Leadbetter Beach

 Location:  Shoreline Dr., Santa Barbara, CA

 Skill Level:  All Levels

Attraction:  Small waves, low surge                          

 Entry/Exit:  The entries along this beach are great for beginners.  The entire shore is low sloping with no rocky hazards.  A point that lies to the west side of the beach protects the area.  This minimizes waves and surge when other sites are hazardous.  The wave height will seldom reach any higher than 3ft.

 Dive Briefing:  This site takes the term “low-sloping beach” to a new extreme.  Most of the accessible diving is in 15ft. of water.  You would have to swim in excess of 500 yards to get much deeper (possibly 20ft.).  The bottom consists of mostly sand with a few patches of rock.  Visibility is consistently low (average 5ft.), although calm night dives produce better conditions.  Rock crabs are common along with thornback and sting rays.  While this is an excellent beginner’s dive, on the excitement scale of 1-10, this site gets a 2.  It is best to dive this site at high or rising tides.  The visibility may be a little better.

Navigation:  A majority of the reef structure is located next to the point, just outside of where the waves are breaking.  Aim approximately 25-50 yards east of the breakers.  Entry can be made at nearly any point on the beach except for the absolute end of the point.  This is due to rocky structure.   The swim to the reef is about 50 yards.  You may choose to do this on the surface or underwater.  The scenery underwater consists of sand dollar beds, rays, and a few crabs. 

  Facilities:  There is plenty of parking at this site with both payment and timed parking nearby.  During the summer, lifeguards monitor the beach.  Thus, adding to your level of safety.   Restrooms, showers, and food can be found near the “Shoreline beach café,” at the west side of the beach.  There is a small park between the parking lot and the beach, which supplies benches and barbeques.  Santa Barbara City College is nearby.   

Permits/Licenses: Appropriate licenses for taking game.

Recreation:  Santa Barbara is filled with historic sites and plenty of shopping.  Most of the shopping is centered around State St., which begins at the end of Stearn’s Wharf and Cabrillo Blvd.  Historic sites include the Santa Barbara Mission, Natural History Museum, Olivas Adobe,  Carriage Museum, and many others.  Contact the tourist information center at Cabrillo Blvd. and Garden St. for more information.

 Trip Costs:  Minimal

 Service Info: 

            Emergency Numbers:

            Emergency Operator:  911

                Diver’s Alert Network: (919) 684-4326

                US Coast Guard: (310) 833-6100

                Recompression and Medical Facilities

            Las Robles Medical Center

                Catalina chamber

                Weather Reports:

            National Weather Service Marine Weather Page

                                www.nws.mbay.net/marine.html

                National Weather Service Tide Tables

                                www.nws.mbay.net/sunset.html#mry_tide

                Monterey Co. Health Department Beach Hotline

                (info. on beach closures due to bacteria levels)

                                800-347-6363

                Dive Stores:

            Anacapa Dive Center

                22 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

                (805) 963-8917

                www.anacapadivecenter.com

                Deca Diving

                333 E. Haley St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101

                (805) 564-1923

                www.decadiving.com

                Aquatics

                5822 Hollister Ave., Goleta, CA, 93117

                (805) 967-4456

                www.sbaquatics.com

                Food Stores: 

Launch Ramps:

Santa Barbara Harbor

Overnight Facilities:

 Sources:

Diving and Snorkeling Monterey Peninsula & Northern California, Steve Rosenberg, June, 2000

Lonely Planet Publications