Monterey Bay · United States · Sand slope · Kelp forest · Reef
Monastery Beach
Kelp and rock reef at 30-40 feet (12 m), with the trench a short swim out
Area photo: Tony Hisgett · CC BY 2.0
A steep sand beach on the Carmel coast, backed by a high dune and fronted by heavy shorebreak landing on loose gravel. Divers enter at the north end, follow the kelp line out to about 30-40 feet (12 m) and work the kelp and rock reef out to where the ground falls away into the trench. The entry, not the depth, is what makes it a serious dive.
Also known as San Jose Creek Beach.
Where it is and how deep
36.5244° N, 121.9273° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Divers use the north end of the beach, where a high sand dune drops away to the water and the waves land hard on loose gravel. Kit up fully on the sand, time the entry between sets, and get through the break without stopping in it. Once outside, stay on the outside of the wash rock rather than cutting inshore of it, then follow the outline of the kelp offshore and settle in about 30-40 feet (12 m) of water before the dive proper begins.
From there the working heading is 350 degrees, which brings you to the beginning of the trench. Follow the contour line at whatever depth suits your gas and your training: the ground drops away steeply here, so the profile is a choice you make rather than one the site makes for you. The bottom along the way is kelp over rock reef, with nudibranchs on the blades and stipes. Come back along the same contour, surface outside the break, and time the exit the way you timed the entry.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Monterey Bay: Fall (September-November) brings the calmest surf and clearest water after summer upwelling; winter swell makes shore entries hazardous.
Know before you go
- The shorebreak lands on a steep bank of loose gravel: kit up before you walk in, time the entry between sets and keep moving through the impact zone.
- Currents here are strong enough to make swimming extremely dangerous. Enter at the north end, stay outside the wash rock, and turn the dive early if you are being set along the beach.
- The steep drop-off from shore can flatten the waves and give the mistaken impression of a calm sea. Watch several sets from the sand before committing to an entry.
- Past the kelp the ground falls away into the trench and you can follow the contour to any depth. Agree a turn depth before you get in and hold to it.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the dive at Monastery Beach?+
The usual dive runs in about 30-40 feet (12 m) of water along the kelp line. Past that the ground falls away into the trench, so divers follow the contour at whatever depth their gas and training allow rather than to a fixed maximum.
Can you shore dive Monastery Beach?+
Yes, it is a shore entry, but not an easy one. The beach is steep sand and loose gravel with strong pounding waves, and currents on this section of coast are strong enough to make swimming extremely dangerous. Divers enter at the north end and stay outside the wash rock.
Sources
- Monastery Beach — Scubago (SSI MyDiveGuide)
- Carmel River State Beach — Wikipedia
In The Logbook
- Where to dive, month by monthTrip planning · 13 min read
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