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Bill@californiadiving.com

California Diving Adventures

 The Dive sites on this page are split into two sections. First part is on Monterey Peninsula located 100 miles south of San Francisco. Second Part is on South Lake Tahoe located in Northern California high sierra

   1. Del Monte Beach: Is the largest beach in side Monterey Bay. The bottom is sandy and depth is shallow. There are several sunken barges down in 50 feet of water just a short swim from the beach. Marine life is better at night where many types of ray and skates come to life. 

2. Coast Guard Pier: Known by thousands as breakwater. This site is great for beginners and novice. This site is a great place to see a variety of sea life. At the end of the jetty all year long sea lions and otters will pose for those unforgettable snap shots. On the ocean side, the kelp beds grow along the entire length of the breakwater. Great opportunity to experience kelp for the first time without the rough surf. Easy beach access and entry Depth 10-65 ft.

3. Metridium Fields: This site lies in about 10 - 75 ft of water around 200 yards off shore. These beautiful white anemones can go up to two feet in length.

4.Mcabee Beach: The beach is located next to Casa Maria Restaurant on Cannery Row. Another popular diving spot with thick rich kelp beds. The bottom is sandy with rocky reefs, which is inhabited by anemones and rockfish. Easy beach access and entry Depth 10-35 ft.

5. Hopkin's Reef: The reef is divided into two parts shallow and deep. Hopkin's shallow reef is easily accessible from McAbee. Beach. A short swim through the kelp beds to the reef 60 feet below. Easy beach entry depth 15 - 70 Hopkin's deep is only accessible by a boat. All boats can be launched from the jetty to any dive site in the bay.

6. Lover's Point: A favorite site for kayakers, snokelers and divers. This point offers kelp beds with many rocky reefs to explore. Sea life is abundant from rock cod to harbor seals. Easy beach access and entry Depth 10-45 ft.

7. Otter Cove: Just south of Lovers Point, the beach can be access by climbing down a short slope to a rocky beach. The bottom is sandy with rocky out cropping and pinnacles. The kelp beds are very thick in this area; the surf and surge can be dangerous to inexperience divers diving in this area. Caution should be taken at all times. Depth 10 - 45ft

8. Coral Street Beach: This is a well-protected beach from the surf. Many instructors teach novice divers here when the ocean is calm. The visibility is usually very good, but this site lacks abundance of marine life. Kelp beds grow very thick because of the natural breakwater that protects the area from swells. Depth 10-40ft

9. Ocean Pinnacles: One of Monterey's premiers dive destinations. It has two pinnacles, one is within 12 feet of the surface and the other stops at 45 feet. Each pinnacle is like a mountain peak with steep drop-offs into narrow canyons with Depths in excess of 90 feet.

11. Stillwater Cove: This cove offers excellent opportunity for novice to intermediate divers. The visibility is usually good on days when other sites are poor. The thick kelp is home to many species of fish and marine life. Depth 10 -55ft

12. Cooper Roof House: Recommended for advanced divers only. Entries and exits are in heavy surfs even when conditions permit diving. The bottom is sandy with long rocky reefs. Several varieties of rockfish to halibut can be found on the reefs. The reef is located offshore about 400 yards. Depth 10 -65ft 

13. Monastery Beach: Recommended for advanced divers only. Diving should only be done on calm days. The surf can get extremely rough even on good days. The bottom is sandy turning to rocky just before the submarine canyon. Marine life ranges from rays to blue sharks. The beauty of Monastery is worth the effort that is required to make this dive. Depth 10 - 100+

14. Mono Lobo Wall: Has a series of vertical walls that drop off from 35 to 110 feet. The walls are covered with anemones and other marine life. Kelp is attached to the wall rising to the surface, which is home to many types of rockfish. Other types of marine life include rays, sunfish and harbor seals. Depth 10 -110+

15. Point Lobos State Reserve: Diving in the reserve is restricted to 15 buddy teams of two to three divers a day. Diving is only done at whaler's cove and bluefish cove. The depth at Whaler's cove is maximum 50 ft and Bluefish cove has a maximum depth of 100ft. Being a reserve marine life is plentiful and the sites are spectacular. Remember no plants or animals may be removed or disturbed in any way. For reservation call (800-444-7275) 

South Lake Tahoe 

South Lake Tahoe: Is located on Hwy 50 two hours east of Sacramento California. All of the activities you'd ever dreamed of, from mountain bike to horse back, hot air balloons to parasailing. Rustic campgrounds to championship golf course. Lake Tahoe gives you the best family vacation getaway.

 Emerald Bay: Designated an underwater state park. As a scuba diver in emerald bay you have the opportunity to view and touch the artifacts such as telephones, dories and even a model A Ford! The park is the resting-place of many boats, barges and other artifacts of the past. Located on Hwy 89 west of Hwy 50

Rubicon Point: Deep diving off the Rubicon wall at Lester Beach in D.L. Bliss State Park is very popular among advanced divers. Due to the clarity of the water and the spectacular geologic formations, this will rank as one of the world's most beautiful dives. Located on Hwy 89 between Emerald bay and Meeks bay

Sand Harbor: Another popular diving area at Lake Tahoe The Beautiful white sandy beaches and translucent blue waters will make you believe your in the Caribbean. (The water temperature will bring you back to reality.) Located on Hwy 50 north of Nevada State line.

1. Do not use sea level dive tables while diving in Lake Tahoe! They are of no value at altitude, and if you dive the limits of the tables you will be well beyond your no decompression limits.
2. Dive the tables conservatively! At altitude even small errors play a crucial role in a diver's safety.
3. If you just arrived from a lower elevation, you have residual nitrogen and should consider yourself a repetitive diver. If you just arrived from Reno, you are in the B pressure group. If you just arrived from the bay area, you are in the H pressure group.
4. Dive with a buddy! Solo diving in this remote location is asking for trouble. Dive masters and 20-year diving veterans have died here diving solo.
5. Open water or basic certified divers should limit their depth to 48ft, which is equivalent to 60 at sea level. Advanced divers should limit their depth to 96ft, which is equivalent to 120 in the ocean.
6. Ascend no faster than 30ft per minute and preferably no faster than 20ft per minute during the last 55ft of ascent.
7. Scuba diving at altitude above 1,000 ft requires special procedures. Please contact your local diving professional for more information before attempting to dive at altitude.