Doctor's Cove

Santa Catalina Island, California, United States

Explore more dive sites in United States

Conditions & tides

Doctor's CoveSanta Catalina Island

Good · 5/5

conditions visualisation

Good5/5

Calm and diveable right now — best window today 7 AM–5 PM.

Wind4 kn SW

Current~0.2 kn SE · model

Swell

0.8 m · 7s · WNW

Water

23 °C

Conditions through the day

6 AM6 PM

Calmest current near slack — 01:30 AM & 01:30 PM local

Sunrise 05:42 AM · Sunset 05:49 PM local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.4 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Doctor's Cove sits along the coastline of Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California in the San Pedro Channel. The island's shore here is typical of Catalina's kelp-lined coves, accessible by boat from harbors such as Avalon or Two Harbors.

AI overview

Marine life here

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

Kelp BassParalabrax clathratusReported here · unconfirmed
Blacksmith ChromisChromis punctipinnisReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea UrchinMesocentrotus franciscanusReported here · unconfirmed
Crowned sea urchinCentrostephanus coronatusReported here · unconfirmed
GaribaldiHypsypops rubicundusReported here · unconfirmed
California Spiny LobsterPanulirus interruptusReported here · unconfirmed
Pacific Purple Sea UrchinStrongylocentrotus purpuratusReported here · unconfirmed

Diver notes

Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.

No notes yet. Dived here? Be the first to leave a tip.

Contribute to this site

Share a write-up or a photo. Submissions are reviewed before they appear on the page.

0/4000 (min 40)

Nearby dive sites

Parson's LandingSanta Catalina Island, California, United States1.2 km Arrow PointSanta Catalina Island, California, United States1.3 km Pebbly BeachUnited States1.6 km Emerald BayLos Angeles County, United States2.1 km Johnson's LandingSanta Catalina Island, California, United States2.1 km Indian RocksSanta Catalina Island, California, United States2.4 km

Shops that dive here

No shops have listed this site yet.