First Cold Water / Kelp Diving Experience

[Driznik]

I'm going to be near Monterey over the next weeknd or two and I'd like to spend a day diving the kelp forest. I'm going to be there for work, so I don't want to take all my gear.

What is the best way to see the kelp forest? I'm guessing beach diving. Can anyone reccomend a shop for gear rental and guide?

Are there any sites I should insist on seeing?

Thanks,

D

 

[dsafanda]

The Monterey Bay Dive Center is a great place to rent grear. IMHO
http://www.marindivecenter.com/

From there walk a few hundred yards and you're at the Breakwater, probably the most convenient and user friendly intro-level shore dive in Monterey. Easy diving but there is still a lot to see.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

There are some things you need to know about Monterey diving:
http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/newmontereydiver.html
http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/kelpdiving.html

Any of the five dive shops in Monterey can rent you gear.

Breakwater is the usual introduction site.

 

[mjones]

Hey Driznik-
Monterey has some wonderful kelp diving. Since you only have a short time, and if your budget allows, consider a guided dive on one of the charter boats. The boat diving in this area, as with many areas, tends to get you to clearer water, more interesting topograghy, more and varied life, more chance of picking the best spots on any given day. Boat diving in some respects can also be more challenging (although I would venture to say that the shore diving often is more challenging here than the boat diving!) so having a divemaster lead the dive will help you with some of those challenges and help you see a lot of things you might not otherwise notice or be able to identify. Since you only have a limited amount of time to dive Monterey, make the best of it! Here's a good source for Monterey dive boats: www.californiadiveboats.com.
Mike

Disclaimer-I am associated with a charter boat and dive shop.

 

[jakubson]

I'm going to be near Monterey over the next weeknd or two and I'd like to spend a day diving the kelp forest. I'm going to be there for work, so I don't want to take all my gear.

What is the best way to see the kelp forest? I'm guessing beach diving. Can anyone reccomend a shop for gear rental and guide?

Are there any sites I should insist on seeing?

Thanks,

D

I did my first 2 dives as a guided "tour" with Monterey Bay Dive Center. They also can set you up with rentals.

I dove with Don, and we had a great time. The first dive is the Breakwater, which has great life, some small kelp beds, and if you are reasonable on air consumption, you can get out to the end of the pier where the sea lions are. I was thrilled to dive with the sea lions on my first Monterey dive. What's even better, a third diver joined us who is now my semi-regular buddy since we both dive midweek.



If you choose to do two dives, and you are good on air consumption, and the weather is cooperative, they may take you out to the Metridium fields. I did not choose to go on my tour (since I did not take my camera the first dive and wanted to go back to Breakwater to take some pictures - all these were taken at Breakwater http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1015), but I went for the first time yesterday. Metridium anemones are white and large (3-4 feet). It was a long swim, but worth it.



I have since met other MBDC divemasters on the Breakwater (John, Scott) and everyone is friendly and helpful. In fact, when my integrated BC octo free-flowed yesterday, John lent me a standard inflator and hose, and the shop hooked it up to my cooregated BC hose and then took it off again at the end of the day for $1.

I am sure the other shops are just as helpful - I just wanted to tell you my experience with MBDC.

 

[Driznik]

Thanks a lot. I've read and will re-read that introductory information.

I'll also check out MBDC and californiaboatdives.com.

I'll definitely get a guide for at least the first time out.

D

 

[Driznik]

Well, I ended up at MBDC for two dives.

The water was 52 degrees below the thermocline, but in a 7mm suit and hood, it actually wasn't too bad. The parts of my face that the mask and hood didn't cover felt cold, and the gloves from the rental place weren't great, so my hands were freezing, but I think with a better set of gloves the cold really wouldn't be that bad.

We did breakwater both dives, and despite the guides enthusiasm, I have to tell you, I wasn't all that impressed. The viz was probably 6-12' and unless you really like Nudibranchs and sea cucumbers, I didn't think there was a lot to see. There were a couple of stalks of kelp, but certainly not what I'd consider a forest.

They had us using low pressure tanks both dives - so we were only working from 2250 PSI or so. Is that normal for that part of the world?

There were no sea lions around - and I'm a big fan of seals and sea lions, so if there had been I might have had a completely different perspective on the experience.

I've heard a lot of people talk about how great California diving is. Did I miss something? Are there better sites in the area I should try to find next time?

 

[humanFish]

I've heard a lot of people talk about how great California diving is. Did I miss something? Are there better sites in the area I should try to find next time?

The breakwater is really not the "best" Monterey has to offer..although sometimes it can be really nice. The vis you describe is not great..and when the vis is better, well, then you can see more things. Did you get out to the metridium fields at all or did you just dive the wall?

There are a lot of dives in Monterey that surpass the Breakwater, many of them accessible by boat, it's too bad that you didn't have too much fun on your first dives there. Give it another shot sometime....

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

The Breakwater can have some cool stuff, but you have to be into looking for little
inverts. It's interesting how different people get impressed by different stuff. I had a
guest of a guest from Florida, a guy with lots of dive experience, and he was impressed
with the sea stars. Different strokes.

There is some kelp forest at the breakwater, mostly in the middle at about 35' It's not
the impressive stuff where the kelp is growing a bit deeper and the water is clear.
Butterfly House, Inner and Outer Pinnacles, and the mouth of Whalers are
good for that.

Sea Lions are now and then. Lately they've been absent. And you have to swim to the
very end of the breakwater.

The key to staying warm is to keep your trunk and head insulated. The hands are
almost irrelevent. My old scoutmaster used to say "if your feet are cold, put on a hat."
A well-fitted hood will overlap the skirt on your mask and the only skin in contact
with the water is around the lips.

What counts for gas volume is cubic feet, which is determined by the rated size of the
tank and whether it's filled to rated pressure.

 

[mjones]

Hi Driznik-
You're knocking California diving because you dove the breakwater? Kinda like knocking Cozumel because you choose to do a shore dive in front of the resort!

I know the breakwater was mentioned in a couple of replies to you but mainly as an `introductory dive' - a `convenient' spot - a `user friendly intro-level shore dive'. What? You didn't come all the way to Monterey for a `convenient' dive?

Don't give up on Monterey. It can and is outstanding diving. Even at the breakwater. But you are more likely to experience it boat diving or from more advanced shore dive spots.