Dive Report - Monterey 7/14

[kwest]

So I was able to test out my new equipment and do a couple of dives in Monterey on Monday. Both dives were at the Breakwater, with the first dive out to the Metridium Fields and the second along the Breakwater itself. The visibility was amazing at 30-40 feet and the water temp read 52 degrees on my computer. Since these were my first cold water dives, I was pretty anxious to see how I felt in my wetsuit which is a one piece 7mm. It's a Harvey's Flex wetsuit, and it must fit perfect, because I never felt anywhere close to cold. I hated my gloves though, and while they kept my hands warm, I am thinking of getting 3mm gloves to have more freedom. Any advice on this would be appreciated.
I can tell you that I was astounded by the colors and sealife. We saw several amazing crab species, fishes including a big ling-cod, awesome and colorful nudibranchs, sea lions, otters and the metridium anemones were other-worldly. Swimming through the kelp was another new experience for me and I am hooked. At one point we swam through a section at the Breakwater where the kelp stalks had become buoyant enough to lift the large rocks they were attached to. The rocks slowly bobbed up and down several feet above the bottom as the stalks reached 30 feet up to the surface.
The only bummer of the trip was that I was scheduled to do a second day of diving to Point Lobos, but my guide had a sinus infection and I was unable to find another at the last minute.
I am now ready to do some diving up here on the Sonoma Coast.

 

[Teamcasa]

Nice report.

Sorry to hear about your guide getting sick. As for gloves, I use 5mm gloves here in SoCal when the water is really cold (for me). When the water is above 55, I use 3mm gloves. My hands rarely get cold.

 

[Peter_C]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Monterey is always a treat. We just dove the metridium fields and had what Susie calls her best cold water dive ever. Might have something to do with the fact that we could see the metridiums from the end of the pipe. Unfortunately you will find the North Coast not quite so entertaining, but at least for some of us Sonoma is "Home". Reef life is abundant on the North Coast, but vis tends to be bad. To have an experience of seeing otters and seals is awesome. Too bad you missed Lobos as that is one of the best shore diving locations in NorCal.

Here is a recent thread on gloves that might help you make a decision. In my opinion 3mm is way too thin, but I am a dry glove wearer.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/norcal/170177-gloves-monterey.html

 

[jon m]

metridiums from the end of the pipe?!?!?
you ARE KILLIN ME!!!
cold water diving is the best!
i use 5 mil gloves, 3 is to cold for me...

 

[Peter_C]

That was the best vis I have ever seen in Monterey but do not dive there much. Other than our certification dives it was my third dive at the Breakwater, and Susie's first (She got certified in Roatan). I did a report on it here.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Excellent, thanks!

Yeah, another vote here for 3mm gloves being way to thin for low 50's.