Butterfly house?

[dsafanda]

Dove North Monastery Beach and Metridium Fields on Sat. 2/25. Great conditions. 35' vis and the ocean was pretty much like glass everywhere. We were looking for a third dive and a local dive store operator suggested we hit a location that I think he refered to as "Butterfly" house. A malfunctioning computer kept us from getting in another dive but now I'm curious about the spot we missed out on. He suggested that it was the best shore dive around when conditions are good.

I was looking in the Lonely Planet guide to the Monterey Peninsula. There is reference to something called Copper Roof House which seems to match the general location of the dive we were going to look for.

Are "Butterfly House" and "Copper Roof House" the same thing?

 

[Monkey Knife-fight]

Not the same thing but they are close. Butterfly House is a great shore dive that i've found has lots of little critters (nudis especially). It's tucked back in Carmel and parking is very limited but i've had good luck finding room. Here's how i get to the spot:

If you are going south on 1 right around Carmel you want to take a right on Rio Rd. It's after Ocean Blvd and a big road so it's hard to miss. Then take a left on Santa Lucia Ave (smaller road keep and eye out for it). Then follow Santa Lucia until you hit Scenic Rd which follows the coast. Make a slight left and go South on Scenic and it'll take you right to the spot. You'll see the "Butterfly House" that gives it's name to the site on your right perched on the cliffs. It's got this crazy roof that resembles (surprise surprise) butterfly wings. You can park on the street across from the house and then there's a rocky path down to the water. You can see some more info here:

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_/California_/Butterfly_House/index.htm

Chris

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Copper Roof is about .2 mile north of Butterfly House.

You should get a copy of:

A Diver's Guide to Monterey County, California, Bruce Watkins, 1997, ISBN 0-9628600-1-8

 

[dsafanda]

Thanks guys!