Deep Hole / County Line Offshore Reefs

Deep Hole is the local name for the boat-access offshore reef complex off County Line Beach at the Ventura and Los Angeles County line. The area is also called Neptune's or "the Depot," reportedly because the artificial reef portion incorporates concrete rubble from a railroad depot. Approximately 20 miles south of Ventura Harbor and approximately 15 miles south of Channel Islands Harbor, the complex runs from roughly a half mile to a mile offshore, with some sites extending further out. Boulders, small rock piles, rock walls, rocky reefs, and pinnacles fill the area. Named sites include The Ring at 40 to 60 feet, with a rocky reef and a kelp bed that rival the Channel Islands on a good day, and Towers immediately adjacent. Sea Fans and Sweet Spot sit deeper at 70 to 80 feet. Depths across the main dive area run from 40 to 100 feet, with additional unexplored sites extending toward 150 feet. Visibility ranges from 10 to 50 feet depending on season and conditions. Channel Islands Dive Adventures and other Ventura and Oxnard charter operators run regular trips to the area, including dedicated lobster trips in the fall.

Three biomes meet here. The rocky reef structure at the shallower sites, including the boulders, rock piles, and rock walls, is a rocky reef biome. At The Ring and the adjacent shallow sites, the kelp anchors on the rocky bottom and grows up through the water column to the surface, which makes those sections a kelp forest biome. Beyond the outer pinnacles, the open water column carries larger fish and seasonal pelagic species, and that water is a pelagic biome.

Scuba and spearfishing are the dominant activities. The complex is excellent for spearfishing and lobster diving, with a substantial invertebrate community reported on the rocky reef. Boat-based hook-and-line fishing is common. The site is best dived on calm windows in summer and fall when the swell drops, because the swell sensitivity is high and the complex becomes undivable quickly as swell builds.

Access is boat-only, with charters running from Channel Islands Harbor and Ventura Harbor. Currents at the site are moderate. The 40-to-100-foot depth range places most sites within recreational scuba limits, though the outer pinnacles approach advanced depth. Fishing and spearfishing are legal here under standard California regulations. No state marine protected area covers this section of the Ventura County offshore reef complex.