How to Interpret Monterey Dive Conditions

[Bogie]

I would love to find out how to competently learn how to interpret "Dive Conditions" from the experts on scubaboard.

What do you use to get more accurate condition prediction.

Wave height
Surge
Direction of waves
Direction of winds
Tides
Wave period

How does it effect different dive sites? Breakwater, Lovers Point, Monastery, Point Lobos?

All advice is appreciated.


I know about the links:

WAVE MODEL
Monterey Sea Conditions at a Glance
TIDES
Data Retrieval
WAVE SIZE AND DIRECTION
http://www.stormsurfing.com/stormuser2/images/grib/ncal_wave.swf
NATIONAL DATA BUOY CENTER
NDBC - NWS Forecast
NOAA WEATHER
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=forecasts/marine/coastal/pz/pzz535.txt
SURGE FORECAST
http://dev.stormsurf.com/4cast/graphics/enp.46042.bull.2.png
WAVE WATCH
https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/ww3_cgi/cgi-bin/ww3_area.cgi?color=b&area=e_pac
MONTEREY BAY VISIBILITY
divegenie.com

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Monterey Bay Sea Conditions - Some Examples

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Also, I don't use
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=forecasts/marine/coastal/pz/pzz535.txt
because it's always sheltered SOMEWHERE in Monterey Bay, usually
up near Santa Cruz. Better to look at the on 10 miles forecast
and learn how direction counts.

 

[mobeeno]

I like clicking on the map to get an idea of the condition for divesites at
7-Day Forecast for Latitude 36.61N and Longitude 121.88W (Elev. 3 ft)

 

[Sasquatch]

Cool stuff...

 

[Bogie]

So basically, Chuck's criteria is wave direction West less than 12 feet and wave direction North West less than 10 feet.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

So basically, Chuck's criteria is wave direction West less than 12 feet and wave direction North West less than 10 feet.

Not quite. NW less than or equal to 8'. W less than or equal to 10'

Except that the NOAA forecast of late has been on the low side. It's
been pretty constistently lower than all the other forecasts and
lower than the actuals from the buoy.

 

[aquaregia]

So (as an exercise) if I look at the reports for this coming weekend, BW looks doable but Monastery's out of the question?

 

[FishDiver]

Bogie thanks for starting this thread. I have issues with interpreting the forecasts, too. It looks to me like diving should be good this weekend. Swell 4-6' on Sat and 6-8' on Sun.

PZZ560-565-240430-
PIGEON POINT TO POINT PINOS TO 10 NM-
POINT PINOS TO POINT PIEDRAS BLANCAS TO 10 NM-
156 PM PDT TUE MAR 23 2010

TONIGHT
NW WINDS 10 TO 20 KT...DECREASING TO 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING 2 FT OR
LESS. NW SWELL 5 TO 7 FT AT 10 SECONDS AND SW 3 FT AT 17 SECONDS.

WED
W WINDS 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
NW SWELL 4 TO 6 FT AT 15 SECONDS AND SW 3 FT AT 16 SECONDS.

WED NIGHT
S WINDS 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
W SWELL 5 TO 7 FT AT 15 SECONDS AND SW 3 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN.

THU
NW WINDS 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
W SWELL 7 TO 9 FT.

THU NIGHT
NW WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
W SWELL 6 TO 8 FT.

FRI
NW WINDS 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT.
W SWELL 5 TO 7 FT.

SAT
NW WINDS 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
W SWELL 4 TO 6 FT.

SUN
NW WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
NW SWELL 6 TO 8 FT.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

So (as an exercise) if I look at the reports for this coming weekend, BW looks doable but Monastery's out of the question?

Based on the NOAA forecasts, Monastery is worth a look on
Saturday. In all cases, Monastery or the Breakwater, the forecasts
decide whether to drive. The eyeball decides whether to dive.

And the Navy forecast shows Sunday better than Saturday by a
bunch. Recent experience shows the Navy forecast more accurate
than NOAA.

Chuck