Northern California Dive Sites for Beginner?

[sherryliu21]

My first post! Hubby and I just got our Open Water certification. We both have 7 dives, all in warm water.

We're San Francisco Bay Area residents and really want to try local waters. Aside from being inexperienced, I know the water temperature will also require some getting used to.

I'm wondering if there are dive sites that are more suitable for beginners without cold water experience? And, good dive shops in the area?

 

[3D diver]

A lot of classes use the Monterey Breakwater---it's a fun spot to dive and there's a dive shop right there.

 

[beanojones]

Since you have to rent gear anyway, or at least tanks, go ahead and talk to people in the dive shop you do this at and tell them you want to go diving. That is what dive shops are there for.

 

[Butch T. Cougar]

A lot of classes use the Monterey Breakwater---it's a fun spot to dive and there's a dive shop right there.

Breakwater is definitely the place where all the scuba classes dive out of. There is Bamboo Reef that has a shop a couple blocks down the road from there and I think they have one in San Francisco too. Scuba Fusion in San Mateo is a great place to check out too.


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[radtype]

Folsom lake is nice when there is water. Right now lake is low and visibility not good.

As noted above, Breakwater is good and you can contact some of the dive boats in Monterey and talk to them. They are really great and will work with you.

Tahoe is nice in summer but work with dive shop for first trip. High altitude diving is just a little different and requires additional skills.

 

[Butch T. Cougar]

You can dive in Folsom? My company is doing a project at the Dam right now and I might be getting transferred there this summer. That would be sweet being right next to a dive location. Diving after work would be an awesome habit to start


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[Eric Sedletzky]

If you're in SF then for ocean diving you have a few options.
You can go to Monterey and do shore diving there, or you can go up to the North Coast and dive up there.
Since I dive the North Coast I will fill you in on that.

There are dive shops in:
San Rafael
Novato
Petaluma
Rohnert Park
Santa Rosa
Fort Bragg

Dive sites from south to north
in Sonoma County:

Fort Ross State Park. A great place to dive with an easy sandy beach entry and the wreck of the Pomona to check out. State park fees apply. Lot's of fish!

Timber Cove. A private campground/beach, day use fees apply. Not a bad dive site but it's a long surface swim to get any depth.
You are allowed to drive your gear right onto the beach and they allow you to leave your car on the beach while you are using the facility.

Stillwater Cove Regional Park. A very easy beach dive with free parking and facilities. I like this site even though people say it's dove out. I know every rock here. I always have a good dive and It's only an hour and a half from Santa Rosa so it's close to home.

Ocean Cove Campground. Not that great of a beach dive but it can be done. One nice thing is you can drive your gear right down to the rocky beach via the boat launch ramp.
But, you have to watch for boat traffic. With a long enough surface swim out of the cove you can reach some decent diving. Day use fees apply.

Gerstle Cove State Park. One of my all time favorite sites with hundreds of dives here.
This is the premier open water training ground site . It's a reserve so nothing can be taken or disturbed.
And of course state park day use fees do apply.
You can back your car down a narrow road fifty feet from the beach to load and unload gear only. There is a large parking up on the bluff. The walk is very short.
The beach is very rocky so you have to be carefull getting to the water. Once in the water there is a nice sandy spot about waist deep to stand and put your fins on. The cove is one of the calmest on the North Coast with ankle slappers most of the time.
Outside of the cove there are some awesome huge pinnacles to check out, but for the first several dives here I would suggest staying in the cove and taking it in and learning it before venturing out. If you venture out of the cove make sure your navigation skills are up to snuff because the currents can move pretty good.

Mendocino County is another chapter. I've given you enough here to keep you busy for the next several months of diving.

 

[TSandM]

I dove Gerstle Cove, and it's a beautiful site with very dense marine life. But the entry is VERY challenging and if you haven't been hauling dive gear around long enough to feel pretty solid on your feet, I wouldn't recommend it. The only way I got in was because a very dear dive buddy (Ben V) took my gear in for me, and I only had to deal with hauling my aged and unstable carcass in by itself.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I dove Gerstle Cove, and it's a beautiful site with very dense marine life. But the entry is VERY challenging and if you haven't been hauling dive gear around long enough to feel pretty solid on your feet, I wouldn't recommend it. The only way I got in was because a very dear dive buddy (Ben V) took my gear in for me, and I only had to deal with hauling my aged and unstable carcass in by itself.

You're making it sound way worse than it is, I don't want people scared off either.
Gerstle is one of the most benign sites we have. I've helped with classes for years there and have seen every type of diver there and very few problems.
You just have to watch your footing and don't step on top of any slimy rocks.
The trick is to step down in between the big rocks onto the smaller rocks so you don't have anything to slip off from.
If it seems like to much then drag your gear to the water and put everything on in the water.
It's worse at low tide.

All the sites I mentioned are way within beginner abilities. I wouldn't send a new diver to a double diamond shore diving site