Morro Bay & Port San Luis · United States · Pinnacle
Point Buchon Pinnacles
Large pinnacles off Point Buchon, from 8 m to past 30 m
Area photo: jkirkhart35 · CC BY 2.0
The Point Buchon Pinnacles are a series of large pinnacles off Point Buchon, on the coast between Port San Luis and Morro Bay. Depths range from around 8 m (25 ft) to past 30 m (100 ft). Point Buchon has a state marine reserve and a marine conservation area, where diving is allowed unless otherwise restricted.
Where it is and how deep
35.2553° N, 120.9048° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
This is an area of several large pinnacles rather than one rock. The shallowest ground is around 8 m (25 ft) and the rock goes down past 30 m (100 ft), with lots of invertebrates, fish and bull kelp, and plenty to keep a team busy for several dives if the weather allows. The site is excellent for hunting and photography.
Point Buchon is covered by a state marine reserve and a state marine conservation area; kayaking, diving, snorkelling and swimming are allowed there unless otherwise restricted.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Morro Bay & Port San Luis: No month stands out; the water ranges 7–13 °C with the time of year, and fast-changing weather decides which days the boat sites can be dived.
Know before you go
- The pinnacles go down past 30 m (100 ft).
- Water of 7–13 °C (45–55 °F) depending on the time of year; extra thermal protection might be needed.
- Weather along the Central Coast can change very quickly and should be a top concern.
- A large security zone surrounds the Diablo nuclear power plant on this coast; boats must stay out of it.
Dive videos
Point Buchon Pinnacles · Andrew Harmer on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is diving allowed in the Point Buchon marine protected areas?+
Yes. Kayaking, diving, snorkelling and swimming are allowed in the Point Buchon state marine reserve and marine conservation area unless otherwise restricted.
Sources
- Coastal Dive Sites-Avila (Port San Luis) to Big Sur — Channel Islands Dive Adventures
- Point Buchon State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area — Wikipedia
More dive sites in Morro Bay & Port San Luis
Kelp forest
Thick kelp beds along Highway 1 just past Cayucos
Reef
A large rock topping out about 5 m under the surface
Reef
Surface-breaking rock in kelp with lingcod and rockfish at 6–15 m
Pinnacle
Pinnacle rising from about 37 m to within 6 m of the surface
Pinnacle
A large field of jagged pinnacle tops at around 6 m
Reef
Rocky ground to 15 m with lingcod, cabezon and kelp bass
Similar dives elsewhere
Giant Pacific mantas cleaned by Clarion angelfish on a shallow pinnacle
Swim-throughs and mini-walls on the outer pinnacles
A lighthouse islet with sea lions and passing mantas
A current-swept pinnacle off Cerralvo with large groupers