Monterey: Cold-Water Diving at Its Best

Monterey is well-known for its beautiful landscapes, both underwater and above land and Whaler's Cove in Pt. Lobos and San Carlos Beach--known locally as the 'Breakwater,' are no exception.

San Diego diver Michael Bear and local, Marina diver Dida Kutz had the opportunity to explore both areas in one day last week and were not disappointed.

Whaler's Cove, a protected cove within Pt Lobos, was warmer than average for this time of year, at 55 F. and provided an excellent glimpse of the denizens of Giant Kelp and Southern Palm forests, with Giant Spined Sea Stars, Cobalt and Yellow Sponges, Rockfish and thousands of tiny shrimp in the water column, which provided food for the marine life, but reduced visibility in some parts of the cove. There was also a bit of surge, which can make exiting a bit tricky over the moss-covered rocks.

The Breakwater at San Carlos Beach provided an excellent night dive, with calm and clear conditions, which lent themselves very well to underwater video, showing small, gelatinous free-floaters, related to jellyfish, such as Comb Jellies and Sea Butterflies.

Underneath the rocks, live a veritable cornucopia of marine life, such as: many-armed Sunflower Sea Stars, which can grow up to two feet in diameter--see attached photo--Giant Spined Sea Stars, large nudibranchs, such as Dentronitis iris-also in photos--and, many species of Rockfish and Surfperch.

Monterey should be on every diver's 'must dive' list of excellent cold-water dive sites for California.