Monterey Recommendations for August

[RikRaeder]

I'll be back home in the Bay Area this August and want to get a few dives in at Monterey. Any recommendations for shops/operators? I'd like to do a few guided boat dives with my gf. Most likely a one-day thing. We'll both rent equipment. Who, What, Where, Why?

 

[eclipse785]

Monterey Bay Dive Center (MBDC to us locals) is one of the biggest names here and they do daily two-tank boat dives off off the "Silver Prince" for about $55 (i think). They are overall a good dive shop, but their general prices seem to average higher than other places.
Recently I've been going to Aquarius and have been very happy with them. They do boat dives too i think, but I've never taken their boats.

 

[Parrothead Fish]

http://www.anywater.com/ in San Jose runs http://www.cypresscharters.com/ out of Monterey.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Aquarius doesn't have a boat. They do book trips on the Monterey Express, but you
can do that direct.

There's what should be a complete list of Monterey dive boats and bay area dive shops
at http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/ba_diving/ Any of the Monterey shops can fix you
up with a guide with a little notice. There's also information that you should know about
diving Monterey on that site.

 

[hank harris]

Not sure about the "best" guides (as Chuck said, there are lots of options)... you may want to call and ask one of my recs below:

favorite dive shop: Aquarius (on Del Monte). I think you can get all your gear needs met here.

favorite boats: Escapade and Cypress Sea

 

[Jim Ernst]

jared at monterey bay dive center) glens aquarius dive center right at breakwater (coast guard jettie) san carlos beach, see glen , trevor or scott, great people!!!! all of them and great prices, boats, cypress sea/monterey express, my two favorites

 

[boingophreak]

I would recommend Monteray Bay Dive Shop.

 

[dsafanda]

I'd add the "Sactuary" to the list of good boats in the area.