Monterey Conditions in October

[wcwilson]

Hi,

I moved away from the bay area 4 years ago (to Charlotte, NC) and have since taken up diving (Bahamas, St. John). We will be back for a visit mid-October and wonder what the water conditions might be at the time and what dive shop in Monterey people might recommend for gear rental/advice. I understand that we would need a 7mm wetsuit which we will need to rent. We may or may not have our our own gear beyond that by then.

I wish in the 14 years I lived there that I would have learned how to dive...

Thanks,

--Wayne

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Monterey conditions are quite variable. It can be flat, or
too rough to dive, any time of the year. I can be deep
green, or 60' vis any time of the year (though 60' is rare).

October should be fine. Manta Ray, either Aquarius,
or Monterey Bay Dive Center should all be fine.

BUT: Take note that Monterey is not the tropics. The
water is cold, the vis is usually mediocre, the waves can
be big, and the kelp is thick. It requires some local
knowledge to get started. I'd suggest aranging a guided
dive through one of the shops.

 

[JustinW]

monterey has the best weather in october, temperatures are stable and not really dropping much compared to how temps will have dropped in the rest of the state. The water is typically warmest this time of year, still not getting much over 63 on a good year. Currently according to the NODC its almost 62 right now, so we shall see what october brings. Weather is usually pretty good, calmer than in june, unless we have an early storm. Water kicks up daily at 2pm, you can almost set your watch to it. Like Chuck said though, conditions can be quite variable, I am just giving you an average day conditions for that time of year. Listen to Chuck, I consider him to be "the man" when it comes to weather conditions in monterey and the north coast, his site is my guide(following disclaimers of course).

 

[Ben_ca]

Start out at the Breakwater this is where most OW classes do their checkouts. You'll find plenty of people diving here on weekends and also a wealth of information... Lot's of sand to practice... then move onto the Kelp or along the breakwater wall... lot's to see... I never get tired of this site. Have fun... Dive Safe

 

[Brian Gilpin]

By all means get a guide to start unless all divers are quite sure of themselves.

 

[fishnchips]

Wilson,

The skills require to dive in Monterey is very different from diving in the tropics. I would strongly encourage you to drop by a local dive shop to discuss your experience before you dive. It would be a good idea to have an instructor from a dive shop provide some diving info and give you some guidelines on how to prepare and the differences in divng colder water compare to the warm water you accustom to.

Good luck. If you need more assistance, feel free to PM me and I'll introduce you to a few local dive shops.

 

[The Great Orca]

Hi,
I moved from Hickory, NC to Socal, but I'm gonn go dive in Moneterey too. I had a question about breakwater. The seals, do they bite or something, not paranoid, actually opposite I'm excited to go, I will be diving by myself and I don't want to be the center of there attention, I just want to get some snap shots of them.

Thanks

 

[scubasean]

Hi,
I moved from Hickory, NC to Socal, but I'm gonn go dive in Moneterey too. I had a question about breakwater. The seals, do they bite or something, not paranoid, actually opposite I'm excited to go, I will be diving by myself and I don't want to be the center of there attention, I just want to get some snap shots of them.

Thanks

I've never had sea life at the Breakwater try to bite me, but a crab did get a bit testy once...

The sea lions might play with you by zooming around you much faster than you might expect, and once or twice might take a nibble at your fins...But, I've not been threatened underwater by sea lions...

One sea lion did come up to me at around 30 ft. down, just inches from my face and blew bubbles at me....LOL

Though I solo dive plenty, why are you going to dive alone? Perhaps one of us might be available to dive also, if you are interested...

 

[Mustapha Loves Guns]

I will dive in Breakwater, but I might have to wait for next year, NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Great Orca]

I havn't dived in Monterey but I wanna dive breakwater, ppl on the board said it's the best for newbs PLUS THE sEALS