I'm going to Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, over presidents weekend to visit family. While I'm there I was wondering if there are any places (fresh or salt) to dive that time of the year.
Northern California Diving
- Thread starter RDurand
- Start date
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Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Contributor
RDurand:
Sure! I'm a couple hours north of there, so I tend to dive the Mendocino coast, which is about 2 hours from Santa Rosa and has some great diving. The Sonoma Coast also has shore diving, with preserves and state parks and whatnot. Another option a bit further away is Monterey, which is awesome and has the most reliable conditions of the three.
The Sonoma/Mendo coast, which is your closest option, is hit and miss in terms of conditions. Sometimes this time of year is great. Two weekends ago we dove in 30+ foot vis, 3 foot swell and saw literally hundreds of nudibranchs, since it was their breeding time. Awesome dive. Tomorrow the swell is 15-16 feet. In those conditions, Monterey is your only hope because it has some protected spots.
Check out Chuck Tribolet's North Coast Conditions Page as your trip gets closer and see what the conditions look like. There's a Monterey page linked from there, too. I'm going to try to do Monterey that weekend if it looks good, since the 6 hour drive will be more worth it on a 3 day weekend.
Also check out www.shorediving.com
Lastly, you may want to post to the NorCal forum. I know there are some Sonoma divers on here, and they could give you the specifics on Sonoma Coast diving. I know there are good spots, but not many shops to get air and whatnot.
Good luck! And have fun in NorCal!
Gregg
RDurand:
Gerstle cove is not too far away and is a nice dive. I live in that area and if the conditions are good I might be diving that weekend. If you want to go diving let me know. Keep in mind that the vis is rarely better than 15', but there is still some great things to see.
OP
Thanks for the infoHumuhumunukunukuapua'a:Sure! I'm a couple hours north of there, so I tend to dive the Mendocino coast, which is about 2 hours from Santa Rosa and has some great diving. The Sonoma Coast also has shore diving, with preserves and state parks and whatnot. Another option a bit further away is Monterey, which is awesome and has the most reliable conditions of the three.
The Sonoma/Mendo coast, which is your closest option, is hit and miss in terms of conditions. Sometimes this time of year is great. Two weekends ago we dove in 30+ foot vis, 3 foot swell and saw literally hundreds of nudibranchs, since it was their breeding time. Awesome dive. Tomorrow the swell is 15-16 feet. In those conditions, Monterey is your only hope because it has some protected spots.
Check out Chuck Tribolet's North Coast Conditions Page as your trip gets closer and see what the conditions look like. There's a Monterey page linked from there, too. I'm going to try to do Monterey that weekend if it looks good, since the 6 hour drive will be more worth it on a 3 day weekend.
Also check out www.shorediving.com
Lastly, you may want to post to the NorCal forum. I know there are some Sonoma divers on here, and they could give you the specifics on Sonoma Coast diving. I know there are good spots, but not many shops to get air and whatnot.
Good luck! And have fun in NorCal!
Gregg
OP
I might just take you up on the offer, thanksrenpirate:
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