New to Scuba Diving

[Chavodel8en]

Monterey is probably the best bet for a new diver, w/in 2 hrs (no traffic) of SF. The Breakwater/San Carlos beach is a good site for a beginner (im pretty new myself). The link below has some good info. Happy diving!

Oh, and remember, depending on the time of year, there can be lots of kelp out there, so be prepared for it.

http://www.scubamonterey.com/info.html

 

[Hannah Chan]

Thanks Chavodel8en for the info. So when is the best time of year to dive in Monterey? This might be a silly question. I want to know if I need a knife to dive in Monterey? I haven't purchase one that's require for my advance dive course. can I use a pair of scissors instead?

-Hannah

Monterey is probably the best bet for a new diver, w/in 2 hrs (no traffic) of SF. The Breakwater/San Carlos beach is a good site for a beginner (im pretty new myself). The link below has some good info. Happy diving!

Oh, and remember, depending on the time of year, there can be lots of kelp out there, so be prepared for it.

http://www.scubamonterey.com/info.html

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

There is no best time of year to dive Monterey. The
water is warmest in the fall, coldest in the spring but can
fluctuate wildly from weekend to weekend. The air is
warmest in fall and summer, coldest in spring and winter.
The vis is ON AVERAGE best in the late fall and early
winter, with the late spring in second place, but you can
have great or horrid vis any season. The swells ON
AVERAGE are biggest in winter, middling in spring, and
fall, smallest in summer, but can be big or small any
season.

Net: I dive Monterey almost every weekend, both days,
provided the swell height is 8' NW or less. I'll go on a
bigger W swell day (rare) or any S swell day (very rare).
I do 120-150 dives a year and enjoy almost all of them.

Best bet is to hook up with a club. In SF, that would
probably be SF Reef Divers, http://www.sfreefdivers.org/
or Northern California Rainbow Divers, http://www.rainbowdivers.org/

 

[DENNISDIVES]

Hi Hannah
Welcome to the wonderful world of scuba diving!
I am an instructor working out of Anderson's Scuba and Swim in Pacifica, Ca.
If you drop by the shop ask to see the dive site book I have put together---info is free and should help......

Dennis

 

[Chavodel8en]

Thanks Chavodel8en for the info. So when is the best time of year to dive in Monterey? This might be a silly question. I want to know if I need a knife to dive in Monterey? I haven't purchase one that's require for my advance dive course. can I use a pair of scissors instead?

-Hannah

Hi Hannah,

I think Chuck answered your question about when is the best time to dive.

As for a cutting instrument, most divers in NoCal seem to prefer a pair of shears to a knife, although I've heard some people say they prefer knives since its easier to handle w/ one hand.

Scissors may not work really well since your wearing gloves, and the finger holes may not be big enough. Plus, if you need to cut something tough like fishing line or rope, scissors may not "cut it". The shears people use are the EMT (Emerg. Medic. Tech.) Shears that will cut through a penny if necessary.

If you ever need a buddy to dive Monterey, let me know, I try to go about once a month. Joining a dive club is also a good way of meeting divers.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

If you have to have a cutting tool for your OW II class (It AIN'T "advanced"), borrow one
if you can. I really don't think they are necessary in Monterey. I've only wanted one
once in almost 1000 dives in Monterey, and that was to free a rockfish caught in an old
fishing net. We made do with a sharp shell. I don't carry a cutting tool on my open
circuit rig, I do carry an EMT seatbelt cutter on the rebreather, mostly because there's
a really good place to stash it. Warning: I'm a bit of a mimimalist about everything but
cameras.

 

[jumsted65]

Agreed 'bout the knife. It's been my experience that a knife in Monterey is good for: 1. snagging kelp, 2. getting lost...falling out of the sheath, 3. Contributing the the "Rambo" look, 4. Meeting gear requirements for classes.

Fishing line/hooks are pretty common in Monterey, esp. if you mistakenly swim too close to a fishing area like at Breakwater. The only time I reached for my cutting tool was when a nice fisherperson set a hook in my thumb. It was easy enough to break the line by hand. I wished for the shears to help remove the barbed hook from my glove. Still, not necessary. I still carry the minimalist knife only because it's required, and will pick up shears soon only because I have a pocket to put them in, along with my smb/spool.

If you want a nifty little knife, I have one I'll part with. It's small with secure sheath. Can be mounted on a hose, on webbing, or, as I did, on the flap of a bc pocket (though could never reach the thing underwater.) I also have a larger rambo knife, with unreliable sheath, which I'm hangin' onto for sentimental reasons.

Lemme know if you want the little knife. I'll part with it for lunch money and shipping