I was curious where you go diving in the Monterey area if you go frequently? What do you typically see?
Scott
I dive all the sites that are listed by one of the other members in this reply. I thought it was pretty funny as that list was pretty much all the spots I’ve been diving so far. I highly recommend starting at breakwater and then working your way through that list. Point Lobos SR is wonderful of course and I highly recommend diving there as often as you can
Our most recent set of dives there and it was wonderful. My avatar is one of my buddies pictures from those dives.
Some of them, like Monastery, N. or S. should only be dove the first time with someone who knows those sites (in my opinion) unless you are perfectly comfortable with a good size step up in granite gravel or possibly needing to crawl out due to surf and surge change as it can change quick (my buddy and I had to crawl out of S. once).
Here’s a list of the fun stuff I’ve seen;
Several different trepes of Nudibranch’s (love them), Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Cormorants!, rock fish, Octopuses! I’ve seen two eels! We swam in a bait ball of tiny sardines on the last trip! Some beautiful remnants of kelp forest and urchins for days. Just to name a few. I love all the kelps and grasses too.You never know what you’ll see!
Mike
Welcome to ScubaBoard Mike
@MikeinCA.
Glad you decided to join us.
Thank you Compressor! Happy to be here.
You trained in one of the best dive spots in the area, explore in the breakwater area and you’ll see all sort of critters once you slow down and look. A few miles south is Point lobos etc.
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Nice captures there lexvil!
I love the Nudi’s! I hear ya. Slow down and see what’s there
Thank you and be well
Several resources you can use -- first is the NoCal forum on this board.
NorCal
There are also several Monterey facebook groups, including:
Monterey Bay Area Scuba Divers Open
Monterey County Dive Reports
Some sites are San Carlos Beach, aka Breakwater, McAbee Beach, Lovers Point, Point Lobos, S. & N. Monastery, etc.
Short vids of my last dive at N. Monastery (can be challenging entry)
North Monastery
Thank you for all those resources Chavo. I’ll check out the NorCal forum for sure. I don’t have a FB, but I’m sure someone else will benefit from that link.
Your list of sites is my entire log book
Thank you again
Welcome, Mike, lucky you living so close. It really sucks driving 3+ hours round trip when the viz is crap.
Highly recommend you follow the Monterey Bay Conditions thread here, in addition to the other excellent resources above.
https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/monterey-conditions-lets-keep-it-going.425815
Bruce Watkins wrote the book on Monterey Bay dive sites, as well.
Thanks wnissen! I’ll check out the link! I hear ya. We moved a month ago from that distance inland ourselves. We are in a tiny old apt to be this near the water, but it is 100% worth it! I am soooo lucky to have the opportunity and hopefully will take advantage and dive the heck out of this amazing area!
All the best to everyone and thank you all for the responses and resources! Be well and dive well!
