Point Lobos Etiquette

[AndrewJD]

There I was at Point Lobos the other day, and a women (non-diver) was talking with the ranger about how the divers take up "residence" on the picnic tables. How they spread their gear out all over the table preventing other people (non-divers) from using the tables to have lunch. They are "picnic" tables after all. She suggested that the park put tables over by the boat ramp for divers to set up their gear and forbid the divers from using the picnic tables.

Any thoughts on this?

Jonathan

P.S. She also complemented the use the Husky X-table that many divers use, although I personally think they clutter up the parking lot and make it difficult to maneuver boat trailers onto the ramp.

 

[Noboundaries]

If I remember right, divers are allowed ocean access ONLY in Whaler's Cove in Point Lobos. Personally, my wife and I use the tailgate of our truck as our "table," but you did see the situation develop and asked the etiquette question.

My input to the suggestion box would be for the park rangers to install a sign that reads:

"Divers Only.........Whaler's Cove."

"Hungry whiners.......eat anywhere you want in the rest of the huge friggin' park."

Probably wouldn't make it too far beyond the suggestion box.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Divers are only allowed to enter and exit the ocean at the ramp in Whalers.

I think it's rude to leave a table covered with stuff while you are off diving, but if you are actively
using the table for gear, or food, or whatever, cool.

As far as the tech diver tables go, as long as you keep them reasonably close behind your vehicle,
they generally aren't a problem for boat trailers EXCEPT for the spots on either side of the
handicapped spot. You gotta swing the nose of the tow vehicle up in there to put the trailer on
the ramp. And please put them right up behind your vehicle while diving.

 

[almitywife]

we have a site here called Kurnell and i said something similar a few weeks ago to the ranger

divers take over the tables with all their gear and leave the tables & benches wet when they have finished with them

my suggestion to the ranger was to install big square benches for divers only - we have them at Shelley Beach (they even have a sign attached to them stating divers use only), leaving the picnic tables for the picnic'ers

cheers

 

[SoCalAngel]

we have a site here called Kurnell and i said something similar a few weeks ago to the ranger

divers take over the tables with all their gear and leave the tables & benches wet when they have finished with them

my suggestion to the ranger was to install big square benches for divers only - we have them at Shelley Beach (they even have a sign attached to them stating divers use only), leaving the picnic tables for the picnic'ers

cheers

Hi Mrs. A! The only thing is Pt. Lobos is HUGE I mean really really HUGE. There are at least 8 different spots peoples can go for trails, picnicing, otter watching, etc. Whalers cove is just the first turnoff past the entrance, so everyone goes there to see whats up. Whalers cove only has about 15 parking spots, only allows 15 dive teams in a day, and only allows divers to dive out of Whaler's cove. Those hikers, birders, and lookieloos, double park, use our restrooms, get offended when we are changing clothes, don't offer to feed us like they do the squirrels, set up their darn easels in empty parking spots... I mean they just generally SUCK!!!!

I agree with No Boundaries, there should be a sign that says Whalers Cove - Beware - Inhabited by SCUBA DIVERS. It really would make things sweeter for all those involved. Give those darned people fair warning what they are about to drive into and all!!!



Seriously, I agree with Chuck about us needing to have some diver etiquette. If you are in the water, don't hord the tables with excess stuff. If the peeps the OP originally overheard was talking about divers sitting there using the tables, well, then, too dang bad. It is First Come First Use at EVERY public park, right??? I mean, they are welcome to get up at 7 am, to drive an hour (or more in most diver's cases), to be waiting for the park to open at 9 am. And then hord the tables themselves. Otherwise, get over it!

<ALERT - thread hijack>
BTW, where can I get one of those cool techies tables??? DO you have to be DIR to get one? Or just own Doubles? Does being Hogarthian count? Does the fact I know Doc WOng help me out at all???

 

[Noboundaries]

Square benches. Good idea, but remember, the area in question is an area mainly reserved for divers. We pay an entrance fee to the park like everyone else, plus we pay for a dive permit and agree to follow the dive rules and only dive out of Whaler's Cove.

The parking lot at Whaler's Cove is dinky. Maybe 20-25 vehicles can fit. Divers typically take up all the spaces on a weekend since we're the first ones there when the park opens in the morning and that's the only place we can go. Here are two views of the parking lot about 3 PM on a diving weekend. Note the picnic tables in the second picture. Rude to leave gear on the tables? Absolutely. If you look closely, you can see 5 picnic tables and every one of them is empty, but they were used off and on by divers during the day, including me and my wife.

I suspect the lady in question showed up when divers were returning and were using the tables, but I could be wrong. Andrew can vouch whether divers claimed the tables and left their gear while there when they went off diving.

Or we can all agree the lady was a whiner.

 

[Jim Ernst]

If I remember right, divers are allowed ocean access ONLY in Whaler's Cove in Point Lobos. Personally, my wife and I use the tailgate of our truck as our "table," but you did see the situation develop and asked the etiquette question.

My input to the suggestion box would be for the park rangers to install a sign that reads:

"Divers Only.........Whaler's Cove."

"Hungry whiners.......eat anywhere you want in the rest of the huge friggin' park."

Probably wouldn't make it too far beyond the suggestion box.

I love it!! Oh and I agree

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

I once counted the parking spots at Whalers, and came up with 30 for the public plus
two docent's spots.

As of June 1, Lobos started opening 8 a.m.

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

Laurel, you can buy the tables from Home Depot. I bought James 2 for christmas online.

I think it's listed as husky saw horse or something like that.

 

[Scared Silly]

I am sorry but if the picnic tables are the ones in question I would move on to find another one. Who wants to eat lunch right next to someone's car or worse next to the crappers. As for divers occupying a site, this is no different than any other place where anybody can occupy a table for hours on end.