Top 4 Dive Sites in Monterey
1. North Monastery Beach
North Monastery Beach is a captivating dive site nestled along the rugged coastline of Carmel, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This site offers divers an opportunity to explore a unique underwater landscape characterized by dramatic deep rocky formations, kelp forests, and an abundance of marine life.
2. Point Lobos State Reserve
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a premier dive destination located along the breathtaking coastline of Carmel. Renowned for its stunning underwater landscapes, diverse marine life, and protected marine ecosystems, Point Lobos offers divers an opportunity to experience the beauty of California's underwater world. Entry is limited and requires a permit, so it's important to plan ahead and make necessary reservations.
3. San Carlos Beach (Breakwater)
San Carlos Beach, also known as Breakwater, stands out as Monterey's most frequented dive location, drawing a bustling crowd of diving classes during weekends. However, ample parking and extensive underwater expanses await. The expanse along the Breakwater Wall proves particularly captivating for critter enthusiasts. This wall is adorned with an impressive array of nudibranchs, anemones, sea stars, crabs, and an assortment of delightful surprises. Towards the wall's terminus, a sizable and often animated community of California Sea Lions beckons, frequently taking playful dives to inspect curious divers. To the north of the wall, the landscape transitions to sandy stretches with minimal structure. Despite this, it serves as a prime locale to encounter octopuses and diverse species of nudibranchs.
4. Metridium Fields
On the northern side of San Carlos Beach lies a submerged pipe with a diameter of about 2 feet, aligned perfectly with Reeside Avenue. This pipe serves as a guide, leading you to rocky reef adorned in large, cauliflower-like anemones, famously known as Metridiums.
Upon reaching the end of the pipe, a brief swim due North spanning approximately 30 feet will unveil the enchanting Metridium Fields. This location offers more than just Metridiums; it's also a favored spot to encounter sea nettles. When I dove this area there were hundreds of them. We stayed low in the sand and looking above us there were hundreds of human head size nettles silhouetted against the waters surface.
Upon reaching the end of the pipe, a brief swim due North spanning approximately 30 feet will unveil the enchanting Metridium Fields. This location offers more than just Metridiums; it's also a favored spot to encounter sea nettles. When I dove this area there were hundreds of them. We stayed low in the sand and looking above us there were hundreds of human head size nettles silhouetted against the waters surface.
North Monastery BeachNorth Monastery Beach is a captivating dive site nestled along the rugged coastline of Carmel, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This site offers divers an opportunity to explore a unique underwater landscape characterized by dramatic rocky formations, kelp forests, and an abundance of marine life.
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San Carlos Beach / BreakwaterSan Carlos Beach, also known as Breakwater, stands out as Monterey's most frequented dive location, drawing a bustling crowd of diving classes during weekends. However, ample parking and extensive underwater expanses await, ensuring exploration opportunities remain plentiful. The expanse along the Breakwater Wall proves particularly captivating for critter enthusiasts. This wall is adorned with an impressive array of nudibranchs, anemones, sea stars, crabs, and an assortment of delightful surprises. Towards the wall's terminus, a sizable and often animated community of California Sea Lions beckons, frequently taking playful dives to inspect curious divers. To the north of the wall, the landscape transitions to sandy stretches with minimal structure. Despite this, it serves as a prime locale to encounter octopuses and diverse species of nudibranchs.
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Metridium FieldsOn the northern side of San Carlos Beach lies a submerged pipe with a diameter of about 2 feet, aligned perfectly with Reeside Avenue. This pipe serves as a guide, leading you to rocky reef adorned in large, cauliflower-like anemones, famously known as Metridiums.
Upon reaching the end of the pipe, a brief swim due North spanning approximately 30 feet will unveil the enchanting Metridium Fields. This location offers more than just Metridiums; it's also a favored spot to encounter sea nettles. When I dove this area there were hundreds of them. We stayed low in the sand and looking above us there were hundreds of human head size nettles silhouetted against the waters surface. |
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Point Lobos State ReservePoint Lobos State Natural Reserve is a premier dive destination located along the breathtaking coastline of Carmel. Renowned for its stunning underwater landscapes, diverse marine life, and protected marine ecosystems, Point Lobos offers divers an opportunity to experience the beauty of California's underwater world.
Entry is limited and requires a permit, so it's important to plan ahead and make necessary reservations. Although Point Lobos has a large coastline only two sites within the park are permitted for scuba diving. Whales Cove and Bluefish cove See the parks website for more information |
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Whalers Cove (Point Lobos State Reserve)Per the Parks website, Divers and vessels may enter or exit the water only at the dive access ramp at Whalers Cove parking lot. This is a shorter video showing Whalers Cove.
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Bluefish Cove (Point Lobos State Reserve)Per the Parks website, Divers and vessels may enter or exit the water only at the dive access ramp at Whalers Cove parking and diving area is limited to Whalers and Bluefish Coves. All other areas of the Reserve are closed to diving and aquatic activity.
So, to dive this area you'll enter at Whalers and dive or swim around to this area. |
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BallBuster 100
Why do I like Ballbuster? The long blue water descent to the top of the pinnacle around 65 feet. The ring of Metridiums at around 85 feet. Bottoming out at about 110 feet before it drops into the Monterey Canyon. Running into larger animals like Mola Mola. Further off shore. I just really enjoy it. Another favorite of mine is the swim through at Cathedral. That's another good boat dive.
36°38'23.7"N 121°54'32.2"W |
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Cordell Bank
This isn't actually Monterey, its off the coast of San Francisco and its an underwater islanded located x miles off the coast.
NOAA Site on Cordell Bank |
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Boats/Charters
- Beach Hopper 2
- Uses outdated booking system, same system Dive Central uses.
- Check out this video from one of their trips.
- Eric's Pinnacle, Octopus Reef, Aquarium Wall, McAbee
- Dive Central -Owners of The Escapade
- Check out this video from one of their trips
- Uses outdated booking system, no dates available on the calendar. Maybe they aren't doing direct bookings.
- Phil Sammet's Underwater Company
- Sam owns a rib from which he runs whale watching tours, cinematography, dive charters and more.
- Diver Dan's -Escapade
- Dive Shop in Santa Clara that offers boat dives on the Escapade, no reservation system online.
- Monterey Bay Scuba
- Their trips are listed on their calendar. Check out this video with Azul Unlimited to see what its like to dive with them.
- Pinnacles Dive Center
- Runs trips off their boat, call for more info
- List of California Dive Boats