When a dual-layer disc was read, light returning from an irrelevant layer interfered with signal light, causing a focusing error signal and tracking error signal to vary. As a result, full-expected performance could not be obtained from an optical pickup.Disclosed is an optical pickup that includes a laser diode, which emits an optical beam; a diffraction device, which is placed at a position through which the optical beam passes, and separates the optical beam into at least three optical beams (zero-order light, plus first-order light, and minus first-order light); an objective lens, which condenses the optical beams passing through the diffraction device on an optical disc; and a detector, which receives light reflected from the optical disc. The diffraction device allows only a specific polarization direction component of an optical beam to pass without being diffracted, and diffracts a polarization direction component that is orthogonal to the former component.