Cress Street
Experience one of the finest diving spots in Laguna Beach, United States. This dive offers easy entry, but it's important to note that you must enter and exit either to the north or south of the houses you see on your left as you descend the stairs. Failing to do so may lead you to a shallow reef.
As a protected marine area, it is strictly prohibited to remove any shells or wildlife from the ocean within the city limits of Laguna Beach. However, you'll have the opportunity to encounter an abundance of sea lions, lobsters, and various species of fish during your dive.
Between Cress Street and Brooks Street, towards the south, lies one of the most remarkable breeding grounds for soupfin sharks. Their mating season typically occurs between January and June, primarily near Halfway Rock - the large rock directly in front of Brooks Street. As you swim towards the boil just beyond Halfway Rock, you'll descend into approximately 5 meters of water. If you venture to the outer side of the reef, you'll discover a breathtaking wall that descends to 20 meters before reaching the sandy bottom.
With a visibility of 7 meters and a maximum depth of 9 meters, this dive site is suitable for divers of all levels, making it an ideal choice for beginners. The close location to 1295 Ocean Front, Laguna Beach, Orange County, California, 92651, United States allows for easy access to this captivating underwater adventure.
As a protected marine area, it is strictly prohibited to remove any shells or wildlife from the ocean within the city limits of Laguna Beach. However, you'll have the opportunity to encounter an abundance of sea lions, lobsters, and various species of fish during your dive.
Between Cress Street and Brooks Street, towards the south, lies one of the most remarkable breeding grounds for soupfin sharks. Their mating season typically occurs between January and June, primarily near Halfway Rock - the large rock directly in front of Brooks Street. As you swim towards the boil just beyond Halfway Rock, you'll descend into approximately 5 meters of water. If you venture to the outer side of the reef, you'll discover a breathtaking wall that descends to 20 meters before reaching the sandy bottom.
With a visibility of 7 meters and a maximum depth of 9 meters, this dive site is suitable for divers of all levels, making it an ideal choice for beginners. The close location to 1295 Ocean Front, Laguna Beach, Orange County, California, 92651, United States allows for easy access to this captivating underwater adventure.
Diving Conditions Score for Cress Street
5.3
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Cress Street
Depth
9m
Visibility
7m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Cress Street
Wave Height
1m
Wind Speed
16.7 m/s
Water Temp
18°C
Visibility
16km
Cloud Cover
23%
Wave Period
11.2s
Air Temperature
18.8°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Cress Street
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Cress Street
Best time to dive: 12:00 with score 7.747060367454068/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.92m, Wind 4.8 m/s.Best night dive time: 5:00 with score 6.567510101010101/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Cress Street: 06:00
Sunset at Cress Street: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Cress Street are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
12:00Score: 7.7/10
Waves: 0.92m (12.7s), Wind: 4.8 m/s
Best Night
5:00Score: 6.6/10
Waves: 0.98m, Wind: 10.8 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Cress StreetAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Cress Street
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Cress Street
Winter
Avg. Score: 9.4/10
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Cress Street
January
Score: 9.6
December
Score: 9.4
February
Score: 9.1
Ideal Conditions for Cress Street
Water Temp
21.7°C / 71.1°F
August
Visibility
17.7m / 58.1ft
December
Wave Height
0.5m / 1.6ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Cress Street
Cress Street shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with August being the warmest month (21.7°C) and December the coldest (8.8°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.5m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
5 Dive sites near Cress Street in
Got feedback?
Help us improve this dive site by giving us feedback.