Best spots at Point Lobos reachable from shore.

[Jak Crow]

So I've now done Lobos a few times, reaching Hole in the Wall, Granite Wall, and just following the left side of whalers cove. I'd like to know what are some of the best spots to check out. I'm particularly interested in any places with hydrocoral, friendly seals, or maybe some unique features not found at the other locations.

[Chuck Tribolet]

It's "Granite Pt. Wall", not "Granite Wall".

I like the transition between the end of Middle Reef and the open water, and going muck diving in the open water off Middle Reef (find purple gravel, then go looking for critters trying to look like purple gravel). I don't thing there's much hydrocoral in Whalers (LOTS at Thumbs Up, but that's not really swimmable).

[Jak Crow]

What about Sea Mount? Any spots with curious seal activity more than others?

[Thalassamania]

Is the cone shell wall we used to call "Childrens' Garden" still there in Bluefish Cove? That was always a neat dive.

[tac747]

To Chuck; It's "I don't THINK there's much hydrocoral in Whalers " not "I don't THING there's much hydrocoral in Whalers " ;) Just playing. Could not help myself.

[Jak Crow]

Is the cone shell wall we used to call "Childrens' Garden" still there in Bluefish Cove? That was always a neat dive.

I don't think I've seen that on any of the dive maps so far.

[Jak Crow]

Is there a list of GPS coordinates for the popular spots at Lobos?

[Chuck Tribolet]

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/gpslobos.html

Google is your friend. It comes up #1 if you Google:

Pt. Lobos GPS

[Jak Crow]

Ah. So you must be getting Point Lobos State Reserve, Ca - gps coordinates, map, weather - gps basecamp (http://www.gpsbasecamp.com/state-parks/California/Point_Lobos_State_Reserve) which as far as I can tell, only has the gps coordinates of Point Lobos in general and not those of the various dive sites I'm looking for. The garlic.com site appears to be a bit more useful than simply saying "google is your friend" with the mistaken assumption that the person asking for the gps points of various dive sites at Point Lobos has not made a single attempt to look up this information for himself, though the garlic page appears to be geared toward boat accessible dive sites at Lobos, but I thank you anyway. If anyone has something geared toward sites that are more suitable to be reached from shore, I would appreciate it.

[mikemill]

My go to resource for Lobos planning: Point Lobos Underwater Maps (http://www.baue.org/lobos_maps/index.php)

[Jak Crow]

Thanks Mike. That's exactly what I was looking for.

[kathydee]

I really enjoy the canyons behind HITW :).

[enigmata]

omg! the canyons followed by the dense kelp canopy in the shallows of summer is awesome.

[Jak Crow]

Kinda like this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1eFLsPFWk

[Thalassamania]

Pt. Lobos Story (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/206906-missing-diver-hand-signal-2.html#post3167435)

[KRL1973]

What about Sea Mount? Any spots with curious seal activity more than others?

I've done sea mount from shore a few times and it is rather unique and does have some hydrocoral. video: YouTube - ‪1973krl's Channel‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/user/1973krl?feature=mhee#p/u/21/NX2oLdf3qx8)

My best harbor seal encounters have been at lovers point and hidden beach (1st little beach north from San Carlos beach)

-Ken L

[Gombessa]

Sea Mount is a bit further than HitW, it's probably as far as I'd venture on a single tank (though I know a few people who can make it a lot further on a 1er).

If you've been to GPW, a really great area is hopping around to the back of the wall (which is really much more of a long pinnacle) and exploring the canyons behind it.

The eastern side of Middle Reef (the side facing GPW) is much more rarely dived than the western side from what I've seen, and IME the easten gives you the best chance of running into leopard sharks.

I agree with Ken, the best places to find seals are probably in Monterey (we've always had a lot of luck with seals at McAbee beach).

[Jak Crow]

I've done sea mount from shore a few times and it is rather unique and does have some hydrocoral. video: YouTube - ‪1973krl's Channel‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/user/1973krl?feature=mhee#p/u/21/NX2oLdf3qx8)

My best harbor seal encounters have been at lovers point and hidden beach (1st little beach north from San Carlos beach)

-Ken L

I've had seal encounters at Lovers:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQ3vi2spso

I had just read there were a number of friendly seals at Lobos.

[Jak Crow]

Sea Mount is a bit further than HitW, it's probably as far as I'd venture on a single tank (though I know a few people who can make it a lot further on a 1er).

If you've been to GPW, a really great area is hopping around to the back of the wall (which is really much more of a long pinnacle) and exploring the canyons behind it.

The eastern side of Middle Reef (the side facing GPW) is much more rarely dived than the western side from what I've seen, and IME the easten gives you the best chance of running into leopard sharks.

I agree with Ken, the best places to find seals are probably in Monterey (we've always had a lot of luck with seals at McAbee beach).

I did GPW and didn't see any hydrocoral at the time, and I've done the canyons to the right of it. Both have been pretty cool regardless. So far the only place I've personally seen a branch of coral was near HitW.

98649

[KRL1973]

I did GPW and didn't see any hydrocoral at the time, and I've done the canyons to the right of it. Both have been pretty cool regardless. So far the only place I've personally seen a branch of coral was near HitW.

98649

Seen hydrocoral shorediving from Butterfly house and from Carmel River Beach also. It is patchy and not a sure thing every time I visit these sites. I have found that you need to get out in the deeper area and once there don't look near the bottom but rather ascend a bit up the larger rocks out there that are exposed to some current or surge. I've been surprised to come across some relatively large 'bushes' near the top of big rocks at just 20-30fsw. At that shallower than expected depth the color of the hydrocoral is especially vivid too.

good luck

[Jak Crow]

I'm more interested in what to find at Lobos. Thanks.

[zf2nt]

Sea Mount is a bit further than HitW, it's probably as far as I'd venture on a single tank (though I know a few people who can make it a lot further on a 1er).


I think the best one I've seen in this regard was done by my wife a couple of years ago: on a HP80, down at HITW, over to LM, north to Sea Mount, then out to the tip of Beto's Reef, and then back...all the way to 20' off the boat ramp. I always knew she was good, but this was more than good.

Bruce

[Peter_C]

*Shrugs* I have done Beto's on a single. I have also seen divers enter the water at the same time we were pulling anchor. We passed them over Middle Reef on our way to Thumbs Up. Once anchored as we were gearing up, we watched as their bubbles passed right under us. All you need is a scooter to dive most anywhere at Lobos.

One of my favorite dives kicking at Lobos is Canary Point Wall. Then again, I rarely get to dive there by boat or scooter.

[Guy Alcala]

*Shrugs* I have done Beto's on a single. I have also seen divers enter the water at the same time we were pulling anchor. We passed them over Middle Reef on our way to Thumbs Up. Once anchored as we were gearing up, we watched as their bubbles passed right under us. All you need is a scooter to dive most anywhere at Lobos.

One of my favorite dives kicking at Lobos is Canary Point Wall. Then again, I rarely get to dive there by boat or scooter.

Cannery Point, presumably, or did you mean Granite Pt. Wall?

Guy

[Peter_C]

No wonder my auto correction got it wrong...I clicked one off on accident. Yes Cannery Point wall.

Granite Point is a nice dive and still holds the deepest I have dove record for me.