SKIN AND SCUBA DIVING

18.21.010 Scuba diving defined. "Scuba diving," as used in this chapter, means the use in the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the shoreline within the city boundaries, of any face mask, diving fins, snorkel, knife, abalone iron, spear or spear gun, in any combination or combinations, together with any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

18.21.020 Skin diving defined. "Skin diving," as used in this chapter, means the use in the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the shoreline with in the city boundaries, of any or all of the articles of equipment described in Section 18.21.010 except the use of self contained underwater breathing apparatus.

18.21.030 Hazardous skin diving and scuba diving - Discontinuance authorized (A) Hazard to Others. No person shall participate in any skin diving or scuba diving, activity at any time in the Pacific Ocean within the city in a manner that constitutes a hazard to any other person.

(B) Authorized Orders to Discontinue Skin Diving and Scuba Diving. Police officers, the city manager, or other employees of the city designated by the city manger to enforce skin diving and scuba diving regulations and control skin diving and scuba diving activities, may prohibit skin diving and scuba diving at any time diving conditions become hazardous as a result of storm, congestion of persons, lack of proper equipment (such equipment to include mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy compensator, and diving partner) , or other conditions which cause a present danger to the person skin diving or scuba diving or to others. No person shall fail, refuse or neglect to stop skin diving and scuba diving activities or to leave the water when ordered to do so by any such employee of the city.

18.21.040 Equipment precautions. No person shall enter the public beach or the ocean for the purpose of participating in scuba diving as defined in Section 18.21.010 at any time in the Pacific Ocean within the city if that person is carrying a spearhead of a fixed spear which is not covered in such a way as to render it incapable of harming any individual or a spearhead of a detachable spear which is not detached and not in a firing position.

18.21.050 Scuba and skin diving classes restricted to certain hours. No person shall conduct any class of instruction in scuba diving or skin diving from June 15th to September 15th of any year, inclusive, before seven a.m. or after ten a.m. on any day on public beaches within the city.

For more information or to view City of Laguna Beach Municipal Codes please visit the city web page.

Return to Rules and Regulations main page