Plan + Spots · Destination Guide

Monterey Bay

Kelp forests, cold-water critters, and whale seasons on California's iconic bay

View On Map

All Dive Spots

View On Map

Aumentos Pinnacle

PinnacleWall

Offshore Monterey pinnacle with granite walls and exposed conditions.

Visibility8 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CrowdVery quiet

CurrentModerate current

SurgeModerate surge

Breakwater Cove

Reef

Protected Monterey training shore dive with easy entry and busy breakwater life.

Visibility5 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CrowdVery crowded

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Copper Roof House

Kelp forestReef

Carmel Beach shore dive with kelp and rocky reef

Visibility10 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentLight current

SurgeStrong surge

Coral Street

Kelp forest

Pacific Grove shore dive with kelp and macro life.

Visibility6 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CurrentStrong current

SurgeStrong surge

Del Monte Beach

Reef

Easy Monterey shore dive with sand, eelgrass, and macro life.

Visibility3 m

AccessEasy entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesExcellent facilities

CrowdModerate

Lovers Point

PinnacleReef

Protected Monterey shore dive with sandy entry and rocky ridges.

Visibility6 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

McAbee

Artificial reefKelp forestReef

Monterey shore dive with kelp and pipes

Visibility5 m

AccessEasy entry

CoralHeavily damaged

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Metridium Fields

Reef

Monterey shore dive with white anemone-covered reefs beyond San Carlos Beach.

Visibility6 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CrowdFew visitors

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Monastery Beach

Kelp forestReef

Monastery Beach is Monterey's rugged shore-entry dive.

Visibility15 m

AccessDifficult access

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentLight current

SurgeHeavy surge

Monterey Bay

Kelp forest

Monterey Bay cold-water kelp and wildlife dives

Visibility6 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesExcellent facilities

CrowdVery crowded

CurrentLight current

SurgeModerate surge

Otter Cove

Kelp forest

Kelp-edge Monterey shore dive with easy entry and swell-sensitive conditions.

Visibility5 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CrowdFew visitors

CurrentNo current

SurgeModerate surge

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Kelp forest

Reservation-only Point Lobos diving with kelp forests and pinnacles.

AccessDifficult access

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

Page 1 of 2

All Dive Spots

View On Map

Aumentos Pinnacle

PinnacleWall

Offshore Monterey pinnacle with granite walls and exposed conditions.

Visibility8 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CrowdVery quiet

CurrentModerate current

SurgeModerate surge

Breakwater Cove

Reef

Protected Monterey training shore dive with easy entry and busy breakwater life.

Visibility5 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CrowdVery crowded

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Copper Roof House

Kelp forestReef

Carmel Beach shore dive with kelp and rocky reef

Visibility10 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentLight current

SurgeStrong surge

Coral Street

Kelp forest

Pacific Grove shore dive with kelp and macro life.

Visibility6 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CurrentStrong current

SurgeStrong surge

Del Monte Beach

Reef

Easy Monterey shore dive with sand, eelgrass, and macro life.

Visibility3 m

AccessEasy entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesExcellent facilities

CrowdModerate

Lovers Point

PinnacleReef

Protected Monterey shore dive with sandy entry and rocky ridges.

Visibility6 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

McAbee

Artificial reefKelp forestReef

Monterey shore dive with kelp and pipes

Visibility5 m

AccessEasy entry

CoralHeavily damaged

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Metridium Fields

Reef

Monterey shore dive with white anemone-covered reefs beyond San Carlos Beach.

Visibility6 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CrowdFew visitors

CurrentNo current

SurgeLight surge

Monastery Beach

Kelp forestReef

Monastery Beach is Monterey's rugged shore-entry dive.

Visibility15 m

AccessDifficult access

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdModerate

CurrentLight current

SurgeHeavy surge

Monterey Bay

Kelp forest

Monterey Bay cold-water kelp and wildlife dives

Visibility6 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesExcellent facilities

CrowdVery crowded

CurrentLight current

SurgeModerate surge

Otter Cove

Kelp forest

Kelp-edge Monterey shore dive with easy entry and swell-sensitive conditions.

Visibility5 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

CrowdFew visitors

CurrentNo current

SurgeModerate surge

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Kelp forest

Reservation-only Point Lobos diving with kelp forests and pinnacles.

AccessDifficult access

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesLimited facilities

Page 1 of 2