Trip Report: Monterey & Carmel by the Sea, March 2019

[Ironborn]

Great read. Thanks for posting. We dive there regularly and it’s nice to read about great new experiences that people have enjoying sites that we sometimes take for granted. Many people use Breakwater scuba as it’s walking distance from San Carlos beach. It’s nice to see some good experiences with some of our other great dive shops in the area. Hats off to Aquarius for doing such a good job making your experience special. Hope you can come back soon.

Thank you for the positive feedback. I looked into Breakwater Scuba but decided against them because they only offered guided dives at the Breakwater and Point Lobos, which might have been OK if I were there just for the weekend, but not for a whole week.

 

[Ironborn]

if you like macro, you should have asked to dive wharf 2.

Yes, I read about Wharf II and asked one of the guides about it, and he said that getting the harbormaster's permission to dive it might be prohibitively difficult. I had not yet seen Point Lobos by that point in the trip and decided to make that a higher priority instead, given its reputation, which I found to be well-deserved. Wharf II would be on my list if and when I return to Monterey. I have found that man-made structures - such as the Breakwater - are often more interesting in their marine life than natural sites.

 

[Ironborn]

Thank you for your report, and it came very timely for me as I am heading there in a few weeks. But I have one question. As many times as you mentioned 'cold water', I do not see anywhere where you mentioned how cold. I plan on bringing my drysuit, but would like to know what you saw as water temp so I know what undergarments to bring. Again, thank you for a very detailed report and beautiful pictures!

Oops, that was quite an oversight on my part. My computer logged temperatures between 51F and 55F. The lower end of that range was usually just at deeper spots.

 

[Ironborn]

I really enjoyed your report.
I dive Monterey once in a great while now. I used to dive there more when I was helping with classes at breakwater. At one time there were more dive boats too and I used to book day trips regularly.
I live and dive north from Monterey, up in Sonoma County north of the GG bridge. It’s much wilder, way less people, more fish life, larger animals. Getting to it is the challenge though, so is the weather. But it’s local and close by to me so I make the most out of it. Between Sonoma County and Mendocino county we have about 60 miles of terrain similar to Pt Lobos and Big Sur. But there are no charter boats or services. Most people who explore it and dive it own their own boats and motor long distances to get to some of the sites. It’s very wild and unpredictable, the weather can change rapidly.

The other thing I would recommend for you the next time you’re out this way is to get on a Southern California dive charter boat out to the Channel Islands and go to some of the marine preserves. Tons of fish life, huge lobsters to look at, playful seals and sea lions. The boats don’t babysit you or treat you like a child. You can dive anyway you want.

Thank you for the positive feedback. The Channel Islands are definitely on my list, maybe for day boats or even a liveaboard.

 

[Chavodel8en]

Great report and I concur w/ a lot of what you said. I tend to prefer Carmel sites to Monterey for more visibility and more wildlife. I also agree that Breakwater is a great site. A lot of us local divers grow bored with Breakwater b/c we have dived it so many times already. But among the Monterey/Pacific Grove sites, I'd say it has the most fish, and its the best site in Monterey/Carmel to have sea lions buzz you. If you are coming from elsewhere, Breakwater is a great site to take in the local diving.

 

[Ironborn]

Great report and I concur w/ a lot of what you said. I tend to prefer Carmel sites to Monterey for more visibility and more wildlife. I also agree that Breakwater is a great site. A lot of us local divers grow bored with Breakwater b/c we have dived it so many times already. But among the Monterey/Pacific Grove sites, I'd say it has the most fish, and its the best site in Monterey/Carmel to have sea lions buzz you. If you are coming from elsewhere, Breakwater is a great site to take in the local diving.

Yes, I would agree. I think that we saw a greater number and variety of animals at the Breakwater than we did at McAbee Beach or Lovers' Point. I think it is another example of man-made structures attracting more animals than natural features.

 

[LiteWeight]

Hi! I am in Monterey every weekend. I can tell you with certainty that the water is 55F pretty much year 'round. When will you be in Monterey? It would be so much fun to meet a ScubaBoard person and it would be my honor to dive with you or be your dive guide one day during your visit. Have you dove here before?

Becca, thanks for the offer! I have never dove there before but have quite a few quarry dives in 45-60 deg water. I will be staying with a friend who dives there frequently so can't wait to make the trip and see the beautiful California diving!

 

[LiteWeight]

Oops, that was quite an oversight on my part. My computer logged temperatures between 51F and 55F. The lower end of that range was usually just at deeper spots.

Thank you! Can't wait to go!

 

[Sam Miller III]

Very detailed report exceptionally well presented

A suggestion
The next trip fly in to San Francisco and work your way south ..the ocean will always be on your right side -- great views !

Stop at the Big Sur spots and especially Plaskett Creek campground aka Jade Cove and dive for the wonderful California green jade (contact me and I will send you a very comprehensive instructions on ID ing and diving for jade)
On south to Ventura and the charter boats for the channel islands
SDM

 

[Trailboss123]

Thank you for the positive feedback. The Channel Islands are definitely on my list, maybe for day boats or even a liveaboard.

As usual, a very nice and detailed report @Ironborn -- I'd suggest you do a 4-5 day liveaboard with Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara when you venture back to the Pacific Coast.

I would elect for a summer or fall trip to the Southern Channel Islands to get a new experience from what you just had in Monterey. Truth Aquatics also runs annual trips to Big Sur 1 month a year. They reposition the Vision boat to Morro Bay and do some interesting and exploratory trips there. I am off to the Philippines next Monday for a couple of weeks of diving and then will be out for 4 days of So Cal Channel Islands diving with Truth Aquatics over Memorial weekend. Boat diving is so much easier here on the West Coast, as far as I am concerned. Not to say that we don't have incredible shore diving and that is what I mostly do-- but if I was traveling and making a dive vacation out of it, I would absolutely be diving from a boat-- whether day trips or a live aboard. Thanks again for your post!