Aquarius Dive Shop - California
Aquarius Dive Shop is a dive site, not a shop you walk into, and it's got a unique flavour. We think of it as a macro spot, pure and simple. We’ve found some amazing stuff here, really rewarding for those who like to hunt. The stars of the show for us are the California Spot Prawn and the Mediterranean Tooth-footed Snapping Shrimp. Finding a prawn tucked into a crevice, those long antennae waving, is always a win. Keep your eyes peeled for the mauve stingers, too, they drift by like tiny, luminous ghosts. It’s a site that rewards patience; you’ll want to move slowly, really scrutinize every rock and patch of sand. We’d suggest bringing a good dive light, even on a sunny day, to peer into the shadows. The visibility can be typical California, sometimes a bit murky, but that just adds to the hunt. This isn’t a place for big pelagic sightings, but if you love the small, the strange, and the often-overlooked, then Aquarius Dive Shop offers a focused, satisfying dive.
- Location
- California, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 36.601353, -121.867320
Marine Protected Area: Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area
Best Time to Dive in California
The warmest water temperatures in California occur in August, averaging 20.6°C (up to 24.0°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 14.0°C.
The calmest sea conditions are typically in July with average wave heights of 0.60m.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 14.4°C (air: 14.0°C)
- February: 14.0°C (air: 13.8°C)
- March: 14.2°C (air: 13.3°C)
- April: 14.9°C (air: 14.3°C)
- May: 16.6°C (air: 15.4°C)
- June: 18.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- July: 20.4°C (air: 18.9°C)
- August: 20.6°C (air: 19.6°C)
- September: 20.4°C (air: 19.7°C)
- October: 18.8°C (air: 18.4°C)
- November: 16.3°C (air: 16.0°C)
- December: 15.6°C (air: 14.3°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in California
- Arbolitos - 5-20m (reef)
- Avalon Dive Park
- Beacons - 7m
- Begg Rock
- Ben Weston Point
- Binnacle Rock (pinnacle)
- Bishop Rock
- Bourgeoisie Cove (reef)
- Bowen Point
- Buchon Reef (reef)
- Bull City
- Butterfly House
- Cabrillo Beach
- Cape Cortes
- Carlsbad Artificial Reef 1 (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Aquarius Dive Shop
- Adventure Sports Unlimited - PADI
- Adventure West Scuba - PADI
- Aloha Scuba
- Anderson's SCUBA diving
- Any Water Dive Center - PADI, DAN
- Aquanautics Dive, Inc - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in California
Home to 10 recorded species including 8 reef fish, 1 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Little post horn squid (Spirula spirula) - Octopus & Squid
- Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) - Reef Fish
- cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Aquarius Dive Shop
Based on average water temperature of 17.1°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories