White Point

Entry Points:

The best entry point for scuba divers at White Point / Royal Palms in San Pedro is usually from the lower Royal Palms beach parking lot, entering from the protected cove area near the rock jetty / seawall, then surface-swimming out over the reef.

Other Notes:

White Point is popular with divers because you can drive down close to the water, unlike many Palos Verdes shore dives that require steep hikes. The access road is off Paseo del Mar / Kay Fiorentino Drive, with lower beach parking near the dive entry. Practical entry recommendation: Park in the lower lot, gear up near the seawall, and enter where the beach/rocks give you the safest path into the water. Most divers avoid low tide here because the entry becomes very rocky and tidepool-like. A mid-to-high tide is much better for getting across the rocks and into deeper water. California Beaches specifically notes White Point is popular with scuba divers at high tide and tidepoolers at low tide. Once in, head straight out from the lower lot/cove area toward the reef. One dive-site reference describes swimming roughly 200 yards offshore to about 40 feet. A few cautions: White Point is not a soft sand beach entry. LA County notes the shoreline is rocky and says swimming is not recommended because of the rocky shore, so divers should treat the entry/exit carefully, especially with surge. Wear sturdy booties, check swell, and avoid it when there is strong south/southwest swell or heavy surge. For classes or newer divers, I’d call this a conditions-dependent beginner-to-intermediate shore dive: easy parking, but the rocky entry can make it less beginner-friendly than it looks.