channel.

Sonoma Coast Divers LLC, 94928 Rohnert Park

Aumentos Pinnacle (★4.4)

The highest point of Aumentos Pinnacle is around 40 feet. The rock on the offshore side is a steep, granite wall that drops vertically to about 60 feet and then more slowly to 80 to 85 feet. The inshore side the reef drops off in steps to 50 to 55 feet and remains at this depth until one encounters Chase Reef.

Aqualung

Box Beach, Electra (★4.4)

Average depth of 12 feet and max depth of 19 feet if river is low. From the parking lot head down to the beach and there is a picnic table with a rock near the trail that was used by native indians to pound the acorns. The sandy beach quickly falls down to 19 feet and ends on the other side against a granite wall.

John T. (#2853837)

Hurricane Bay (★4.3)

The highway is just right along this beach, making this spot easy to find and park at. There is a shelf which drops into quite deeper water quickly.

Scubapro

Otter Cove (★3.9)

Easy shore entry. Can get rough if the swell is coming from the wrong direction. Lots of kelp straight out from the beach. Easy navigation out and back, and once in the kelp it is nice to run along the edges.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Sunrise Recreation Area (★4.0)

Just as you enter the gate of the Douglas blvd Folsom lake entrance your right you will find a building with a blue metal roof. As you head to the water you will notice that they have blocked off and area for swimming. The vis there is 5-10 feet and no current. Great place to do a gear check out.

Mares

Sunnyside (★3.9)

Sunnyside is a fantastic site that has a pretty sharp drop-off. Good buoyancy would be a very helpful thing to have. It is advisable to have a dive flag that you tow behind as you dive. The area is a busy boat area during the summer months. Parking is at William Kent State Park and is limited, so arrive early.

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Northern California

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