Shore diving Pt. Lobos recommendations

[IanK]

The kelp in Whalers is not too bad. It is possible to find a path through it, narrow at times, out of the cove. It looks worse from shore but as you get into it, a pathway becomes evident. Based on diving there on Tuesday, yesterday.

 

[Peter_C]

The kelp in Whalers is not too bad. It is possible to find a path through it, narrow at times, out of the cove. It looks worse from shore but as you get into it, a pathway becomes evident. Based on diving there on Tuesday, yesterday.

How thick the kelp is, depends on the tides.

 

[IanK]

How thick the kelp is, depends on the tides.

How do the tides affect the kelp? We were at Lobos a bit after low tide on Tuesday - the tide was rising. Is there a preferred tide that minimizes kelp at the surface?

 

[Peter_C]

How do the tides affect the kelp? We were at Lobos a bit after low tide on Tuesday - the tide was rising. Is there a preferred tide that minimizes kelp at the surface?

The kelp floats on the surface, so the lower tides allow more kelp to float, making a thicker canopy.

Tuesday was a +.7' tide, so not super low. When it starts going to negative tides, is when the kelp gets really thick.

On that note, who cares. Go diving, just make sure you have gas reserves to get back under the kelp fields. The kelp forests are one of the best reasons to go diving here along the West Coast.

 

[bperc]

On that note, who cares. Go diving, just make sure you have gas reserves to get back under the kelp fields. The kelp forests are one of the best reasons to go diving here along the West Coast.

Amen to that! Lots of kelp vs. no kelp, I'll take the kelp.

 

[Zalophus]

Thanks to everyone who replied with tips. We had an awesome dive day. The first dive may or may not have been at hole-in-the-wall. We kicked out for awhile, beyond the cove to near the big wash rock, dropped down and explored the reef on the west side of the channel. I did not think we got out far enough to get to hole-in-the-wall, but we reached a depth of 55 ft, and the maps seemed to indicate that depth would put us at about the right distance. Anyways, hole-in-the-wall or not, it was a gorgeous dive with about 30 foot vis and tons of big, beautiful rockfish and plenty of inverts along the big boulders. The second dive was along middle reef. Vis wasn't as good, maybe 20 ft and without the vibrant colors, but still lots of life and a really sweet dive. I now have some critters to go try and identify!

 

[Peter_C]

I now have some critters to go try and identify!

BAUE can help you there again!
BAUE Field Guide

Glad you had fun