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Breakwater Cove - Monterey CA


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Breakwater Cove is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in Monterey, CA. This dive site has an average rating of 3.61 out of 5 from 85 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 61-70ft/19-21m. The average visibility is 11-15ft/3-5m. This dive site provides bathrooms and airfills.

Breakwater Cove a.k.a. San Carlos Beach Park is another popular dive site - many classes are held here on weekends and parking can be limited, so get there early. This is a wonderful place to get a glimpse of sea lions, octopus, and other marine creatures. The best diving is on the outer side of breakwater. Beware of kelp and boats! Two dive shops within close walking distance. Max depths usually don’t exceed 65 FSW. Full services: food, lodging, emergency services (incl. chamber) nearby. Showers and restrooms at site. Find old pipe on north (left) side of dive site and follow it to Medtridium Field at about 60 FSW. Be sure to pay for parking - parking is enforced!


The jetty protecting Fisherman’s Wharf and the harbor. Parking off of Foam street at Spence street. Breakwater Cove is popular dive site. Parking can be limited, so get there early. This is a wonderful place to get a glimpse of sea lions, octopus, and other marine creatures. The best diving is on the outer side of breakwater. Beware of kelp and boats! Directions: In Monterey, heading West on Del Monte, bear right onto Lighthouse Ave, then bear right onto Foam St. Make a right onto Cannery Row.


Went to Monterey/Breakwater on 6/27, seemed to be a typical ’spring/summer’ dive. Visibility was maybe 8 feet at the bottom, 3 feet in the water column on the way down. Swell was minimal, but the beach was absolutely packed with checkout classes. Water was 57 @ the top and 55 @ 30-40 ft. Weather was incredible so with a 7 mil suit and 5 mil hoodie, it was extremely comfortable. This is an easy dive to ’get your gills wet’ after not diving for a while, or just an easy dive if you are looking for a quick one. It’s very hit or miss at Breakwater, but it’s always a good standby.


I’ve been here when you’re 1 of a 100 divers. Not fun. Today we had the ocean to ourselves. Bring plenty of weight because you usually don’t go deeper than 30’, with most of the dive about 20’. Saw 2 otters and a few harbor seals from above the water, but no one wanted to play today. Healthy kelp and lots of crabs, starfish and snails if your patient. Because it’s so shallow, you can finish you day with an 80 minute dive and walk 60’ to your car. They have a warm water shower. Good to clean your gear. Fun dive.

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Comments

Kkbk - 6/26/2022 9:25 PM
Rating Added: 4
This is the site I base all my other dives on. I first hit the water here in 1987. I have just done a Night Dive here and boy how things have changed. Still brings a smile to my face to be here.
Kkbk - 6/26/2022 9:23 PM
I did my open water check out dive here back in the late 80’s. Vis is hit and miss. A 7mm will get you through about all year.
I did my night check out dive here recently. Vis was great water temp was also great. We saw lots of crabs, purple urchins. We also had a seal make a fast run past us.
leavenotrace - 5/17/2021 7:25 PM
Rating Added: 5
This is an excellent gentle beach entry with a variety of options to explore. Great for training and skills development as well as equipment testing and our no fail weekly fallback dive site.
badkarma - 10/06/2020 7:06 PM
I went scuba diving here on 10/2/2020.
terrible vis 5ft at best headed north
CaliDiver408 - 8/18/2018 12:56 AM
I went scuba diving here on 6/23/2018. Average viz: Under 5ft/2m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
ScubaHunter5 - 2/05/2018 12:27 AM
I went scuba diving here on 2/4/2018. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C.
divelizard - 6/26/2018 12:04 AM
Viz can be very bad and no fish if it’s during the Cruise season - the huge ships chug right up the entire inner coast past all the reefs. The engine noise is horrific.
ScubaHunter5 - 2/05/2018 12:21 AM
I went scuba diving here on 2/3/2018. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C.
TooTanked - 7/22/2017 5:50 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/28/2016.
I love Breakwater. I have well over a dozen dives at this location... The rating I submitted for location in this log was for my overall experience of these two dives. The purpose of the dives were refreshers and to get familiar with some new gear. Due to allergies I had a difficult descent (my head was congested) and I over-weighted myself on the first dive and under-weighted myself the second. I’m new to this site and I am sampling the online dive log. If you happen to read this entry, please comment on how you like this site for tracking your dives. Thank you, N
wuzaracer - 7/10/2017 9:54 AM
I went scuba diving here on 7/9/2017. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
I wore a 7mm semi dry suit, front entry with hood, boots and gloves. I was very comfortable in the water. There is plenty to see. The visibility was decent to good in spots. This was my first time diving in Monterey. I rented suit tank and weights from Breakwater Scuba. The shop is walking distance to the water. I suited up at the shop, walked to the shore and went diving with a buddy.
Smithsgold - 7/10/2017 2:13 PM
Glad you had a good dive !!!!
CAAdventureGurl - 12/29/2016 10:51 PM
Rating Added: 4
If you’ve never dove in Monterey, it’s best to start here.
It’s a large open cove with lots of space to park your cars, gear and friends. There are divers and dive services everywhere and everyone is always willing to help out. There’s a wonderful reef in less than 30’ of water and if you want to go deeper, there’s the breakwall for an easy reciprocal dive with fabulous kelp forest views and all the wonderful local critters in abundance.
I’ve encountered everything from tiny glass shrimp to curious electric rays (no I did not touch, but we both got within feet of and stared at each other for several minutes).
Sometimes the visibility can be bad, especially after and during some rough waves, but if you hunker down among the kelp and start peering under things, there will be thousands of critters to examine and find.
hellhound - 5/12/2016 11:02 PM
I went scuba diving here on 4/20/2016. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C.
Saw some great fish, crabs, sea snails, sea slugs, different colors of starfish. Would upload photos, but new camera had a crack in lens and old camera fogged up.
Randygus - 1/07/2016 1:42 AM
I went scuba diving here on 1/3/2016. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Last 2 dives were great got to see a lot and really enjoy the day
ParadiseDiveCenter - 12/21/2015 10:41 PM
Rating Added: 3
Great place for new students !!!
Randygus - 12/15/2015 2:03 AM
I went scuba diving here on 12/13/2015. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Conditions were poor but still a good trip
Kamdive - 11/21/2015 4:00 PM
I went scuba diving here on 11/15/2015. Average viz: 11-15ft/3-5m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Dives # 8 and 9
Kamdive - 11/21/2015 3:58 PM
I went scuba diving here on 11/14/2015. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Dives # 6 and 7
Kamdive - 11/21/2015 3:53 PM
Rating Added: 4
Did my open water dives here for my class
Smithsgold - 11/16/2015 5:41 PM
I went scuba diving here on 11/14/2015. Average viz: 5-10ft/2-3m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Dive # 148 & 149, # 10 & 11 Dive Master Training, Kam Open water Dive # 1 and # 2
Lots of Surge !!!
Smithsgold - 9/02/2015 5:09 PM
Web Cam from Glenn’s Aquarius dive shop !!!

aquarius2.com/
Brendin - 8/10/2014 12:04 PM
I went scuba diving here on 3/7/2009. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m.