Point Lobos · United States · Kelp forest · Wall · Pinnacle
Whalers Cove
Shore dive on a 9 m cove inside a no-take marine reserve
Area photo: Eugene Zelenko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Whalers Cove is one of only two coves in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve where diving is allowed, and it is the reserve's most popular dive location. The cove is about 9 m deep, shallow enough for snorkellers and beginning divers, and its kelp forest, rock walls and pinnacles lie inside a no-take marine reserve.
Where it is and how deep
36.5195° N, 121.9397° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Whalers Cove is a shore dive, and permission to dive is granted as you enter the reserve — this cove and Bluefish Cove are the only two places in Point Lobos where diving is allowed at all. Divers commonly use the cove to begin their dives. It is only about 9 m deep, so the dive works one shallow bowl rather than a profile: kelp forest over rock, with walls and pinnacles on the site, over the same ground snorkellers cover.
The cove sits inside the Point Lobos State Marine Reserve, 5.36 square miles in which fishing and the take of all living marine resources are prohibited, and divers may not take any fish or molluscs. Lingcod and rockfish hold on the rock, sea stars sit on the shallow stone, and harbour seals and sea otters use the cove, one of the richest marine habitats in California. The dive is planned around looking, so give the swim back in as much time as the way out.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair |
Season follows Point Lobos: Sep–Nov gives the clearest water after the summer plankton fades; winter storms close the reserve to diving for days at a time.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Whalers Cove?+
About 9 m (30 ft) at its deepest, which is why the cove suits snorkelling and beginning divers. It is a shore dive, and proof of certification plus a dive reservation are required.
Do you need a permit to dive Point Lobos?+
Diving is permitted only at Whalers and Bluefish Coves, and permission is provided on entering the reserve. Proof of certification and a dive reservation are required: $20 on weekdays, $30 at weekends and holidays, plus a processing fee. Reservations are taken on 831-624-8413.
Can you take fish or shellfish at Whalers Cove?+
No. The cove lies within the Point Lobos State Marine Reserve, 5.36 square miles in which fishing and the take of all living marine resources is prohibited. Divers may not take any fish or molluscs inside the reserve.
Sources
- Whaler's Cove dive site — Scubago
- SCUBA Diving at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve — California State Parks
- Point Lobos — Wikipedia
In The Logbook
- Diving with seals and sea lionsBig animals · 17 min read
More dive sites in Point Lobos
Nudibranchs and leopard sharks a short swim from the ramp
A 77-metre wall at 18-20 m, off the cove boat ramp
Similar dives elsewhere
A 77-metre wall at 18-20 m, off the cove boat ramp
Sea lions in the kelp, and sevengill sharks in April
The seabed drops 150 metres at the edge of the slope
Granite pinnacle at 12 m (40 ft) with a vertical wall on its offshore face