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COAST DIVERS . COM
INTRODUCING THE WORLD TO THE BEST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ONE DIVER AT A TIME
LOBSTER SEASON 2003 BEGINS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2003 AT 12:01 AM
Thanks to Ben C. for bringing an error in the previous version of this page to our attention. In this version we have corrected an error in the Facilities description that existed before, and now believe all of the information on this page is accurate.
SERVING:
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTY
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
VENTURA COUNTY
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
CAL
COAST DIVERS
DIVING INFORMATION
ABOUT US
BROAD BEACH
Location: Across the street from the How’s Market center on PCH in Malibu
Take the 101 to Kanan Road and head westward down Kanan towards PCH. Kanan dead ends on PCH, at this point make a right (northbound) until you see Trancas Canyon. There will be a How’s Market to your right and a Chevron across the street on your right hand side as well. Make a left onto Trancas Canyon and follow the road a half mile or so all the while looking out for the beach access points. As you drive down this road pay careful attention because the beach access can be difficult to find! If you keep your eyes open for the large metal beach trash cans that should help you recognize the entrance gates. The second entrance provides the best access to reach the prime locations at this beach. If you miss the second beach entrance do not fret. This road ends on PCH and you can easily enter PCH and make a right hand turn back onto Trancas Canyon if need be. There is no fee for parking on this road. However, when diving Broad Beach keep in mind this is a residential area and you are a guest. Be respectful by keeping the noise level down and as always picking up any garbage you may find from other less courteous visitors.
Attractions: Kayak dive, hunting, and DPV
Experience: Novice to experienced diver: After Santa Ana winds have been blowing, or the ocean has been particularly inactive, Open Water divers are likely to find conditions similar or better to those they have been trained in. Remember to use the lines in the sand, your depth, and compass headings to navigate this beach.
Visibility: 5-15 feet (average 10 feet) Visibility at Broad Beach is affected by several factors. However, similar to most beaches Broad Beach is most heavily affected by surf due to its largely sandy bottom composition. The best diving at Broad Beach occurs between mid August through mid to late November as water temperatures begin to cool, the photo period shortens, and Santa Ana winds blow. You will want to dive at the high point of the high tide when less particulate holding water comes in from the deep ocean and lays the sand in the water column back down to the ocean bottom. Another factor is the swell. If the swell is low or it has been low for a few days the visibility will be better. This is important to keep in mind since visibility will also vary throughout the year due to Broad Beach’s orientation to the ocean. During the winter months large swells break off sand bar and scattered rock pinnacles throughout the surf zone.
Bottom Composition: Most of Broad Beach is dominated by a soft sandy bottom. South of the point are large, vast expanses of sandy bottom. The reefs at Broad Beach are sporadic and are interspersed with large sea grass and purple sand dollar beds! The area to the right of the second access point of the beach offers the best diving.
Map: This map is not an attempt to make an exact replication of the dive spot. Instead this map is intended to give some perspective on over all features of the dive spot. The best way to get to know a dive spot is to explore it yourself. Before you make your dive please check out the Diving Information on this dive destination below.
Dangers: There are several things to be aware of while diving at Broad Beach. Broad Beach is considered to be an beginner dive due to the its ease of navigation and typically very short surf zone. In winter time surge may pose a problem to divers diving the north point of the beach, while surge is also prevalent during large winter storms not recommended for novice divers. At this beach the surf is your best indicator of what dive conditions may be like at this beach. Also, the further north towards the point you enter the water, the more likely it is you will run into a rock! I recommend entering the water at the sandy regions to the left of the pinnacle rocks of the second entrance to the beach to avoid any of the rocks that liter the rest of the beach.
Wildlife Abundance: Once we have logged at least 25 dives at a particular location, a tab is taken from each dive and the relative abundance of each species is noted. From this raw data I have come up with a numbering system which will give you some insight on the relative abundance and your chances of seeing each species at any particular time.
5- Garuanteed to see this species at this dive sight
4- Very likely to see this species at this dive sight.
3- Abundance may vary or may be specific to a particular location within a dive spot; you have a 50/50 chance of seeing this species on your dive at specific locations
2- Species may be seasonal or hard to find at this dive spot. Sightings have occurred but are few and far between
1- May have seen this species or have heard from feed back this species can be found here, typically if seen this fish may be found seasonally
Fish: 4-Sand Bass, 3-Bat Ray, 3- Calico Bass (Paralabrax clathratus), 2-Morey Eel, 3- Tree Fish (Sebastes serriceps), 3- Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus), 2- Giant Kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus), 3- Blackeye Goby (Coryphopterus nicholsi), 3- California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus), 3- California Sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher), 3- Senorita (Oxyjulis californica), 3- Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), 4- White Seaperch (Phanerodon furcatus), 3- Opaleye (Girella nigricans), 2- Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata), 3- Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci), 4- Thornback (Platyrhinoidis triseriata)
Facilities: Broad Beach is a good dive site but can be very difficult to find. Parking is available in front of the beach entrances on the side of the road beneath the cliff. There are portable restrooms at this location but no shower facilities or life guard on duty.
Diving Information: Broad Beach is a great location to do shallow dives due to the slow sloping bottom. Most dives will begin in 15-20 feet of water a minimum of 20-35 yards from the beach. The large sandy bottom at Broad Beach is a great resource for divers looking for halibut and other bottom dwelling species. The large sandy bottoms also host very large sand dollar beds and sporadic reef structures. When diving this beach I recommend swimming out to a large pinnacle rock in 10-15 feet of water. From this point simply set your compass heading towards the nearest kelp paddy, or any other kelp paddy of interest. At this point you may drop down to see several hard corals growing on the rocks. If you drop down and continue to swim out perpendicular to the beach there is a large rocky reef structure which plays host to a variety of bass as well as Opaleye and occasional black eye goby. When attempting to navigate to other kelp paddies keep in mind the distance and direction of each paddy from where you initially dropped down. Also remember kelp paddies appear much darker on the horizon than the rest of the open areas, this helps considerably when diving this area. As you swim from paddy to paddy keep your eyes open for very large sand dollar and sea grass beds. Of some interest at this beach are scallops, several varieties of nudibranchs, and the occasional halibut.
Often times in Malibu, and at other spots in Ventura County, where you park may be hundreds of yards or seem like miles from where you may enter the water. Since access to the beach is a short walk from parking on the side of the road, Broad Beach is ideal for kayak diving. Divers with kayaks can bring their gear down in stages and immediately enter the water for a quick paddle to the kelp paddies on the outer reefs. For those who own or have access to DPV’s, the gentle sloping slope of the beach makes for an ideal setting to go paddy hopping from reef structure to reef structure. On any slow setting, a diver may typically cover up to 60% of the reef structures from the entrance point to the beach. In addition to kayak diving and DPV’s, some good hunting may be found on the vast expanses of sand bottoms. During season hunters may find halibut in the shallows or within 10 yards of the sporadic rocky outcroppings common to this beach.
Also at Broad Beach, non divers and tide pool enthusiasts may walk to the point and walk through the arches at the point. Many green anemones can be found along with large muscles, and the occasional green or orange star fish! The beach at Broad Beach is a very narrow strip of sand since many of the homes on the coast have property lines that extend to within feet of the water line at high tide. As such this beach is great for diving, but not necessarily the best place to set up your family or non diving friends while you get a dive done.
Emergency Information:
Emergency Number: 911
(919) 684-8111 DAN
(805) 497-2727 Doctor
(800) 876-4766 Poison Control
Beach Phone – Pay Phones may be found all along PCH.
Evacuation – should be determined by the condition of the patient and the recommendation of the emergency operator on the phone.
Recompression Chambers – USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber or Los Robles Medical Center
Contact us at
info@calcoastdivers.com for more information these and other courses and
one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff will respond to your inquiry within
24 hours!
Copyrighted by Ryan Jaeger & Matthew J. Wahlrab 2002 - 20032