CORONA DEL MAR WATER ACTIVITIES FIELD GUIDE
Night Falls, Spiny Lobsters Stir: Lobster Hunting After Dark in Corona Del Mar
A 4-hour Sea Creature Adventures outing in Corona Del Mar that combines nighttime snorkeling and hand-catching of California spiny lobster with a shore-side steam of your catch.
Night Falls, Spiny Lobsters Stir: Lobster Hunting After Dark in Corona Del Mar.
Experience the thrill of night lobster hunting off the beaches of Orange County. This outing exposes you to a vibrant nocturnal reef world—camouflaged octopus, pods of lobsters, round stingrays and playful harbor seals—while you search for the elusive California spiny lobster, then finish the evening steaming lobsters and preparing uni on the shoreline.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Nocturnal Reef Life Up Close
At night the kelp forest and rock reefs come alive: camouflaged octopus stalk prey, round stingrays glide through the kelp, and harbor seals often use the lights to hunt alongside divers while California spiny lobsters forage across the reef.
Hand‑Hunting with Dive Lights
The California spiny lobster is nocturnal; the group uses extremely bright, waterproof dive lights to spot lobsters that may be visible from the surface in shallow water, though divers generally must descend and catch them by hand.
A Shoreline Feast of Lobster and Uni
After the dive there’s an opportunity to steam the lobsters and prepare uni right on the beach, turning the night’s catch into a shared shore-side meal.
What the day feels like
What the Night Feels Like
You’ll gather at a hilltop meeting point, fit into full neoprene and kevlar gear on the sand, then snorkel or free‑dive out to reef zones under extremely bright dive lights to locate nocturnal lobsters and other reef life—returning to shore afterward to steam and taste your catch.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most out of this trip.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The operator outfits participants in full neoprene wetsuits complete with kevlar dive gloves, hoods, booties, mask & snorkel and fins; extremely bright, waterproof dive lights are used during the outing.
The outing lasts approximately 4 hours.
After diving there is an opportunity to steam lobsters and prepare uni on the beach as part of the experience.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where do we meet?
You meet at the top of the hill before moving down to the beach to select equipment and gear up.
How long is the trip?
The outing runs about 4 hours.
What equipment do participants use?
Participants are fitted and gear up on the beach in full neoprene wetsuits with kevlar dive gloves, hoods, booties, mask & snorkel and fins; the group uses extremely bright, waterproof dive lights for night hunting.
Will we see wildlife?
Common sightings include camouflaged octopus, pods of lobsters, round stingrays and the possibility of playful harbor seals joining the hunt.
How are lobsters caught?
The California spiny lobster is nocturnal; dive lights are used to spot them in shallow water, and divers generally dive down to catch them by hand.
What happens after the dive?
After diving there is an opportunity to steam the lobsters and prepare uni on the shoreline to enjoy a fresh, shared meal.