California has three beautiful diving regions.

The North coast region is renowned for lush, moist forests of the world's tallest trees, coastal bluffs, secluded coves and wildlife areas. From the pristine beaches and coves of Carmel by the Sea and Monterey Bay, the coastline includes numerous dive locations North of San Francisco, all the way to Mendocino and Crescent City. Each site offers its unique underwater topography and associated marine life.

The California mid region includes diving locations from South of Pt. Lobos State Park (Carmel by the Sea) to Laguna Beach. This long stretch of beautiful beaches can be categorized as open-water diving, with some protected coves and inlets. Capitalizing on optimal weather as well as observing tides and current conditions are crucial to an enjoyable dive experience.

The California South listings include the greater San Diego area (Pt. Loma North to La Jolla) continuing up through Orange County to Laguna Beach. Each ShoreDiving location has unique conditions -- and beauty!

As always, check with your local resources for exact local conditions for the ultimate safe and rewarding dive experience.

California

Monterey County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States



At the intersection of Scenic Road and Stewart Way in Carmel. Locate the path in the drainage ditch just north of the cove, and follow it down to the rocks, then to the beach. Surface swim to the end of the point on the south, then descend and swim 210 degrees to the canyon and pinnacles (advanced), or 270 to the wall (intermediate).

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Butterfly House

The access path leads down  the cliff to a rocky staging area just above the dive site.  The dive site is a tricky rocky entry for intermediate to advanced divers only.  This is an OCEAN EXPOSED dive site, so, conditions can change rapidly.  Be prepared for anything, and, don't get in on a questionable day. However, once you're in the water, this dive site is well worth the effort.  Rocky reefs, deep shore diving (60-90 feet) and a rich giant kelp forest are all within easy reach once you are in the water at this site.  Bring two or three tanks, and, take your time getting your gear down to the staging area in multiple trips before suiting up to avoid injuries.

See http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnsept00/mont9.html for additional information.  This site is located just south of Carmel Proper, on Scenic Drive just north of Stewart Way.  Proceed South on HWY 1 to Carpenter.  Turn right on Carpenter to the For Way Stop at Ocean Avenue.  Turn right on Ocean Ave. and follow it all the way down to Scenic.  If you miss the left turn onto Scenic, one of two things will happen.  Either your car will become hopelessly trapped in the sand, or you will need a regulator to exit your car. (In other words, if you go too far on Ocean, you will be in the ocean).  Follow Scenic around until you can see a house that has a roofline that looks like a giant butterfly.  That is the dive site.  The access path is about 100 feet back towards Carmel.

Dive site is really two different locations, North beach, which is the wall dive and you can easily hit 130+ ft. Great for photography. No spearfishing is allowed. This is an Advanced dive site with dangerous surf entry and exits. Do not dive if waves are breaking.

South Beach, best place for divers new to area. Safest entry/exit when any surf is present. Kelp bed diving. Recommend you start here.

It is common to dog walk out during exits as beach is steep and waves break hard. It's known by locals as "The Monastery Crawl". Save plenty of air for exit. A night dive here is for experts only.

You can dive this from shore or you can boat dive the kelp forest.  Too far of a swim to the kelp from shore.  Drops off very quickly from shore.

If the wash rock (exposed reef, north end of beach) is being swept by waves (as it often is), it is advised that you dive somewhere else as visiblity will be low and dumping surf during entry/exit will make for not very pleasant, and potentially dangerous, dive conditions. If the conditions are calm, however, the north end is my favorite dive site in Monterey. Night diving from shore is difficult, but in calm conditions, can be amazing. It is very dark here (little external light pollution), so turn around early to make the long swim back in if diving from shore as you can't see the kelp and surface swimming is not pleasant at night through kelp.

Monastery Beach is also known as Carmel River State Beach.

Monastery Beach

The most picturesque dive site in the Carmel area, Monastery Beach offers spectacular diving in the rocky, kelp-packed coastline.  Do not attempt this dive unless you are advanced, and are comfortable in heavy surf.

Head South on Highway 1 out of Carmel.  Park at the Southern end of the first roadside beach.

Monastery Beach South

This is an easy-access site toward the Southern end of Carmel River State Beach.  Come here when the main beach, just to the South, is packed.  Because this shoreline is wide open to the Pacific swells, you should consider yourself an advanced diver before negotiating the entry. Head South on Highway 1 out of Carmel.  Just as you start to see the first roadside beach, you're there!

Monastery Beach North

This is a rock pinnacle just outside the Point Lobos boundary.

Access by boat from Monterey Harbor, Point Lobos (Whaler's Cove), or Stillwater Cove. Use a depth finder to find the pinnacle and anchor on top.

The Needle

This is a brilliant spot for kelp diving! Lots of fish and the brilliant light shining through the long green hydrophytes offers lots of phantastic scenes for photographers.
But the highlight is definitely the seals (and sometimes puppies) often seen there - when you're lucky! But of course: don't touch or harrass them! 

The dive site is part of the Point Lobos National Reserve, park entrance fee approx. 10,- $ / vhcl. Parking lots are just next to the entrance; freshwater rinse is available as well as restrooms.
Entrance is quite easy, just follow the boat slip.

Point Lobos

Located in Point Lobos State Reserve, Whalers Cove is the most coveted dive location is this area.  The highly restricted access of the Park creates an environment teaming with marine life.  You must make reservations well in advance to enter, and must register with the gate before diving in.  A complete set of rules and regulations, diving locations, and a reservation form may be found <a target="_new" href="http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/scuba/divereserv.html">here</a>.

Drive South on Highway 1 from Carmel, past Monastery beach.  You will see the entrance on your right.

Whalers Cove (Point Lobos)

California winter diving can best be described as beauty or the beast. When winter storms are raging, divers can certainly experience marginal conditions. The time between storms, however, produces the calmest, clearest and warmest water of the year. Choosing a dive site depends on accessing the various sites against the wind and swell conditions. When a moderate northwest swell is running, a great spot is Fire Rock.

Fire Rock lies south of Pescadero Point at the northern most point of Carmel Bay. The line between Fire Rock and the point defines a shallow reef. On the lee side of this reef is a protected dive site with lots of marine life that offers a comfortable dive even in a moderate swell.

Most of the shallow reef consists of a jumble of boulders, 15 to 40 feet below the surface. The shallow waters are an interesting place to explore for those who enjoy macro photography or looking for tiny invertebrates. The rocks are adorned with an assortment of strawberry anemones, cup corals and sea cucumbers. At least a dozen different species of dorid nudibranchs may be found here on any given day, along with an assortment of crabs, shrimps and little reef fish. Many of the rocks are covered with a layer of colorful encrusting sponges that act as colorful backgrounds for photographers.

At about 40 feet the bottom falls away in a vertical wall that terminates on flat rock-and-sand bottom at 80 feet. On the wall you will fine large, bright red, fish-eating anemones and large sunflower stars. Trees of hydrocoral may be found in deeper waters. Orange cup corals and colorful sponges cover much of the wall. The wall is split with numerous large and small cracks. Numerous species of rockfish take refuge in the shelter provided cracks and by the boulders in deeper water. 

The bottom at the base of the wall is mostly flat with piles of small boulders. The ragged bottom offers a shelter to many species of rockfish. Large gopher, black-and-yellow, and brown rockfish may be found tucked into their favorite crack or hole. On my most recent dive, there were a dozen small vermilion rockfish (AKA: Pacific red snapper). This is a particularly good place to see many species of rockfish in one place.

Fire Rock lies south of Pescadero Point at the northern most point of Carmel Bay. The line between Fire Rock and the point defines a shallow reef. On the lee side of this reef is a protected dive site with lots of marine life that offers a comfortable dive even in a moderate swell.



Fire Rock

Sea Otters and other fishes

North side of Carmel Bay

Cypress Point

Breakwater Cove is another popular dive site.  Parking can be limited, so get there early.  This is a wonderful place to get a glimpse of sea lions, octopus, and other marine creatures.  The best diving is on the outer side of breakwater.  Beware of kelp and boats!

In Monterey, heading West on Del Monte, bear right onto Lighthouse Ave, then bear right onto Foam St.  Make a right onto Cannery Row.

Butterfly House

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Butterfly House