mossym:
Hey guys, going for my first dive in Lobos on Sunday, any recommendations on what to dive, or is it all good? Also, i usually do 2 dives in Monterey, but seeing as though Lobos had to be booked io was contemplating bringing a third tank for sunday...good idea or not?
The best diving at Lobos is by yak or boat. You go out of the cove, and around the big rocks to the left (south) over to the next cove called Blue Fish. Without a yak or boat you cannot get there. It is too far to swim.
From the beach, you are limited to the cove itself, which is mostly in the 15 to 30 ft depth range. You could easily do 3 dives under those circumstances, as long as you can stay warm during your surface intervals. Nobody cares if you do 3 dives or even 4 dives.
They care about the following:
That you have a buddy with you in your car for diving, because they do not allow solo nor three-some diving.
That you each bring a photo I/D and your scuba C-cards.
That you carpool, because there is very little parking.
That you keep the place clean and not litter.
And like Tribolet said, that you do not disturb the kelp, by breaking it nor crawling all over it.
And overarching all the rest, it is a preserve, therefore you dare not take anything back with you.
Lobos is packed with underwater beauty. For photographers it is a paradise. When it is calm, it is fairly clear underwater. Its closest competitor in stunning beauty is Gerstle Cove which is north of the Russian River in Sonoma county, as far as beach diving goes in Northern California.
However, Bluefish Cove and any of the Carmel pinnacles easily outclass the main cove at Lobos, but those are boat dives.
