Posted by CalAbDiver on July 27, 2001 at 11:49:30:
In Reply to: Re: Monterey Diving posted by brianc on July 27, 2001 at 11:18:01:
if you are diving on your own, then Bruce Watkin's books are perfect and you should get one and read up on the beach you choose.
if you are AOW then a boat dive would be ok. otherwise i would suggest your friends take an AOW class before ever boat diving. boat dives are nice because they pretty much guarantee good vis. but you need to be a pretty good diver to dive off a boat around here in Monterey-Carmel. this is not the warm bathtub called Florida.
McAbee Beach next to El Torritos Restaurant on Cannery Row in Monterey is a good choice for beach diving, and you cant go wrong there.
Lovers Cove in Pacific Grove is also good, if you can get there early and be done by noon. Lovers sometimes has foul water problems from treated sewage unfortunately, then to get past it you need a long surface swim, and suddenly you are doing an above average intermediate dive.
You can also try Del Monte Beach at Wharf #1 on Del Monte Avenue in Monterey. If you stay near the Wharf there are rocks and kelp you can explore. Unfortunately the yachts sometimes park here, and their anchors can make the water messy.
These 3 are all beginner dive sites. Check out Bruce's book for more info.
/s/ Karl S.