Peter_C
Contributor
With all the crappy vis we keep hearing about in Monterey, it was a no brainer to stay local, and investigate the Sonoma Coast. The spot chosen was Gerstle Cove. The comments of "Where is everyone; look at these conditions" came up numerous times.
Since my regs are apart and the warranty parts from Scubapro have not returned, I brought my kayak and headed out to explore the ocean, while the ladies went for a couple of dives. We were amazed to find clear calm water, and no one at the beach. Once prepped we headed into the water together and began our wet adventures. I headed South towards Timber Cove, looking straight down the kelp stalks as they descended into the depths to their fast holds below. On the way back the swells kicked up BIG for a few minutes, causing me to stop and asses passing between the rocks with a wall of water coming thrashing between them. Just as fast the ocean settled back down, allowing me to quickly pass between the rocks. As the afternoon wore on the swells became smaller and smaller, which is exactly what the forecast called for. We met up back on shore and some other visitors go "A whale!". Of course this was a "close encounter" yet we were on shore. The whale was INSIDE Gerstle Cove. I jumped on my kayak and pedaled out as fast as possible and only caught a shot as it passed between the rocks on the North side of the Cove.
The ladies headed back out and I followed this time, in a wetsuit carrying a snorkel with me. WHAT? Yes I said a wetsuit and a snorkel (I do wear a wetsuit for exposure protection when kayaking too). I spent an hour freezing my butt off in 48* water, roaming around Gerstle Cove. The water was so calm I could be in 2 feet of water and not worry about being tossed into a rock. I saw crabs, a ling cod, rock fish, a few greenlings, and lots of abalone and starfish.
Once we were packed up we made a bee line for the Timber Cove Lodge. They have a nice spot on the back patio to hang out and enjoy a refreshing beverage.
Since my regs are apart and the warranty parts from Scubapro have not returned, I brought my kayak and headed out to explore the ocean, while the ladies went for a couple of dives. We were amazed to find clear calm water, and no one at the beach. Once prepped we headed into the water together and began our wet adventures. I headed South towards Timber Cove, looking straight down the kelp stalks as they descended into the depths to their fast holds below. On the way back the swells kicked up BIG for a few minutes, causing me to stop and asses passing between the rocks with a wall of water coming thrashing between them. Just as fast the ocean settled back down, allowing me to quickly pass between the rocks. As the afternoon wore on the swells became smaller and smaller, which is exactly what the forecast called for. We met up back on shore and some other visitors go "A whale!". Of course this was a "close encounter" yet we were on shore. The whale was INSIDE Gerstle Cove. I jumped on my kayak and pedaled out as fast as possible and only caught a shot as it passed between the rocks on the North side of the Cove.
The ladies headed back out and I followed this time, in a wetsuit carrying a snorkel with me. WHAT? Yes I said a wetsuit and a snorkel (I do wear a wetsuit for exposure protection when kayaking too). I spent an hour freezing my butt off in 48* water, roaming around Gerstle Cove. The water was so calm I could be in 2 feet of water and not worry about being tossed into a rock. I saw crabs, a ling cod, rock fish, a few greenlings, and lots of abalone and starfish.
Once we were packed up we made a bee line for the Timber Cove Lodge. They have a nice spot on the back patio to hang out and enjoy a refreshing beverage.
. Your conditions look beautiful! What was the vis?
