Dive Review of
Monterey Bay Dive Center in
The Continental USA/Monterey Bay

Caymans & New England lakes

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

2-tank boat trip with Monterey Bay Dive Center on their 40-foot Silver
Prince on a Saturday morning. Both dives at 3rd Pinnacle in Carmel Bay, a
40-min trip from Monterey (swells and wind making for sickness difficulties
for some). Boat was not full with 12 divers (capacity 14) but full enough.
Needed to rent equipment as airlines temporarily misplaced gear. Dive shop
easy to work with; good quality equipment. Good dive and safety briefings.
Nice breakfast (bagels, coffee, etc.)and snacks on board. Good roll-call
procedures. Entry off side by giant stride; return by stern ladder; staff
assists with fin removal. All gear setups responsibility of diver. Dove
with guide/divemaster Jeff Conway, as this was a first kelp forest dive
experience and dive partner had not been diving in several years. Site
consisted of granite formations/walls with interesting channels to swim
through. Every hard surface covered with colorful anemones, urchins and cup
corals. Visibility and color both much better and even more spectacular
than expected. Abundant fish life. Interesting small critters. 2nd dive
stayed in/around kelp forest exploring fish and other life at different
levels. Like being on another planet. Much more dynamic than re-creation in
Monterey Aquarium. Thick clouds of fish everywhere; after a few minutes
clinging to stalks of kelp, you become invisible to the fish and they swarm
around. These dives left me hungry for more; dive op and staff made
potentially very challenging (cold water, unfamiliar conditions, surge,
etc.) dives a blast. Dive Center also arranges/supports shore diving; will
try that next time. 

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