Freediving Newport Beach, Wedge Jetty
The Wedge by Andre Navarro
The infamous Wedge ! If you’re a surfer, bodyboarder or bodysurfer that grew up in Southern California, specifically in Orange or LA County, you’ve heard of this secluded beach section of Newport Beach with monster waves. It’s a surreal sight to see, waves so big, so close to shore, when the waves break, the ground rumbles. The excitement and enthusiasm of the photographers and beach goers that line the beach to watch is extremely fun, like watching an important sports playoff game.
However, these epic waves and conditions only happen during a few months of the year. Usually when there are big storms or hurricanes nearby in Pacific Ocean. Otherwise this infamous corner of the beach and jetty are quite calm. The Wedge is on North side of the Newport Beach Harbor entrance, which is the North Jetty. I’ve explored the Newport Beach Harbor in the past, which is filled with fish and awesome ocean life. So I always wondered, could there be thriving ocean life along the Wedge jetty ?
Wedge Jetty by Andre Navarro
For this adventure, there is much to see ! So we’re going to start from the beach, on the north side of the Wedge Jetty, head to the deepest end at the Harbor Entrance. Then we’ll return to inner Newport Harbor at the shallower end of the inner Wedge jetty and head out past the Newport Harbor entrance, about 150 yards to the Newport Harbor Ocean Buoy to join lots of curious California Sea Lions.
Immediately, you’ll come across many of California’s State fish, the Garibaldi Damselfish. Big, bright and bold, the Garibaldis will come out of their nooks to check you out and make sure you don’t get too close their homes. Garibaldis are extremely territorial and will swim up to your face and flutter about quickly to keep you moving along. You’ll also notice this marine sponge everywhere with it’s large porous holes. Sometimes the sponge will be covered in different colors of algae and is hard to make out. But when you see the large holes, it’s definitely a marine sponge. And Marine Sponges are animals, not plants or algae.
Garibaldi and Sponge by Andre Navarro
Marine Sponge by Andre Navarro
California Golden Gorgonian Sea Fans by Andre Navarro
One of my favorite sites are California Golden Gorgonians which are Sea Fans and Corals ! And like Marine Sponges, they are animals, not plants or algae. The further and deeper you get along the jetty, the more you’ll see, usually towards the bottom below 10 feet down. Even though they are called Golden, they come in many different colors ranging from white, tan, brown, gold, red and purple. California Golden Gorgonians are filter feeders using polyps. They eat Plankton and other small food particles that are carried by the currents.
Another common fish you’ll see from a few, to large schools patrolling along the rocks, are Blacksmith Chromis. Blacksmith Chromis are of the Damselfish family, like the larger Garibaldis. Unlike their name, Blacksmith are actually a beautiful bright blue. They’re a small fish that are constantly on the move. There are several different types of Perch that are also common along the jetty. Unfortunately due to fishing, their numbers are minimal here. There are also many patches of kelp and seaweeds. The more kelp and seaweed, the more fish you’ll find in the area.
Blacksmith Chromis by Andre Navarro
Black Surfperch by Andre Navarro
Now let’s jump over to the inner Wedge jetty, starting from the shallows. The inner Newport Beach Harbor between the jetties is filled with fish and awesome diverse ocean life. Also I need to make clear that swimming in the inner harbor is extremely dangerous and in most locations against the law. I stay next to the rocks where boats can’t go and have a friend as a watch out. I also always check in all directions that no boats are anywhere nearby before diving down. Swimming into the channel where boats race in and out without regard would be suicide.
Inner Newport Harbor by Andre Navarro
Freediving Newport Harbor by Andre Navarro
As soon as one enters the Inner Harbor, the ocean life is abundant and much more diverse than I imagined for a harbor. There are many giant California Sea Hares. which are huge black sea slugs the size of basketballs. This big, you would think they would be easy to find. Due to their color and slow to no movement, they look like shadows underwater. They also curl up into a ball when they are just relaxing. In this ball state, you can’t tell what your looking at, even when they are right in front of you.
All throughout the harbor, you’ll find many Spiny Sand Stars that appear out of nowhere and disappear just as fast. It’s confusing at first, one moment they’re there and then you turn around, they’re gone. Until you see them burying themselves in the sand and fast. They pop out of the sand, wander around, hang out and when they feel erratic movement, they hide. interestingly, these sea stars have eyes located at the tip of each arm, usually appearing as a small dark or reddish dot. While they don't see details like humans do, they can sense light and dark, which helps them move around and avoid bright light or find shaded areas.
California Black Sea Hare by Andre Navarro
Spiny Sand Stars and Calico and Sand Bass by Andre Navarro
School of Salema Porgy by Andre Navarro
There are also many Calico Bass and Barred Sand Bass near kelpy areas. They look very similar, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. Barred Sand Bass have several large vertical bars on their sides. Calico Bass are camouflaged like kelp. Sand Bass sit on the sand motionless until frightened and take off. Calico Bass hangout around kelp, from the surface to the bottom. They are very curious and not easily spooked. Assuming one doesn’t splash and act a fool in the water, they will swim up to divers and check you out. Often they will join you in your exploration side by side or tailing you close behind. Calico Bass are my favorite local fish to swim with due to their curiosity and friendly disposition.
Another common fish you’ll find in huge schools are Salema Porgy. These small fish are silver with several horizontal thin gold lines across it’s body. You have to be calm when trying to swim near these fish as they spook easily and will swim away quickly. They are constantly on the move and hard to get close to. You’ll find huge schools of Salema Porgy’s over areas of sea grass and thick kelp, often in only a few feet of water.
California Sargo by Andre Navarro
Freediving sea grass by Andre Navarro
Zebra Perch by Andre Navarro
In several areas further along the jetty, the sea grass grows close to the rocks. This area is fun to explore as there are many fish and much diverse ocean life along the grass. Like schools of California Sargo with their vertical black stripe on their silver body. Sargo are pretty skittish and hard to get on camera as they spook easily. They are constantly moving and quickly which makes them hard to keep up with.
You’ll come across many different species of perch, Zebra Perch being my favorite due to their cool stripes. They like to hangout at the edge of the grass and sand, waiting for an easy meal. Zebra Perch like to hangout at a specific area which they don’t want to leave from until they’re good and ready. So I like to hangout next to that area to get a closer look at the Zebra Perch. Assuming I don’t get too close, they’ll just continue to hangout there and watch me watching them.
Algae along jetty by Andre Navarro
Garibaldi and Corals by Andre Navarro
Blue Crab by Andre Navarro
The inner Wedge Jetty has much more kelp, sea weeds and algae all over the rocks. This also includes the California Golden Gorgonians sea fan corals. Anywhere dense with algae and coral life, you’ll find more fish along with other marine life, like crabs, lobsters and sea slugs. I like to slowly cruise the dense kelp areas to see what’s going on. The slower you move, the more you’ll see. Ocean life doesn’t like fast moving unidentified things which they see as a threat. They don’t want to get eaten. In many sections, the algae and seaweeds are so thick on the rocks, you can’t see the rock. You know it’s there due to the shape and location, but it’s covered in a thick rug of ocean life.
This finally brings us to the end of inner Wedge Jetty. But we’re not done yet. From here I used a paddle board and a buddy to make our way to the ocean buoy about 150 yards straight out in the ocean. This buoy is usually filled with California Sea Lions. Even though we were on highly visible paddle boards, this exploration was still very dangerous and not recommended. The boats that come in and out of this harbor do not follow the speed limits or watch for others when entering or exiting the Harbor. There is very little respect or consideration towards others here, rather your on a boat, kayak, paddle board etc. If you sit and watch from the rocks, you can watch boats almost hitting others and each other all day.
Outer Wedge Jetty by Andre Navarro
Newport Harbor Ocean Buoy by Andre Navarro
Once we made it to the buoy, it was filled with California Sea Lions as usual. They were half napping and the other half barking at each other over space. California Sea Lions are extremely vocal and loud. They make a wide range of noise of which many are funny. I love listening to them when they’re all riled up and yapping at each other. They’re also very curious, especially the younger ones. The larger males are usually more interested in sleeping but are very protective of the other Sea Lions.
Once the awake Sea Lions saw me in the water, they were immediately interested. With a look of “what’s that ? way out here ? Isn’t it supposed to be on boat ?” and within a few minutes several Sea Lions began jumping in the water and circling me. I like to talk to them, they seem to like it and it appears to put them at ease faster. Once they see I’m not aggressive and just swimming around and diving down away from them, they quickly start coming in close to check me out and see what I’m up to.
California Sea Lions on Ocean Buoy by Andre Navarro
California Sea Lions under Ocean Buoy by Andre Navarro
California Sea Lion by Andre Navarro
More and more Sea Lions were joining in and swarming all around me. Above, below and all around. They are extremely nimble in their swimming and seem to be showing off at times with quick 360’s and spirals. When I have to surface for air, the Sea Lions always slow down and give me a look of “where you going ? so soon ? really ?” And I get a funny feeling of embarrassment, I can’t hold my breath like a Sea Lion nor swim like them and I wish I could explain this so they don’t give me looks of disappointment.
After swimming with me for 5 to 10 minutes, the sea doggies lose interest in the interaction and begin returning to the buoy to nap in the sun. These sessions of laying out in the sun are actually very important to Sea Lions and Harbor Seals health. It’s called Hauling Out, and allows Sea Lions and Harbor Seals to regulate their body temperature out of the cold water. This keeps them healthy along with a strong immune system. After swimming with them for a bit, I was freezing. The deeper water further out is much colder than the shallower water close to land. It was time to paddle back to shore.
All this footage took me several days worth of exploring to get. It’s physically challenging to cover all this ground and experience all this. It’s also the most interesting fun adventure that I always look forward to doing. Exploring our underwater world is my passion.
The accompanying Youtube videos are first hand footage captured by Andre Navarro while freediving the inner and outer Wedge Jetty of Newport Beach, California. You can also view hundreds of beautiful photos of the awesome ocean life and underwater environments of Newport Beach in the Photos section, Images of Newport Beach, California .Published by: Andre Navarro of Ocean Earth Green
I’m Andre Navarro, Southern California freediver and underwater videographer. I create ocean life adventure videos to connect viewers to our amazing underwater world to motivate stronger conservation and ocean life awareness. You can follow my ocean adventures here at OceanEarthGreen.com and view all my current and past videos at Youtube.com/OceanEarthGreen.