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Whalers Cove
Location:
Point Lobos
State Reserve
Dive Level:
Beginner to
Intermediate
General Overview:
Whalers Cove is the gateway to some of the best diving on the
peninsula. Located in Point Lobos State Reserve, Whalers Cove
consists of a sandy bottom with dispersed rocky outcroppings. Thick
beds of giant and bull kelp cling to these rocks. And where you find
thick beds of kelp, you find sea otters napping. During the winter,
leopard sharks enter the cove to bear pups - there can be as many of
20 seen during a typical dive during this time! You'll also find
harbor seals terrorizing them, as the two species haven't taken "why
can't we all get along" to heart.
There are two small
caverns beneath Coal Chute Cove that you can explore. The cavern at
the tip of the cove (marked in black through the tip) is above 80'
long and has no side tunnels. You can safely proceed directly
through the cavern to the other side, assuming that conditions are
relatively mild. Several other caverns are marked on the map. BUT -
keep in mind that caverns are overhead environments, and require
special training to explore safety!
Point Lobos
was the first underwater reserve in the nation (beating out
Pennecamp by 13 years)! RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR WEEKEND
DIVING! Point Lobos limits the # of divers to 15 teams/day.
A complete list of Point Lobos diving
regulations can be found here.
Site Amenities:
There is an $8 fee/vehicle to enter the Reserve and
a $10 fee/dive team (Prices may change so please check when you make
your reservation.) Diving is ONLY allowed at Whalers Cove and
Bluefish Cove. There are restrooms available.
Entry/Exits:
Divers may only enter the water from the Whalers Cove boat ramp.
This is also the entry point for Bluefish Cove (requiring a long
swim or an alternative method of travel -such as a kayak or DPV).
Notable Sights:
The caverns are relatively safe to dive, and can be quite fun (and
spooky for some).
The west wall of the cove near the mouth has a series of rock faces
in 30-50' of water that are covered with quite colorful invertebrate
life - including large rose anemones, and several species of
nudibranchs. Sea cucumbers and encrusting sponges make macro
photography quite popular in this area.
This IS a reserve,
so the fish have no fear of divers - so here again, photographers
can add to their fish portrait collection.
How to Get There:
• Via Hwy 1
Take Hwy 1 south past Carmel. Immediately after Monastery Beach
(cleverly named due to the Carmelite Monastery on the east side of
the highway), you'll see a sign for Point Lobos. Make
a right and stop at the Ranger Station to pay your fees, show your
certification, and check-in (reservations are required, remember?).
After pulling past the Ranger Station, make the first right to go to
Whalers Cove parking.
For more
information about Point Lobos, you can
visit the official site
and the official
Point Lobos Scuba site.
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