Talk me into it.

[JMC99]

I started diving as kid in San Diego. My biggest memories are of freezing my *** off in 64 degree water.

Now I live in NorCal and don't dive here. 55 degree water and 10' viz hasn't lured me, yet.

Total warm water wussie. Hey, did you guys know there are places with 80 degree water and 100' viz, where you can dive in a rashguard with 8 pounds of lead?

So, what's it really like diving Monterey and others and how do you deal with the cold? Drysuit the only way to go? Do you actually enjoy the diving or is it just a painful way to make log entries until you can get to Cozumel?

 

[dannobee]

The more places in the world that I dive, the more I appreciate Carmel diving. Yes, it's cold, yes a drysuit makes it harder to dive (but FAR more comfortable), and yes, the vis is sometimes crappy. But there are days, like some last week, where the vis is 100 ft+ and it makes it all worth it. There is much more life here than in most other places that I keep coming back and deal with the cold water.

Simply fabulous.

 

[rhlee]

Total warm water wussie. Hey, did you guys know there are places with 80 degree water and 100' viz, where you can dive in a rashguard with 8 pounds of lead?

The reason for 100' viz is that the water is sterile and devoid of life.

So, what's it really like diving Monterey and others and how do you deal with the cold? Drysuit the only way to go? Do you actually enjoy the diving or is it just a painful way to make log entries until you can get to Cozumel?

I would choose a good day in Carmel over any other warm-water destination that I have been to (though I haven't yet been to the south pacific). If you need motivation, may I suggest you peruse some local photo galleries...

www.coldwaterimages.com
http://www.baue.org/images/galleries/local


I dive dry and honestly do stay warm. Clinton has a very throrough article on local exposure protection here: http://www.metridium.com/monterey/exposure.html

 

[JMC99]

The more places in the world that I dive, the more I appreciate Carmel diving. Yes, it's cold, yes a drysuit makes it harder to dive (but FAR more comfortable), and yes, the vis is sometimes crappy. But there are days, like some last week, where the vis is 100 ft+ and it makes it all worth it. There is much more life here than in most other places that I keep coming back and deal with the cold water.

Simply fabulous.

Thanks for the input. And nice pictures. Just one question: the kid still has the eyeball in his hand, so why does he have the $10?

 

[JMC99]

The reason for 100' viz is that the water is sterile and devoid of life.




I would choose a good day in Carmel over any other warm-water destination that I have been to (though I haven't yet been to the south pacific). If you need motivation, may I suggest you peruse some local photo galleries...

www.coldwaterimages.com
http://www.baue.org/images/galleries/local


I dive dry and honestly do stay warm. Clinton has a very throrough article on local exposure protection here: http://www.metridium.com/monterey/exposure.html

Thanks for the comments, and the article on dry vs. wet. Not sure I'll agree high viz = no life. The manta rays, sharks, eagle rays, eels, invertabrates, manatee (OK, the manatee was a stone mailbox outside of someone's house, but I did see it) and countless fish I saw in Kona last week might take exception to your position.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

55F? We wish. 44F yesterday at Pt. Lobos. And good vis and cool critters.

I've been all over the world, and I'll take Monterey. Yes, you need a drysuit, but I don't
think it makes it harder to dive.

Even if the vis is crappy, you can find what make Monterey: the invert life.

BTW, I wasn't all that impressed with Kona. It was warm, diving was OK, the manta
dive was world class, but that was just one dive out of the week.

I'm doing a liveaboard trip this year, and it's not the tropics: British Columbia on
Nautilus Explorer. No Cozumel for me. No TSA, not 50 pounds per bag limits either.
(BTW, somebody got sick, so there's two spots open if you can leave on Saturday).


Chuck

 

[RoyN]

You can dive wetsuit, but be warn, you're gonna make the other divers feel cold!

For me, I can't afford it and would rather use the money for school and get a big backyard like Chuck once said to me. And I'm not joking too.

 

[Todd128]

So, what's it really like diving Monterey and others and how do you deal with the cold? Drysuit the only way to go?

Try snorkeling the coves one afternoon...the incredible marine life observable in the first 10' just might entice you to venture deeper.

Shallow coves are typically warmer (measured 58 F recently). My 7-year-old is comfortable and has no problems snorkeling Monterey coves with a 7-ml farmer john wetsuit and hooded vest.

Not sure if this is for you? A suit can be rented at any dive shop for a few bucks and returned. Good luck! Todd

 

[bolantej]

Hey, I dive wet and dry and I love it both ways. just get a 6mil hooded vest to go under your wetsuit if you get chilled. You never know unless you try.

 

[ScubaGir1]

I haven't gone diving up there, but when I was at Catalina (100' down) it was in the 50's.
Let it be known I am a BIG chicken for cold water LOL. I got a hooded vest to go under my 7mm wetsuit and it was ok!! The only cold I felt was on my hands b/c my gloves are only 3mm. My boyfriend went without gloves and a hood. He's nuts in my opinion, but he said that it wasn't horrible, but would def. use hood/gloves the next time. haha
I was truely surprised how much of a difference the hooded vest makes. If you don't have a hooded vest, I'd get one to try