Three Ways to get to Scripps Canyon
1. Boat
The best way to get to Scripps Canyon by boat. It's far safer and easier than hiking or swimming. As a shore dive, you don't have fast access to lifeguards and it's a long hike back to get help. Having the support of a boat is safest and most enjoyable method to get to this advanced dive site.
2. Hike
If a boat Isn't an option then you might consider the Hike. This approach requires you to park on La Jolla Shores drive near Naga way where you'll gear up and walk down to the pier. From there you hike North on sand rocks and boulders for about 30 minutes until you get to the entry point. You also have to be cautious about tides as the area can be impassible at high tide. Another thing to consider is the heat, hiking in heavy gear and wetsuits can be daunting which is why its best on cooler days in the early morning when the tide is low. I've also found that boots with a rigid sole are better than the soft booties that most divers wear. The booties don't have enough traction and your foot can roll inside them causing you to fall. This route is bound to result in a broken ankle if you aren't careful and you're far from help at this point. It's best to take a boat.
3. Swim
The swim starts the same as the hike but you enter the water earlier and swim most of the way instead of walking much of the route. Both routes have their benefits and drawbacks but drysuit divers generally like the swim better, else they'll get too hot during the hike.
The North Wall of Sumner Branch, Scripps CanyonWhen diving Scripps Canyon, many divers choose to enter at the South Branch Cable. This cable rests at approximately 80 feet and stretches from one side of this narrow segment of the canyon to the other and often has a buoy tied off to. It's a good idea to check with the diving community on Facebook for the status of the buoy because they're often ripped out by storms.
Alternatively, utilizing GPS coordinates along with a watch that guides you in the correct direction is the most reliable method for locating the cable. Once passing the cable, divers will follow the wall to the right, gradually descending along the vertical face to reach their desired depth. They'll continue on this vertical wall as they explore the cracks for fish, lobster and nudibranchs. Upon reaching their designated turnaround point, they'll retrace their path back until it's time to turn towards shore, where they can do their safety stop. However, in the dive featured in this video, we add a unique twist to our normal Scripps Canyon dive. This time, We start in Sumner Branch dropping down on a buoy that no longer exists here. Then cross over to the northern wall of Sumner Branch via a short blue water swim. During the travers all you see is the vast expanse of blue/green. Just when you start to doubt whether you'll find the other side, it gradually materializes in the distance. The first few times I dove this site I found it to be dark and confusing with poor visibility. It's a good idea to dive this with someone that's done it before. The walls in this canyon are dark and reflect very little light, so it'll be darker than you expect. It should also be noted that the wall dops down well beyond recreational limits which makes it a bottomless dive requiring excellent buoyancy and awareness of depth. |
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HIke back from Scripps CanyonHere we see a diver making the hike back from the dive site to Scripps Pier during high tide. Typically, divers avoid this walk during high tide due to some impassable sections.
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