Cabrillo Beach's biggest handicap as a dive site is poor water clarity. The cove created by the breakwater and the point do not work well with cleansing currents, and dirty water gets trapped. Fortunately, for chocolate lobster hunters, fall is the best season for good water visibility. The best part of this dive site for marine life and bottom terrain is toward the point. Patch rock reefs support a small kelp forest made up mostly of feather boa kelp.
Crustaceans are abundant with a variety of crabs, including the large sheep crab.
This is also a good spot for lobster, with few commercial traps and fewer divers. A large part of the site is part of the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge, but taking of lobster and halibut is acceptable. The pinnacles top out at just below the surface and drop to 50 feet. But this is an unrealistically long swim. Visibility improves somewhat toward the point but is still usually poor, falling in the 10 foot range.