When first time Monterey Bay divers first glimpse the bay, and look at the often gray sky, then feel the chilly water, which is normally between 49-55 degrees Fahrenheit, they often wonder whether colorful life is really possible below the surface. After all, when you’re standing on the shore, or looking at the water from the deck of your charter boat, you cannot see much in the way of life, other than birds, the occasional otter, and perhaps some harbor seals.
Once that same diver slips below the surface, things change! The views are amazing and the diversity of life is humbling.
Top Monterey Bay Dive Features
Whether you decide to dive from the shore, or hire a boat, you are certain to find yourself thrilled with the incredibly colorful variety of life that makes the 350 mile stretch of central California coast that is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary such an unexpectedly pleasurable diving destination. Whether you love the idea of viewing whimsical sea otters as they frolic in the towering kelp forests, or if you prefer to hover near the inky black darkness that is so omnipresent near the Monterey Canyon, you’ll enjoy everything the bay has to offer.
Kelp Forests
If you have ever seen a limp, sad looking piece of kelp lying on the beach, and never been inside a kelp forest, then you probably wonder what all the excitement is about. Healthy kelp forests grow up from the rocky sea bed, and reach heights of one hundred feet or greater. They thrive in cold, clear water, and provide homes for hundreds of species of marine life at various depths. If you make it to the bottom, you will find colorful brittle stars, and shy sculpins that peer out at you with wondering eyes. At midlevel, the kelp is home to a variety of crabs and crustaceans, like Turban Snails. As these creatures nibble on the kelp’s stipe, they fatten themselves for the rockfish and lingcod that stalk their hard-shelled prey in the filtered light of the kelp forest.
Up near the top, otters play, and sea lions swim in loop-de-loops. Both species will bite if you try to handle them, but they are curious and will engage with you so long as you respect their boundaries.
Reefs
Amazingly, the reefs below the surface of the bay are colorful and teeming with diverse life. If you always thought that colorful sea life required warm temperatures to thrive, the strawberry anemones, vibrant yellow and orange sea pens, enormous sun stars, sea cucumbers, and hydrocoral will help you change your mind.
During warmer months, you are likely to come face to face with Mola Molas - the friendly but alien-looking sunfish. You will certainly encounter colorful rockfish, spotted lingcod, orange garibaldis, cabazone, and greenlings no matter what time of year you visit!
Wrecks
There are shipwrecks up and down the Pacific Coast, however, it is best to talk to your chosen charter company to find out which wreck in the Monterey area will work best for you, depending on conditions at the time of your visit. Many of these wrecks happened due to a combination of factors, including sea conditions. Unlike the wrecks you can find in tropical locations, the swift currents, cold water, and sometimes precarious positioning of these wrecks can make for dangerous conditions.
Diving From Shore
Diving Monterey Bay from shore is easy, because in most places, there is little to no surf, low swells, and clearly marked access points. One favorite is the Breakwater, which is equipped with a concrete stair entryway.
Diving With a Charter
Whether you are an experienced diver or a complete novice, you will find a charter company to suit your needs. Many companies offer lessons and advanced certifications, and most offer equipment rental to suit the unique Monterey Bay environment.
Visiting Monterey Bay
The stunning Central California coast is an amazingly diverse area, with plenty of small communities, beaches, and historic sites to visit along the way. Monterey is a quick hop from San Francisco, and the drive is breathtaking. Once you get there, you will discover plenty of wonderful opportunities for recreation, both above and below the water! Be sure to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row – and enjoy all the fabulous dining and entertainment opportunities the area offers, as well. Once you discover Monterey Bay for yourself, you’re sure to return time and again.