Sonoma Diving

[nkw5]

Can someone tell me about Sonoma diving? It would be closer than Monterey for me and way more exciting than the local diving I've done lately. I'm interested in easy access (read: don't want to carry gear down steep slopes or traverse any great distance) and looking for novice sites since I've never been to Sonoma and my most of my local buddies are on the newbie-side.

 

[Alfredo]

Gerstle cove at Salt Point state park has a fairly easy entry.

I've never been to Stillwater cove, but it is rated as easy aslo.

 

[renpirate]

Gerstle Cove is a nice spot to dive and fairly easy access.

Fort Ross is another good site. You can drive your car down to the south end beach, unload your gear, drive back up and walk down. The entry is easy at the beach. It is also well protected against the North-West swell. The vis isn't usally that good, but it is still an okay dive.

Anchor Bay is also a nice place. You enter into a private campground (cost $6.00). They have showers, bathrooms and a short walk to the surf. The diving there can be nice along the north end of the cove. There are some pinnicles further out, but you should have a kayak to get to them.

 

[BrianM]

I can't really add too much to the already good replies, but I will say that Sonoma diving is worth the effort!! I like to camp at Stillwater Cove campground and have been doing quite a bit of Abalone diving up there this year. We usually bring tanks and scuba in the morning, checking out all the good spots and then go back in the early afternoon and get a few abs.
As for scuba, I think Gerstle is one of the best areas with fairly easy access(if you dont mind slippery rocks). There are lots of good animals to see, since it is protected. If you swim pretty far out, there is a huge reef with lots of Metridiums and cobalt encrusted sponge...it's an awesome sight and gets down to 50 feet or so.

Stillwater is pretty much the same, a long swim out to get any depth but once you get out even with the coastline(out of the cove) you will hit 45 to 50' and a sandy bottom. Tons of Abalone there and nice kelp forests with plenty of fishies hanging out.

I just went to Fort Ross Last weekend for the first time and did some Ab diving at the South end. I brought my Diveyak and we paddled around the south tip and ended up with some very nice abs, between 8 and 9 3/4", all taken from a hole @ 25 FSW (I have a home-made float line on an extra ab iron, so it helps me get back to the right spot while freediving!!)
It was nice to drive down to the parking spot and unload, but it is a bit of a walk to get back up to where you can park your car.

If you ever need a buddy for a sonoma dive, I can meet up with you in Vallejo or something?

Brian