Van Damme Beach Diving

Van Damme Beach is a popular diving location for a variety of reasons. Parking is adjacent to the beach and the ocean only a few yards away. The relatively sheltered cove allows easy access to the water. Close offshore are several reefs worthy of exploration, while nearby along the coast are caves and inlets.

The ocean around Van Damme State Park is considered especially good for beginning and intermediate divers. The cove is only about 20 to 35 feet deep with a sandy bottom covering most of it. Experienced divers like to explore the north wall, finding plenty of sea life and interesting terrain. At high tide a great 100-foot-long sea cave known as Cave of the Trolls is worth visiting.

Ocean Safety - Always check with rangers if conditions are safe for your planned activities.

Divers at Van Damme State Park usually see plenty of abalone, crabs, anemones, sea stars, jellyfish, and sea cucumbers. The kelp beds are good places for finding sea creatures. The pair of offshore rocks known as Key Hole and Top Hat mark the spot where the ocean floor drops off quickly. Spearfishing is usually best out there.

Abalone fishing is a popular sport along the Mendocino coast. Diving for red abalone must be done without the use of scuba grear. Check all the regulations governing sport fishing for red abalone: California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations.

Abalone Season usally runs from April - June and August - November, but currently (2023) red abalone season is closed until at least April 1, 2026.

Closest Dive Shops

Sonoma Coast Divers

5702 Commerce Blvd. Rohnert Park, CA
((707) 586-0272   Sonoma Coast Divers

Seals Watersports

2112 Armory Drive, Santa Rosa, CA
707-542-3100   Seals Watersports

Van Damme State Park Hiking Trails

Hikers have a number of good trails they can explore in Van Damme State Parks 1831 acres. Usually at the top of everyone's list is the Fern Canyon Trail leading up the Little River valley. The complete hike is 7 miles out and back. Hikers enjoy a lush redwood forest, a variety of ferns, and even a small waterfall. In winter some bridges may be removed, so check with the ranger before setting out. Winter hikers are often rewarded with sightings of salmon spawning in the river.

The Pygmy Forest Self-Guided Nature Boardwalk is accessed off Airport Road, which leaves Highway 1 just south of the Van Damme State Park entrance and the golf course. The loop trail is only about 300 yards in length, but it connects to the Old Logging Road Trail for longer hikes.

A short hike from near the entrance to the park on the Bog Trail leads to a meadow of skunk cabbage which blooms in the spring with beautiful yellow flowers.

Birds along the Trails

Birds often sighted along the trails in the park include Gray Jay, Swainson's thrushes, warblers, swallows, Allen's hummingbird, red crossbills, Pacific-slope flycatchers, and wrens. Occasionally hikers catch sight of northern spotted owls, kingfishers,

Kayaking at Van Damme Beach

The waters along the coast near Van Damme Beach are favorite areas for kayakers to explore. An easy launch from the beach in the protected waters of the cove gets kayakers off to an good start. From there they can turn either north or south and find relatively calm water.

In the summer Kayak Mendocino is set up on Van Damme Beach, offering guided kayak tours. Among the favorites is their sea cave tour along the sheltered north coast out of the cove. Participants paddle sit-on-top kayaks. Kayak Mendocino also has an Albion River Nature Tour, stand-up paddleboard tours at Van Damme, and kayak surfing lessons.

Cave Tours: 9:00 AM, 11:30 AM, and 2:00 PM
Reservations: (707) 813-7117