Norcal diving in January

[RDurand]

I will be traveling to Santa Rosa, CA. for the new year. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a spot to dive. I am a Nor-Cal transplant to So-Cal. I do a fair amount of diving down here and would like to dive with my brother and sister while I am visiting.
Thanks
Ross

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Sonoma or Mendocino coast if the weather cooperates (a real crap shoot that time of year). We had some of the best diving all year during January on the Mendocino coast last year up by Fort Bragg. Great vis and lots of life out. You just have to hit it between storms. There's great diving off the Mendocino headlands too.

People talk a lot about Gerstle Cove in Sonoma, but I'm not familiar with Sonoma diving. It would be closer to Santa Rosa.

Other option with more likely good conditions is to drive down to Monterey...maybe 2.5 hours or so?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

If I were you I would drive right out River rd. from Santa Rosa and go up to Gerstle Cove State Reserve. It's an easy access spot with good bathrooms and changing room. The cove is a nice dive even when the water's big outside.
If it's calm that day you could venture out of the cove and check out some of the old anchors which at last count there are about 8 of them. Keep in mind though that the cove is a protected no take zone.

ZKY