Monterey Conditions in October

[DartRay]

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

Was wondering if you ever made it out here and how you liked the diving?

 

[DartRay]

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

Hey Spidershim,

Monterey is a great place to dive. The harbor seals have come right up to me and played, putting their snout against my head and passing right under my hands where I could touch them. I've had the same experience with the Sea Lions--not very friendly, but somewhat curious if in a group. Way to tell them all apart is the seals are not only grayish with spots, but if it has no ears and the face is more round instead of a more defined, narrow face, its probably a harbor seal. Here's some photos, it can be difficult to tell the difference.

http://www.oceanlight.com/html/calif_sea_lion.html
http://www.oceanlight.com/html/pacific_harbor_seal.html

Have fun and enjoy the diving here in Monterey.

ps. If you need a buddy to dive with sometime, PM me and lets see if we can hook up. I'm down in Monterey a lot, either every weekend or every other weekend, and some weekdays I have available.

 

[The Great Orca]

Hey Spidershim,

Monterey is a great place to dive. The harbor seals have come right up to me and played, putting their snout against my head and passing right under my hands where I could touch them. I've had the same experience with the Sea Lions--not very friendly, but somewhat curious if in a group. Way to tell them all apart is the seals are not only grayish with spots, but if it has no ears and the face is more round instead of a more defined, narrow face, its probably a harbor seal. Here's some photos, it can be difficult to tell the difference.

http://www.oceanlight.com/html/calif_sea_lion.html
http://www.oceanlight.com/html/pacific_harbor_seal.html

Have fun and enjoy the diving here in Monterey.

ps. If you need a buddy to dive with sometime, PM me and lets see if we can hook up. I'm down in Monterey a lot, either every weekend or every other weekend, and some weekdays I have available.

Yup Yup, I always wanted to study pinnipeds and ceteceans, my dad tought me about the Sea Lions and Harbor Seals. I always found the harbor seals cute, yet I read that they can't tolerate other seals, maybe that's why the go for your fins? I like seal lions because they're sooo goofy, they always give me a laugh at Sea World.

 

[The Great Orca]

Can do, I will give you a pm when I go, but I still have to buy gear, why's SCUBA SO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...lol...Classes end of this month, WOOOHOOHOOOOOHOOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm soo happy, sooo very happy, I got joy down in my heart, where down in my heart TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!