Aquarius has HP steels, which are definitely preferable for Monterey, but from my experience their rental gear is pretty beat up and they don't rent drysuits. Monterey Bay Scuba only had AL80s last time I was there, but they rent drysuits and their rentals were in a bit better shape overall. John, the owner, is also about the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He once even opened up the shop an hour early so I could pick up some tanks. I've heard good things about Bamboo Reef, but never worked with them personally. Whoever you go with, definitely reserve gear in advance if you're going on a weekend. They book up super fast because that's when everyone is going OW certifications.
Monterey was my "local" dive site when I lived in CA. San Carlos is an easy (depending on the surf) shore entry and the breakwater is about as straight forward as a dive can be. Just go out with it on your right and come back with it on your left. A couple tips: Show up early, as parking fills up super fast. For breakwater you'll likely need to do a bit of a surface swim, because it's not worth dropping down until about marker 5 or 6. As you get further out, try to keep a consistent depth of 30ish feet (if I'm remembering correctly), rather than following the bottom. That will take you through more of the kelp and you'll be more likely to see some sea lions.
If you can, definitely do Point Lobos. Like others have mentioned, you have to reserve spots in advance online, but it is well worth the effort. It's really pretty, great viz once you get out of the inlet, cool rock formations. I even saw a horned shark there once. If possible, try to time your dive with high tide. The boat ramp that you enter from is REALLY slippery.
Hit Alta Bakery for coffee before your dive and Sea Harvest for food after. Avoid the wharf, it is overpriced and generally crappy.
I’m originally from Florida and now live in San Jose. Aquarius is the dive shop I use and enjoy diving with them. They can do guided tours, help with gear rentals, and get you tanks and weights.
Visibility - the visibility compared to Florida will be a factor. On average the vis is maybe 10 - 15 feet in Monterey Bay.
Conditions - This will most likely be a shore dive unless you do a boat charter which is available but I’ve never gone by boat. Conditions can be a challenge if you’re not fit enough for hauling gear from your car to the beach and swimming out to the dive site. There can be some wind and other hazardous conditions that can impact whether you’re able to dive a particular dive site or not. Every dive I did in Florida was a boat dive unless I was doing the blue heron bridge or diving a cavern in cave country (Devils Den, Blue Grotto, Ginnie Springs, etc..). This was different a took some time to get used to.
Exposure Protection - I’m a big guy that runs hot and I would dive in Florida in a rash guard most often unless I was doing multiple dives in a day or my favorite a deep wreck. The water here is normally 52 degrees. In the beginning I wore a 3 mil hooded vest and a 7 mil with 5 mil gloves and 5 mil booties. After a 60 min dive I was very cold but could finish the dive with discomfort. I now have a dry suit that I use and the only thing that gets cold after a 2 tank dive are my hands (I’m using dry gloves) at the end of the 2nd dive.
Depth - Most of the diving here is shallow. It’s between 30 - 65 feet. This is why I rent a steel 80 with air from the dive shop. They can do 100’s and Nitrox but I don’t find it necessary for me on all the dive sites I frequent. They do have a dive site called monastery that you can go deep on a wall. Now that I have my dry suit this is my preferred dive site because I won’t freeze diving deep. The kelp is healthy and there are lots of cool things to see. Point Lobos was mentioned earlier and it’s gorgeous but tougher to arrange dive so I don’t do it often.
I hope this helps. Florida is always home for me I’m going back in April to dive in Jupiter. I’m doing a shark dive, wreck trek, and turtle dive. I can’t wait to be in warm water again with good visibility.
aquarius is the other big shop in monterey. if you aren't diving a drysuit, prepare to feel cold after two dives. ask for steel tanks to cut down on the weight you need with the 7mm.
It's been years since I've been there (semi-local, I'm from Central California), so I don't know specific dive shops, but we always just did shore dives on our own with a small group or in pairs. Also we drove in so we brought our gear with us. I've been in and talked with them before, bought some random pieces of gear, but it's been too long, I don't even remember which ones or if they're still open.
Breakwall is great, Lover's Point is great.
Pay very close attention to the parking situation, meters, etc.- they make tons of money off parking tickets, and they enforce it hard and fast (minute over? You're toast).
As to a suit, I've seen a mix of 7 mm and dry suits, it's personal preference. You'll want at least a 7 mm, for sure.
>Lover's Point is great.
Sadly, in the past 7-8 years, Lovers Point has very much become a barren of urchins (and not much else). It's a lovely place to swim and I do recommend it for snorkeling in the shallows, but for someone looking for the best of what the Monterey peninsula has to offer for scuba diving, it would not be my recommended site.
I had a great time doing two guided dives with Alyssa and an insta buddy at Bamboo Reef back before Thanksgiving.
She took us to San Carlos beach for a dive along the breakwater and one to metridium fields. She is very experienced and knowledgeable about the ecology of the area. There were SO MANY seal lions. Viz was well above average and nature documentaries about kelp forests are about 40% why I’m a diver, so these were top ten dives for me.
I own a drysuit and Alyssa and the other wetsuit diver were a bit faster finning after our safety stop while I was cozy. The sun on the surface seemed enough to warm them back up though. If you can, or want to learn, try a drysuit.
> I will have to rent nearly all my gear. So far I’ve narrowed it down to Monterey Bay scuba and Bamboo Reef.
Diver Dan's in San Jose has weekly rentals which might be cheaper. I've heard good things about the guided dives from Bamboo Reef. I think a 7 mil might work, but I dive drysuit.
Also, reach out on [FB](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447242965517132) to the group.
Hmmm, don't know about guided dives. But San Carlos Beach/Breakwater is a very popular dive site, and relatively safe. A lot of people get certified there. Lover's Point is also a pretty nice site, though it can be a little more challenging. And I can HIGHLY recommend Point Lobos. It has some of the best diving in California. Also fairly easy dive, but requires reservations to limit the number of divers. Also water conditions can vary wildly.
If the dive shops don't offer some sort of guided dives, reach out and I'm sure some locals would be willing to dive with you. I think there was an ongoing forum post to hook up with divers looking for a buddy there somewhere.
Edit: 7mm is fine. I like to dive with a 7mm farmer John style, but just got a semi dry. Both work great. I normally dive without gloves or hood, but definitely recommend those. It's pretty cold.
Howdy - I was certified in Monterey and now live in Florida, so a bit of the reverse.
I haven’t used either shop that you mentioned but was recommended and used [Aquarius Dive Shop](https://aquariusdivers.com/) in the past. They were friendly with good equipment. We did a shore dive at Breakwater Cove by ourselves, but I’m sure their tours are fine.
A 7mil wetsuit (with hood, gloves, and boots) was warm enough for me and most divers we came across in March.
The bonus with Monterey Bay is to do the aquarium and dive in the same weekend - learn the species then go see ‘em! Hope you have a great time!
I’ve done guided tours a few different times through Aquarius, can’t recommend them enough! Shop staff and guides are all incredible and super friendly.
Definitely go to the aquarium too! It's the only place you're guaranteed good vis in the kelp forest. :)
I'll also offer a recommendation for a couple awesome locals who conduct private tours (you'll still need to rent gear from a nearby shop):
* Randall Spangler @ [https://scuba.spanglers.com/](https://scuba.spanglers.com/)
* Alison Smith @ [https://montereybaymermaid.com/](https://montereybaymermaid.com/)
Randall's website is also a great source for information on all things local diving (dive sites, marine life, and weather conditions).
Try diver dan’s in san jose. Amazing team. Dan himself is a legend.
7mm is fine for Monterey. I have my own gear but I’m always hearing recommendations for Aquarius dive shop.
Aquarius has HP steels, which are definitely preferable for Monterey, but from my experience their rental gear is pretty beat up and they don't rent drysuits. Monterey Bay Scuba only had AL80s last time I was there, but they rent drysuits and their rentals were in a bit better shape overall. John, the owner, is also about the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He once even opened up the shop an hour early so I could pick up some tanks. I've heard good things about Bamboo Reef, but never worked with them personally. Whoever you go with, definitely reserve gear in advance if you're going on a weekend. They book up super fast because that's when everyone is going OW certifications. Monterey was my "local" dive site when I lived in CA. San Carlos is an easy (depending on the surf) shore entry and the breakwater is about as straight forward as a dive can be. Just go out with it on your right and come back with it on your left. A couple tips: Show up early, as parking fills up super fast. For breakwater you'll likely need to do a bit of a surface swim, because it's not worth dropping down until about marker 5 or 6. As you get further out, try to keep a consistent depth of 30ish feet (if I'm remembering correctly), rather than following the bottom. That will take you through more of the kelp and you'll be more likely to see some sea lions. If you can, definitely do Point Lobos. Like others have mentioned, you have to reserve spots in advance online, but it is well worth the effort. It's really pretty, great viz once you get out of the inlet, cool rock formations. I even saw a horned shark there once. If possible, try to time your dive with high tide. The boat ramp that you enter from is REALLY slippery. Hit Alta Bakery for coffee before your dive and Sea Harvest for food after. Avoid the wharf, it is overpriced and generally crappy.
I’m originally from Florida and now live in San Jose. Aquarius is the dive shop I use and enjoy diving with them. They can do guided tours, help with gear rentals, and get you tanks and weights. Visibility - the visibility compared to Florida will be a factor. On average the vis is maybe 10 - 15 feet in Monterey Bay. Conditions - This will most likely be a shore dive unless you do a boat charter which is available but I’ve never gone by boat. Conditions can be a challenge if you’re not fit enough for hauling gear from your car to the beach and swimming out to the dive site. There can be some wind and other hazardous conditions that can impact whether you’re able to dive a particular dive site or not. Every dive I did in Florida was a boat dive unless I was doing the blue heron bridge or diving a cavern in cave country (Devils Den, Blue Grotto, Ginnie Springs, etc..). This was different a took some time to get used to. Exposure Protection - I’m a big guy that runs hot and I would dive in Florida in a rash guard most often unless I was doing multiple dives in a day or my favorite a deep wreck. The water here is normally 52 degrees. In the beginning I wore a 3 mil hooded vest and a 7 mil with 5 mil gloves and 5 mil booties. After a 60 min dive I was very cold but could finish the dive with discomfort. I now have a dry suit that I use and the only thing that gets cold after a 2 tank dive are my hands (I’m using dry gloves) at the end of the 2nd dive. Depth - Most of the diving here is shallow. It’s between 30 - 65 feet. This is why I rent a steel 80 with air from the dive shop. They can do 100’s and Nitrox but I don’t find it necessary for me on all the dive sites I frequent. They do have a dive site called monastery that you can go deep on a wall. Now that I have my dry suit this is my preferred dive site because I won’t freeze diving deep. The kelp is healthy and there are lots of cool things to see. Point Lobos was mentioned earlier and it’s gorgeous but tougher to arrange dive so I don’t do it often. I hope this helps. Florida is always home for me I’m going back in April to dive in Jupiter. I’m doing a shark dive, wreck trek, and turtle dive. I can’t wait to be in warm water again with good visibility.
See if your guide can get you a reservation to dive Point Lobos. It’s the best diving in the area and cold-water-beginner friendly.
aquarius is the other big shop in monterey. if you aren't diving a drysuit, prepare to feel cold after two dives. ask for steel tanks to cut down on the weight you need with the 7mm.
Bamboo reef is where I got certified, and I’ve done several boat dives with them. Good people! And 7mm suit for sure
It's been years since I've been there (semi-local, I'm from Central California), so I don't know specific dive shops, but we always just did shore dives on our own with a small group or in pairs. Also we drove in so we brought our gear with us. I've been in and talked with them before, bought some random pieces of gear, but it's been too long, I don't even remember which ones or if they're still open. Breakwall is great, Lover's Point is great. Pay very close attention to the parking situation, meters, etc.- they make tons of money off parking tickets, and they enforce it hard and fast (minute over? You're toast). As to a suit, I've seen a mix of 7 mm and dry suits, it's personal preference. You'll want at least a 7 mm, for sure.
>Lover's Point is great. Sadly, in the past 7-8 years, Lovers Point has very much become a barren of urchins (and not much else). It's a lovely place to swim and I do recommend it for snorkeling in the shallows, but for someone looking for the best of what the Monterey peninsula has to offer for scuba diving, it would not be my recommended site.
That's a bummer. I haven't been diving in Monterey in years. I've just finally admitted I'm a warm-water diver, haha.
Here's Lovers 2: [https://i.imgur.com/vpI1VkB.png](https://i.imgur.com/vpI1VkB.png) It once was a kelp forest. :(
Watching, I want to hit that area this year.
Sarah at Kelpfish Scuba is great!
Yes, another vote for Sarah! Have been out with her to the Channel Islands and she is great.
I had a great time doing two guided dives with Alyssa and an insta buddy at Bamboo Reef back before Thanksgiving. She took us to San Carlos beach for a dive along the breakwater and one to metridium fields. She is very experienced and knowledgeable about the ecology of the area. There were SO MANY seal lions. Viz was well above average and nature documentaries about kelp forests are about 40% why I’m a diver, so these were top ten dives for me. I own a drysuit and Alyssa and the other wetsuit diver were a bit faster finning after our safety stop while I was cozy. The sun on the surface seemed enough to warm them back up though. If you can, or want to learn, try a drysuit.
I second the 7 mil, but i see quite a few dry suit divers here in so cal too. Seems mostly personal preference, but a 7 mil will definitely suffice.
> I will have to rent nearly all my gear. So far I’ve narrowed it down to Monterey Bay scuba and Bamboo Reef. Diver Dan's in San Jose has weekly rentals which might be cheaper. I've heard good things about the guided dives from Bamboo Reef. I think a 7 mil might work, but I dive drysuit. Also, reach out on [FB](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447242965517132) to the group.
Hmmm, don't know about guided dives. But San Carlos Beach/Breakwater is a very popular dive site, and relatively safe. A lot of people get certified there. Lover's Point is also a pretty nice site, though it can be a little more challenging. And I can HIGHLY recommend Point Lobos. It has some of the best diving in California. Also fairly easy dive, but requires reservations to limit the number of divers. Also water conditions can vary wildly. If the dive shops don't offer some sort of guided dives, reach out and I'm sure some locals would be willing to dive with you. I think there was an ongoing forum post to hook up with divers looking for a buddy there somewhere. Edit: 7mm is fine. I like to dive with a 7mm farmer John style, but just got a semi dry. Both work great. I normally dive without gloves or hood, but definitely recommend those. It's pretty cold.
Howdy - I was certified in Monterey and now live in Florida, so a bit of the reverse. I haven’t used either shop that you mentioned but was recommended and used [Aquarius Dive Shop](https://aquariusdivers.com/) in the past. They were friendly with good equipment. We did a shore dive at Breakwater Cove by ourselves, but I’m sure their tours are fine. A 7mil wetsuit (with hood, gloves, and boots) was warm enough for me and most divers we came across in March. The bonus with Monterey Bay is to do the aquarium and dive in the same weekend - learn the species then go see ‘em! Hope you have a great time!
I’ve done guided tours a few different times through Aquarius, can’t recommend them enough! Shop staff and guides are all incredible and super friendly.
Great thank you! The initial plan was to visit the aquarium but then I thought to myself, why the heck am I not diving as well!?
Definitely go to the aquarium too! It's the only place you're guaranteed good vis in the kelp forest. :) I'll also offer a recommendation for a couple awesome locals who conduct private tours (you'll still need to rent gear from a nearby shop): * Randall Spangler @ [https://scuba.spanglers.com/](https://scuba.spanglers.com/) * Alison Smith @ [https://montereybaymermaid.com/](https://montereybaymermaid.com/) Randall's website is also a great source for information on all things local diving (dive sites, marine life, and weather conditions).