It's just a start, but here are some links to local dive
sites! Of course, you'll want to double check the local
weather and use your own judgment before making these
dives. Contact us if you're not sure about local diving conditions
or regulations (did you know you're required to have a flag
inside Morro Bay?), or just hire one of our skilled Divemasters
to take you
diving and eliminate the stress!
Target Rock (Morro
Bay)
Target Rock is a great dive site located inside Morro Bay.
Over depths from 5'-30' you will find kelp and large rock
boulders, and consequently numerous nooks and crannies hiding
fish, crabs, octopus, and more. Common sights include nudibranchs,
rockfish, perch, sea hares, rays, and plenty of anemones.
At night expect to see loads of crabs and the occasional octopus
crawling around. Make sure you have a dive flag, as they are
required within the bay. Visibility ranges anywhere from 3-5
feet on a bad day to 20+ when it's good. Expect about 5-10
average (on the high tide). Although you have to do a little
crawling over the rocks for your entry/exit, there is no surf
to deal with so it's relatively easy and makes for a great
backup site when swells shut down our unprotected sites.
Directions: Take Highway 1 to Morro Bay. Head out towards
the big rock (Morro Rock). At the base of the rock, park in
the dirt on the bay side (not the ocean side -- that's a different
dive site). Look for a boulder hanging into the bay (Target
Rock). It should be approximately where the channel marker
buoys start. You dive site is in this area in the kelp. There's
not much to see in the channel itself (except boats) so stay
closer to shore.
Potential Hazards: Entanglement (kelp and fishing line),
boat traffic (stay out of the main channel and use a flag),
dredging (they dredge the channel every year or so -- it should
be fairly obvious!) and of course, the tides! Try to time
this dive to be in the water during the high slack tide. The
current can get very intense between tides, so make sure you
take that in to consideration. For a different approach to
this site, you can enter the water further up the road on
an incoming high tide and do a drift dive into the site.
Coleman Beach (Morro
Bay)
A very easy site to dive, Coleman Beach is frequently used
for certification classes. With a gently sloping sandy bottom
and a beach entry without and surf, it's certainly a low stress
dive. This comes with a price, however, since there's usually
not a ton to see. Beyond about 10 feet, once the eel grass
turns into a sandy/silty bottom, you may find the occasional
ray, halibut, or nudibranch. Your max depth in the sand shouldn't
be more than 30 feet. If you get that deep you're out in the
channel (read: boat traffic), so I wouldn't recommend it.
Most of the critters will be near the eel grass, so this is
a very shallow dive (10 feet or less) unless you're just getting
out in the water to swim around and play! Keep an eye out
for fish and crabs in the grass. The currents from the tides
tend to swirl around in this corner of the bay, so make sure
you're up on your compass navigation before diving it. Otherwise
you might be swimming the wrong direction!
Directions: Take Highway 1 to Morro Bay. Head out towards
the big rock (Morro Rock). When the road finally turns away
from shore out towards the rock (you'll be in front of a power
plant), you're at the site. Park in the dirt and walk across
the road for an easy beach entry. You'll notice Coleman Park
just a little ways up the road. You may also see kayakers
entering/exiting the water because it's such an easy location.
Potential Hazards: Entanglement (kelp and fishing line),
boat traffic (stay out of the main channel and use a flag),
dredging (they dredge the channel every year or so -- it should
be fairly obvious!) and of course, the tides! Try to time
this dive to be in the water during the high slack tide. The
current can get very intense between tides, so make sure you
take that in to consideration.
Hartford Pier (Port
San Luis Obispo)
Another good training dive, we take many of our students
here for part of their certification. The benefits are a flat,
protected, sandy bottom that's not too deep (max depth is
usually 25 feet unless you do a lot of swimming), and relatively
easy access. Visibility ranges anywhere from 0'-15', and averages
about 3'. It's always a good idea to walk out along the pier
before your dive to check how far down the pilings you can
see. Expect to see plenty of small crabs and snails, some
starfish (especially on the pilings), as well as perch, halibut,
and nudibranchs. Keep your eyes open for the occasional small
school of fish and also pipefish. There are two entry points
for this dive. You can either climb down the rocks from the
parking lot, or you can do a giant stride entry from the pier.
Don't worry, you don't have to jump from the top of the pier
-- there are steps that lead down to a small platform beneath
the pier. Look for the platform with the white fence around
it. The ladder has been replaced, so you can do your exit
at the pier as well.
Directions: Take Highway 101 to the Avila Beach Drive exit,
and head towards Avila Beach. Stay on that road until you
reach Hartford Pier. Instead of driving out on the pier (there's
a restaurant at the end), park in the lot to your right.
Potential Hazards: Entanglement (fishing line) boat traffic
(a flag is recommended), and potentially the surge on rough
days (just stay away from the pilings and be very careful
on your entry/exit).
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