Monterey conditions. (let's keep it going )
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Carmel was not enjoying a chamber of commerce day, early this morning. The surf was up; and the water was the shade of lime jello. Serious plankton bloom. The water was a brisk 10˚ C and the visibility less than 3 meters. But, hey, there's always room for jello.
Governor Newsome, who recently appeared to have greased his coif with a Caligula-sized tube of Astroglide™, first stated that all beaches in CA were to close on 1 May -- then ratcheted it back, hours ago, by only closing beaches in Orange County to those SoCal miscreants and malcontents . . .
COVIDOCY 2020 . . .
Governor Newsome, who recently appeared to have greased his coif with a Caligula-sized tube of Astroglide™, first stated that all beaches in CA were to close on 1 May -- then ratcheted it back, hours ago, by only closing beaches in Orange County to those SoCal miscreants and malcontents . . .
COVIDOCY 2020 . . .
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BrandonCole
Registered
Hello folks,
For those of you who regularly dive the Monterey and Carmel areas, how are dive conditions on average in late June through July? Visibility? Swell/surge? Assuming dive shops and parks (especially Pt. Lobos) open up in time, and charter boats start running again, I'm thinking about driving down to the Monterey area for a week or more of diving sometime between late June and the end of July. Since it is a 1200 mile drive for me, I rather avoid the exercise if visibility is usually very bad during this time of year. I have been to Monterey before, and used to dive the area quite a bit 25 to 30 years ago, but my memory fades and weather/dive conditions change over time, so any words of wisdom from experienced locals actively diving in recent years would be greatly appreciated! I've also heard some mention of the kelp forests in northern California recently having a very tough time of it due to urchins. Is this happening in Monterey/Carmel, or further up the north coast, or both?
Thank you very much, and take care out there-
Brandon
For those of you who regularly dive the Monterey and Carmel areas, how are dive conditions on average in late June through July? Visibility? Swell/surge? Assuming dive shops and parks (especially Pt. Lobos) open up in time, and charter boats start running again, I'm thinking about driving down to the Monterey area for a week or more of diving sometime between late June and the end of July. Since it is a 1200 mile drive for me, I rather avoid the exercise if visibility is usually very bad during this time of year. I have been to Monterey before, and used to dive the area quite a bit 25 to 30 years ago, but my memory fades and weather/dive conditions change over time, so any words of wisdom from experienced locals actively diving in recent years would be greatly appreciated! I've also heard some mention of the kelp forests in northern California recently having a very tough time of it due to urchins. Is this happening in Monterey/Carmel, or further up the north coast, or both?
Thank you very much, and take care out there-
Brandon
Provided that we don't get a serious plankton bloom, Summer visibility, within the bay, may reach or occasionally exceed 20 feet. Outside the bay, on the Carmel side, visibility, less the occasional swell, is generally better. The swell and surge varies day to day; but there is usually a site on Monterey that's dive-able when Carmel and Asilomar is blown-out. Truthfully, diving is generally better, barring storms, through the Winter and early Spring, while the water is colder.
A couple of years back, we had a severe Summer boom, which made the water resemble chocolate milk in some spots, and all of your gear reek like TetraMin afterwards.
The kelp forest, in answer to your question, is quite healthy in a number of places; and I regularly see plenty of young "plants." The urchin population, while certainly up, varies from site to site; and still looks nothing like the depredation witnessed in the Mendocino area. I eat the damn things, on occasion, and often take a few -- quite legally -- home . . .
A couple of years back, we had a severe Summer boom, which made the water resemble chocolate milk in some spots, and all of your gear reek like TetraMin afterwards.
The kelp forest, in answer to your question, is quite healthy in a number of places; and I regularly see plenty of young "plants." The urchin population, while certainly up, varies from site to site; and still looks nothing like the depredation witnessed in the Mendocino area. I eat the damn things, on occasion, and often take a few -- quite legally -- home . . .
BrandonCole
Registered
Thanks very much, Bigbella, for your detailed reply. Sounds like the summer average vis is in the 10-20 foot range, with a chance at better (or worse!)... Yes, I remember vis usually being a bit better on the Carmel Bay, and sometimes needed to go back and forth from one side of the peninsula to the other to escape swell.
And thanks for clarification on the kelp. I had a feeling that report of severe die off was farther north. Good to know that MB and Carmel/Pt Lobos still have mostly healthy kelp forests.
Best,
Brandon
And thanks for clarification on the kelp. I had a feeling that report of severe die off was farther north. Good to know that MB and Carmel/Pt Lobos still have mostly healthy kelp forests.
Best,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
I've been diving less than 2 year so cannot speak to the frequency of good summer conditions. However I did squeeze in 7 dives last June + July, and conditions were OK to good.
Regarding the kelp forests, yes what we are experiencing in Monterey area is bad and trending worse, but up north is way worse. Up there, they have are tracts of urchin barrens measured in tens of kilometers that used to be healthy kelp ecosystems. In Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel there are urchin barrens, healthy kelp forests, and the gamut in between.
Down in Carmel: Pt Lobos, Monastery, and Butterfly House were each in good shape, last time I was there. I tried to get to Stillwater Cove just after Covid-19 closures began, but the golf course people wouldn't let me in, even though the cove itself was not actually closed. Jerks. Carmel sites are highly sensitive to conditions, oftentimes I will drive down there, take 1 look at the beach, and then go back to the peninsula
. Great diving though, arguably the best in the area.
In PG/Monterey: Otter's Cove, some of Lover's Point, McAbee, and the Breakwater are reliably divable sites with decent to good health and not very sensitive to conditions. I haven't tried Coral St, but it looks healthy from the street, divable during high tide only due to rocky shore. Pt Lobos is closed, as you mentioned, and its closure is indefinite. I would be surprised (and delighted!) if it opens up in June or July.
Dive shops in the area have been incrementally opening up with variously restricted hours and services. It's a little hard to predict what their status will be 2 months out, but probably something will be up and running, especially if you're willing to drive a bit. I would plan to call around say the week before to see how things are looking.
I've been diving less than 2 year so cannot speak to the frequency of good summer conditions. However I did squeeze in 7 dives last June + July, and conditions were OK to good.
Regarding the kelp forests, yes what we are experiencing in Monterey area is bad and trending worse, but up north is way worse. Up there, they have are tracts of urchin barrens measured in tens of kilometers that used to be healthy kelp ecosystems. In Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel there are urchin barrens, healthy kelp forests, and the gamut in between.
Down in Carmel: Pt Lobos, Monastery, and Butterfly House were each in good shape, last time I was there. I tried to get to Stillwater Cove just after Covid-19 closures began, but the golf course people wouldn't let me in, even though the cove itself was not actually closed. Jerks. Carmel sites are highly sensitive to conditions, oftentimes I will drive down there, take 1 look at the beach, and then go back to the peninsula
. Great diving though, arguably the best in the area.In PG/Monterey: Otter's Cove, some of Lover's Point, McAbee, and the Breakwater are reliably divable sites with decent to good health and not very sensitive to conditions. I haven't tried Coral St, but it looks healthy from the street, divable during high tide only due to rocky shore. Pt Lobos is closed, as you mentioned, and its closure is indefinite. I would be surprised (and delighted!) if it opens up in June or July.
Dive shops in the area have been incrementally opening up with variously restricted hours and services. It's a little hard to predict what their status will be 2 months out, but probably something will be up and running, especially if you're willing to drive a bit. I would plan to call around say the week before to see how things are looking.
BrandonCole
Registered
Wow, thanks so much, Brett! Very helpful. I will check in with shops and charter boats and revisit ScubaBoard here to monitor how things progress. Fingers crossed.
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