I'll add a few more thoughts on Pt Lobos diving, since it's likely you'll be there at least once or twice.
- Consider hiring a guide to dive there. The navigation isn't tricky but if you have a limited number of days/dives there, it'd be really nice to find what you're looking for the first time. Here's a
good page on some of the swimmable spots there - even with this information, it took me a few dives to be able to confidently find them.
- Fall 2020 is a long way away but approximate tide information should be available well in advance (maybe even now?). The reason I mention this is that diving Pt Lobos at high tide or the incoming high tide is way nicer just from the perspective of the entry and exit at the boat ramp - it can be pretty slippery at low tides. If you can plan for this, that's ideal.
- You can charter Phil Sammet's boat to dive here. That way, you don't deal with any tide issues with shore entry, tank hauling is minimal, you would be avoiding the non-trivial surface swim to even the closest sites, have an experienced captain drop you right on top of wherever you want to go (avoiding the need for a guide) and also be able to dive some sites that are not deep but would need a DPV to get to from the boat ramp entry.
- Let us know when you're heading here. The chances you'll find one of us to dive with are pretty good!