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Log This Dive

Cuatro piedras, Catalina Islands

Cuatro Piedras is one of our go-to spots in the Catalinas, especially if we’re looking for a slightly more relaxed dive. The name means "Four Rocks," and that’s precisely what you get: four distinct rock formations creating channels and swim-throughs, all sitting in a sandy basin. It’s shallower than some of the other Catalina sites, topping out around 18 metres, which means more bottom time to really explore. We love picking a channel and just drifting through, keeping an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on the sand or patrolling the edges. Our favourite part is the sandy patch between the rocks. It’s a bit like a sheltered amphitheatre, often protected from the stronger currents that can sweep through the outer channels. Here, you’ll find plenty of bridled sand perches poking their heads out, and we’ve even spotted big bignose congers tucked into crevices. Visibility averages around 9 metres, which isn't Bali, but it’s usually enough to get a good sense of the layout and pick out the smaller creatures like antler dragonets scooting over the rocks. We often spend a good chunk of the dive just focusing on the sand, finding chocolate tonguefish and the occasional spotted sharpnose puffer. It’s a fantastic site for newer divers to get comfortable with currents without being overwhelmed, while still offering enough complexity to keep experienced divers engaged.