DEER CREEK

 Location:  Deer Creek is found off the Pacific Coast Highway between Point Mugu Rock and Deer Creek Road.  For those driving down PCH from the North you will pass Mugu rock and a large dirt turn out where local vendors sell everything from fresh fruit to shrimp and crab legs.  From this dirt turnout, Deer Creek is literally right around the corner.  When coming from the South you will pass Neptune’s Net and drive past Sycamore Canyon.  Once you have passed Sycamore Beach, Deer Creek will be a short drive around the corner.  The most notable landmarks when coming from both the North or the South are the call box, the stair case which leads to down to Deer Creek beach, and the telephone pole in front of the stair case.

 Skill Level:  All Levels

Attraction:  Underwater Photography, DPV (Diver Purpulsion Vehicle), Night Diving, Kayak Diving,  Fish ID           

Permits/Licenses: None required. 

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.

 Entry/Exit:  There are three entry points at Deer Creek:

1)  The right side of the beach, when facing the ocean from the stair case, almost always offers the most challenge when it comes to entrances from the beach.  However those who have a high comfort level in surf will be rewarded with a short surface swim, and an incredible dive they will not soon forget.

2)  Straight out from the stair case offers a rock free entrance but a somewhat longer surface swim to the kelp forest.  This entrance point is recommended to anyone who does not have diving experience at this site.

3)  The left hand side of the beach is considered to be anything adjacent to and south of the rock formations protruding from the water.  This is by far the most advanced entry point and should only be attempted on the flattest days (ie zero surf) by exceptionally experienced divers!  This entry point is littered with rocks of all sizes and due to the varying levels of depth from point to point, you may find the water too deep to stand in one moment and just two feet away from that point bang your knee on a sand bar or rock.

 Visibility:  

DEER CREEK (RIGHT HAND SIDE)

0-10 feet anywhere in the first 150 yards from shore is common year round

5-15 at mid reef depending upon surf conditions.  Note: even though the surf may be a dark brown many times the kelp at this portion of the beach serves to prevent the muck from entering the better dive spots past the kelp on the outer reef.  Conversely during storms the kelp sometimes acts to actually hold the muck within the forest thus prolonging spells of bad visibility.

12-30+ at the outer reef (right side 180-200 yards out, conditions improve while Santa Anas are blowing)  Due to the rocky composition and larger grain size of the bottom sediment, the outer reef always seems to offer a very distinct improvement over other locations at the dive spot at any given time.

 Bottom Composition:  Beneath the kelp lay expansive rock reefs amidst a sandy bottom.  As you venture further out, you will notice the fine sand material is replaced by more course rocky grains and shell fragments. Additonally expansive, flat, largely low-laying reefs are replaced by large, mostly solitary boulders amongst the taller reef structures.

 Dangers:  Surf can be large in this area.  Many medium to large rocks line the entire right hand side of the beach as discussed in the Entry/Exit section.  Anything to the far right and left of the stairs will be lined with random rocks of all shapes and sizes.  Pay particular attention to where you place your hands.  Sculpin are not totally uncommon to Deer Creek and if stung by their dorsal spine, inflammation usually causes the hand to swell to twice its normal size.  Swift surge is not uncommon in the winter and summer months.  In these conditions pay special attention to the ever present purple (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and red urchins (S. franciscanis). 

  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 seasonally

NOTE:  For this sight the following designations denote the portion of this dive sight where you are most likely to make a sighting.  (Rt –right side, Md –middle portion, Lft – left hand portion of the sight, All – rating is applicable to the entre dive sight)

Fish:  4- Calico Bass (Paralabrax clathratus) (All), 3- Barred Sand Bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) (All),  3- Tree Fish (Sebastes serriceps) (Lft,Rt), 2- Grass Rockfish (Sebastes rastrelliger) (Lft,Rt),2- Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) (Lft, Rt), 2- California Scorpion Fish (Scorpaena guttata) (Rt),  4- Giant Kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) (All), 3- Black Eye Goby (Coryphopterus nicholsi) (Md,Rt), 2- California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus) (Md), 4- California Sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) (Md, Rt), 4- Senorita (Oxyjulis californica) (All), 3- Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) (Rt), 4- White Seaperch (Phanerodon furcatus) (Md), 3- Opaleye (Girella nigricans)(All), 3- Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata) (Lft,Rt), 2- Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)(Md,Rt)  3- Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) (Lft,Rt), 2- Shovelnose Guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) (Rt), 5- Thornback (Platyrhinoidis triseriata) (All), Arthropods:  5- Sheep Crab (Loxorhynchus grandis), 2- Decorator Crab, 3- California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus)   2- Spotted Kelpfish (Gibbonsia elegans)  

Aggregating Anemone

  Facilities:  There are no restroom facilities at Deer Creek.  However food, pay phones, and restroom accommodations may be found south of the dive sight at Neptune’s Net just a few miles away. 

 Diving Information:

DIVING DEER CREEK (RIGHT HAND SIDE)

You may make an entrance at Deer Creek from the middle of the beach in front of the steps or to the right if you are an experienced diver in rocky beach entries.  No matter where you make your entrance at Deer Creek, when diving the right hand side of the beach you should definitely kick out until you reach the point where the kelp and the end of the beach intersect.  Once you reach this location set your compass heading to the stair case.  At this point you should have a reading between 30 and 35°.  I highly recommend exploring every nook and crany of this dive spot.  In an effort to get you finding the great spots right away I recommend you follow a 240-260 heading through the kelp forest.  Since average depths on this heading hover between 22-36 feet be sure to watch your air pressure throughout the dive!  When making a reciprocal heading I recommend swimming back following a 60° heading once the first person hits 1500 psi.  If you follow this heading back you will by pass some of the more difficult aspects of the inner reef such as the heavy surge and many rocks.  After following the 60° to get you to the end of  the inner reef follow a 30 degree heading to bring you right in front of the stair case (it takes some practice but hey that’s what diving is all about!).

By following this line you will be able to see several different types of ecosystems and reef formations. 

When in sandy areas keep your eyes open for halibut as well as other bottom dwelling skates and rays.  In the kelp forest keep your eyes open for Calico Bass and Sheephead which dominate this area of the beach.  If you are a photographer looking to capture a Garibaldi on film this portion of the reef has been the only area I have been able to find Garibaldi at.  

DIVING DEER CREEK (IN FRONT OF STAIRS)

Straight down the stairs and into the water is the best way to make an entrance when diving the middle portion of Deer Creek.  From this portion of the beach the large donut shape kelp forest is an obvious destination point.  Few rocks if any make this an easy entrance point.  On your way out be mindful of the surf as occasional sets can make the entrance and exit a bit tricky but still within the skill level of most novice divers. 

The donut shape forest is home to a larger population of sheep crabs which tend to dominate the shallower portion of the reef just before and after the kelp.  Since most of the reef formations are long and not exceptionally tall large populations of urchins do dominate much of the reef formation and are in constant competition with the kelp.  Little vegetation other than the giant kelp (macrocystis proriferi) inhabits this area, however since kelp is the nursery of the sea many species can be found in this area.  In the inner reef closest to the shore many surf perch may be found.  Additionally halibut can be found seasonally close to shore.  Calico bass and sand bass are also common, but tend to be found in greater abundance on the outer reef.  While sheephead are common on the right hand side of the beach they are much rarer on this side of the beach, although an occasional male may be found on the outer reef.  For those who are able to stay down longer the outer reef does offer more pristine conditions since fewer divers venture this far out.  Here depths range in the mid 30’s and many sea fans and strawberry polyps line the larger rocks. 

DEER CREEK (LEFT HAND SIDE)

This section of the beach is very fickle and prone to poor visibility due to extensive areas of sandy bottom permeating the reef complexes. However when this portion of the beach does open up (occasionally as much as 15 to 20 feet of visibility may be found towards the end of the year following the Santa Ana winds).  To make it through the wave zone your easiest entrance to this side of the Deer Creek will be between the stair case and the rocky outcrop visible at high and low tides.  I would strongly discourage anyone from attempting to make a beach entrance from any portion of the beach to the left of the rocky outcropping when facing the ocean. 

If you are interested in spotting some of the more benthic sharks (horn, swell, shovel nose guitar fish, and the occasional angel sharks) the left side of the beach offers your best opportunity to spot these creatures.  Several of the large rocky outcroppings on this side of Deer Creek host larger game as well.  Many of these outcroppings especially towards the outer fringes of the beach host large male sheephead which are instrumental in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.  For this reason I would humbly request you refrain from hunting these fish at this dive spot.  This portion of the beach however does not encounter as many divers as the other portions of the beach.  For this reason many of the smaller and more delicate fauna is able to thrive largely undisturbed.  When visibility is good, many photographic moments await you when following the 130 degree line.  This should be done once your bezel has been set to 0 degrees (aim towards the staircase from the wave zone when in front of the stair case).  You will have the best luck by following this course once you have made it through the surf zone.  This course will likely take you over a reef structure which has many peaks and valleys.  Nudibranchs can be found on this side of the beach along with the occasional lobster. 

 Emergency Information:

Emergency Number: 911

(919) 684-8111 DAN

(805) 497-2727 Doctor

(800) 876-4766 Poison Control

Recompression Chambers

St. Johns Pleasant Valley, Camarillo (805) 389-5800

Los Robles Medical Center, Thousand Oaks (805) 497-2727
 

 One Last Note: Deer Creek is a very large dive spot that changes dramatically with the seasons.  As a result the distribution and abundance changes from month to month.  If you have any additional information or tips on diving deer creek please post your information or e-mail it to myself at matt@calcoastdivers.com.  Thank you for your input!

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