Monterey Dive Boat Recommendations???

[Dzydvl33]

My wife and I are looking to head over to Monterey between now and the end of May for a week of diving. We would like to do some boat dives while we're there. I was wondering Is there a charter you guys recommend over the others? Or any that should be avoided?
Are there any sites we should try to hit?

My wife is still a new diver, 8 dives so far.

 

[BikerBecca]

Sanctuary is a nice boat. They are a low load boat, only 6 divers. It's a very comfy boat to be aboard. Has a warm salon to sit in, a really nice head and the crew is good. Sanctuary Charters

The other boat in Monterey is Beach Hopper II. This is total dive boat, nothing fancy but MaryJo runs a great operation. Beachhopper II

 

[BikerBecca]

Oh, one other thing. If you are gonna be there for a week you totally have to dive Point Lobos. It is unbelievably beautiful. It's an MPA so you are truly seeing untouched beauty. They only let a set number of divers there per day and you do need to make a reservation. You can do that on the Parks & Rec website Point Lobos SCUBA Diving

It's $30/dive pair and $10 to enter the park. Get there at 8am so you can get parking before the park gets crowded.

When you do dive Point Lobos you can only enter and exit Whalers Cove via a boat ramp. While walking down the ramp and entering the water make certain your BCD is fully inflated, your mask is on, and your reg is in your mouth. This is important because the end of the ramp is so slimy with algae that it's as slippery as ice and you can easily slide off the end of the ramp. If you do slide off the end and you're not prepared it's an instant 20ft drop so just play it safe.

Other than that Point Lobos is amazing and the best dive site in the area. In Whalers Cove you will absolutely have a harbor seal or two swim with you. When you leave Whalers Cove and enter the sand channel stay to the left and follow the wall. At around 63 feet is the hole in the wall. That's a fun spot to have one of you swim over the wall and take pics of each other through the hole. Then, as you continue to follow the wall, at the end, around 79-ish feet look to the left and you'll see the lone metridium.

 

[Dzydvl33]

@BikerBecca thank you for the info. Yes Point Lobos is on our list.

 

[BikerBecca]

@BikerBecca thank you for the info. Yes Point Lobos is on our list.

You are very welcome. Have an awesome time!

 

[dive1bb]

Sanctuary is a nice boat. They are a low load boat, only 6 divers. It's a very comfy boat to be aboard. Has a warm salon to sit in, a really nice head and the crew is good. Sanctuary Charters

The other boat in Monterey is Beach Hopper II. This is total dive boat, nothing fancy but MaryJo runs a great operation. Beachhopper II

+1 to Beach Hopper II. I've gone out with MaryJo on two separate trips and loved it. I have heard good things about Sanctuary, but I haven't gone out with them just yet. It's worth noting that the dive boats can't predict where they are going to dive until they get on the water and see the conditions. All of the dive sites MaryJo has taken me to were great: Eric's Pinnacle, Octopus Reef, Aquarium Wall, McAbee

There are quite a few shore dives you can do around the area, as well. Breakwater is the most popular. Pretty accessible and great for all dive levels. This post is a few years old, but you may find it useful regardless: My Notes for Researching My California Dive Trip Let us know if you have any questions. Plenty of folks in and around the area posting as well as lurking

 

[BikerBecca]

@ Dzydvl33 - One more thing. I'm a Divemaster in Monterey. If you've never dove in Monterey before, and especially if you've never dove in cold water before hit me up when you're out her and I can take you some tours if you'd like. I work down there pretty much every weekend.


@dive1bb - Speaking of being in Monterey every weekend. Am I gonna see you this weekend?

 

[dive1bb]

@ Dzydvl33 - One more thing. I'm a Divemaster in Monterey. If you've never dove in Monterey before, and especially if you've never dove in cold water before hit me up when you're out her and I can take you some tours if you'd like. I work down there pretty much every weekend.


@dive1bb - Speaking of being in Monterey every weekend. Am I gonna see you this weekend?

Definitely!

 

[Dzydvl33]

Thank you. We are very familiar with Breakwater, being from Fresno, It's our go to spot. We tried Lover's a while back but it was 0 via so we called it off. Way back in the day, 91, I did my check out dives at Macabe and Coral Street.

My wife has never done a boat dive and I have only done one but that was back in 92. My Dad got us a trip in San Diego and we dove the Ruby E, super cool. So we need advice in that area.

So far on the trip list is:
1 day at Point Lobos, Thanks for the tip about the drop off. That could have been a surprise.
1 day on a boat.
And then a couple days hitting different shore dive spots. Recommendations welcome.

@BikerBecca Thank you for the offer. I may have to take you up on that so I can learn so more spots.

 

[dive1bb]

Thank you. We are very familiar with Breakwater, being from Fresno, It's our go to spot. We tried Lover's a while back but it was 0 via so we called it off. Way back in the day, 91, I did my check out dives at Macabe and Coral Street.

My wife has never done a boat dive and I have only done one but that was back in 92. My Dad got us a trip in San Diego and we dove the Ruby E, super cool. So we need advice in that area.

So far on the trip list is:
1 day at Point Lobos, Thanks for the tip about the drop off. That could have been a surprise.
1 day on a boat.
And then a couple days hitting different shore dive spots. Recommendations welcome.

@BikerBecca Thank you for the offer. I may have to take you up on that so I can learn so more spots.

Keep me posted about your trip, as well! Always happy to meet new divers. Plus it's fun diving with Rebecca Any questions in particular about boat diving? I'm fairly new to it, so happy to offer my perspective on what it was like for me.