El Matador

32215 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA

TGNO: 626F7 GPS: 34.02.22N 118.52.29W or 34.039628N 118.874967W

Type of beach: Sandy

Facilities: Chemical Toilet, picnic benches and Pay Parking

Average Depth: 20-35 feet.

Parking: Pay parking lot. Currently $2.00 but that could change, be prepared. Parking lot is open from 8:00 AM to sunset.

Directions. From Los Angeles take Pacific Coast Highway West past Point Dume. El Madator is the first of what is often called the three sisters (Le Matador, La Piedra and El Pescador) and is 0.3 miles west (north) of Broad Beach Road and 0.6 miles east (south) of Encinal Canyon road. Look sharp for the signs as this is easy to miss. The path to the beach is located at the south east side of the parking lot. Be prepared, while this is the better of the three sisters, it is quite a walk down a prepared path and two sets of stairs to the beach.

For more photographs of the coast line see: http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=3774&mode=sequential&flags=0

The Dive: A South facing beach that is exposed to the swells. This may be in the shadow of Catalina in a summertime south swell. If the Santa Anna winds blow, or seas are relatively calm, this can be a great dive. Sandy beach with few rocks in the surf line but lots of rock structure in the water just a little ways off shore (see photos above) and a second system about 75-100 yards off shore. The second set of reefs and kelp usually offer the better visibility. The second reef/kelp bed offers depths of 25-35 feet. With all this rock structure, and kelp too, it is hard to go wrong if the conditions are good here.

DISCLAIMER: Dive site descriptions, while believed to be accurate are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon for making your dive decisions. Dive site conditions can and do change and each diver is responsible for making their own site survey to determine present conditions and the suitability of the site for diving. Every diver is responsible for their own diving decisions. This site is for the Advanced Beach Diver Only and should be considered dangerous.

Webpage designed by Melvin Pasley of Pasley Realty http://www.pasleyrealty.com/ May 30, 2005