The Best Spots for Snorkeling in Los Angeles

Grab Your Fins

Los Angeles offers some of the best snorkeling in California, with dozens of beaches that offer both calm, protected waters and rocky, deep waters perfect for exploring. The clear waters off the beaches of southern California are home to dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, and an abundance of fish. Grab your mask and fins, because here are the best snorkeling spots around L.A. for your next trip.
Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach
This beach, which has the same name as the town Redondo Beach, is a beautiful and popular stretch of coastline. It's popular for a number of reasons. The family-friendly beach and pier area has plenty of shopping and restaurant options at the north end of the beach. It's more of a wharf, marina, and shopping center than an actual pier, but there are plenty of activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, glass bottom boat tours, live music, dining out, ice cream, and more. The beach itself stretches to the south of the pier area, and it's a wide, sandy, clean stretch with comfortable waves all the way down (2.5 miles) to Torrance County Beach and Rat Beach. This stretch of beach is at the end of the Green Line of the metro, making it a popular spot for locals to get to easily. It's also popular with visitors, as plenty of affordable hotels are in the area, along with bike paths and kid-friendly activities.
Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach, California, 90277
Malibu Beaches
The town of Malibu lies on the coastline northwest of L.A. and Santa Monica, and here you'll find some gorgeous views along with some gorgeous stretches of beach. Some of the beach areas are not possible to get to, as they are blocked by private land, but other areas are easily accessible. A few of these beach areas are found in small coves where a set of stairs leads down from the surrounding cliffs. In other spots, you'll find longer and wider sections of beach, such as by the Malibu Pier by Malibu Lagoon State Beach. A number of restaurants and shops can be found in this area, too. Further west is Point Dume and its beaches (Dume, Zuma) surrounded by a few walking trails with nice views.
Malibu, California
Interested in more travel advice for Los Angeles? Check out Neighborhoods for Students in Los Angeles and The Best Scuba Diving Spots in Los Angeles.
Playa Del Rey & Dockweiler Beach
This stretch of beach south of Santa Monica is a California State Park. As such, you'll find a nice stretch of sand with public restrooms, picnic areas, walking and running trails, an RV park area, parking, and more. It's a family-friendly spot with a nice outdoor feel without a lot of development. In the northern area around the town of Playa Del Rey are some cafes and restaurants, too.
7313 S Marine Ave, Playa Del Rey, California, 90293
Huntington State Beach
Located on the southern end of the stretch of beach in Huntington Beach, this California State Park is a gorgeous stretch of sand and waves. It's not as developed as other beaches in the L.A. area, and it's popular with families, surfers, fishers, walkers, joggers, and pretty much everyone in the area. Along the beach, visitors can find fire-rings, lifeguards, beach volleyball courts, parking lots, and walking paths. At the very southern end is the start of the Santa Ana River Trail.
21601 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, California, 92646
Venice Beach
Venice Beach
If there's a beach that embodies that stereotypical L.A. beach, Venice Beach is it. With a wide beach and relaxing waves, along with a number of activities such as volleyball, tennis, bike riding, a kid's playground, a skateboard park, basketball courts, and more, this is a fantastic spot to enjoy both the beach and the overall atmosphere and vibe of people watching, cafes, high-end beach houses, and more. The Venice fishing pier is a nice spot for a view, or head inland a few blocks to see the canals, the marina, and shops and restaurants.
2300 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, California, 90291
Belmont Shore Beach
On the southeastern end of Long Beach, the Belmont Shore neighborhood is a family-friendly area. Here you'll find a nice beach with a nearby dog park, a public pool, public parking, bike and walking trails, public bathrooms, and more. In the Naples area where the inlet leads to the marina and the canals, visitors can also find docks for kayaks and paddle boarding, more beaches for swimming in the calm inlet waters, as well as a public playground and more bathroom facilities.
5411 E Ocean Blvd, Belmont Shores & Naples, Long Beach, California, 90803

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If you're looking for more information about Los Angeles, read Local Finds and Hangouts in Los Angeles and A Neighborhood Foodie's Guide To Los Angeles.
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