Metridium fields dive

[scubajim311]

hello, me and my wife will be diving this sat th 14th were gonna do 2 morning and possibly 2 night dives. Were most likely going to go to breakwater. I would like to see the metridium fields. Came someone tell me how to find them and about how long the surface swim is? thanks, james

 

[AirInHere]

There is a white building with green trim and roof just a little way to the left of the main beach at the Breakwater.

Walk over in front of the white building with the green trim (its a pumphouse) and swim straight out from it. You have to weave a little around all the kelp, but its not too bad to do.

You get to swim a little ways out and you want to stop when the end of the breakwater is on your right and the white rocks are on your left.

You will see the white rocks, and make sure you swim out even with the end of the breakwater.

I did this twice a couple weekends ago, and landed right on top of the fields each time.

Or just wait untill the following Sunday (15th) and I can show you where it is at.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

It's Metridium, not metridian.

There's two ways (at least) to do the Metridium Fields.

1. Drop early, find the right pipe, follow it out, and when it ends, keep going (I think).

2. See the whale mural on the side of Backscatter?. You want to be about 20 feet NW of the
line that extends from it (that is, in front of the door of Backscatter). And line up the end of the
breakwater with the last building (I THINK it's the RotoRooter building) east of El Estero (the lake
with the paddle boats) and between Del Monte Ave, and the beach. Drop there, and you'll be there.

 

[babyjoe75]

hey what's up airinhere. babyjoe here, i'm a monterey diver (advanced openwater) looking for some additional dive buddies. any chance of meeting up down there sometime? email me at babyjoe75@hotmail.com

 

[Ben_ca]

Here's the line ups from Rainman_02 on an older post

Click to enlarge (2mb file).

Oh and here's some other dive sites... you can move the map around and zoom in and out...

MoCal DIR - Dive Sites

 

[scubajim311]

so where do most people enter then if there planning on going to the metridium fields? at those stairs closer to the left red line?

 

[Ben_ca]

Most people will park in the lower parking lot (closer to bathrooms ans showers) walk down the big stairs near the shower... then walk along the beach to the other end (near the red circle) and then wade in.... on the entry watch out for the rocks..

but really it depends on where you park...

 

[fisheater]

My only time there (so far!) was from a private boat, so I can't help with the lineups.

However, when you find the pipe, swim to the end (away from shore). Then, it's 50' due north to the fields.

 

[skynscuba]

Here's the line ups from Rainman_02 on an older post

That might be a reasonable place to drop, but IIRC the actual fields are farther out. I would drop there, swim at heading 0 to find the large pipe should be pretty close), go to the end of the pipe, then pick up heading 0 degrees again. Maybe under a minute from the end of the pipe to a metridium field.

 

[Ben_ca]

But for first timers and beginners it's probably better to start out on the pipe then head deeper... versus trying to drop right on top then not knowing whether you are inshore or out too far... (plus that's a long swim)

I would also urge a little caution as that if you are out there and have to do a free ascent from 50-60 you might be a bit over your head (so to speak)

So practice those skills and make sure you try a free ascent a couple of times in shallower water. You never know you might need it out there one of these days....