Location: the intersection of Ocean View Ave and Coral Street, Pacific Grove.

Maps Available:
- Beach View
- Underwater Topo

Dive Level: Beginner to Intermediate

General Overview:
Coral Street is one of those sites that is either Beginner or not, depending on surf conditions. Instructors love to bring new divers to this scenic location, but as surf can come up quickly, it's best left to intermediate divers when surf is present.

The bottom is mainly rocky boulders with palm kelp attached. In deeper water, you'll also find coralline algae. The bottom is shallow for most of the site, so divers tend to follow the channel in the center of the cove to get to deeper water and to avoid crawling over rocks at low tide. Because of the rocky substrate, this is a great location to spot monkeyface eels in various holes.

Be aware that there may be a strong surface current offshore! The more prudent diver will complete the swim back to shore underwater, rather than potentially face a swim against the current at the surface.

Site Amenities:
Parking is readily available, but there are no restrooms or convenient restaurants near the site...ditto for air - so bring your own everything! Please exercise some level of modesty when changing, for the sake of the neighbors around the site.

Entry/Exits:
Walk down the short stone staircase to the rock and gravel beach. Enter on the west end (the left side) of the beach, and you'll find the wide channel. This will descend to around 20', and is primarily sand (with lots of broken shells thrown in). Exits are done in reverse.

Notable Sights:
As you swim out of the cove, the bottom consists of miniture pinnacles and ridges. You'll find rose and lemon nudibranchs, ring top shells and even the occasional halibut! Harbor seals occasionally stop by, and because of the wide variety of invertebrate life, macro photography is definitely a winner here.

How to Get There:

• Via Hwy 1
Piece of cake! Just hop on Hwy 1 going South. Once you hit Monterey, take the SECOND Del Monte Ave Exit (the one that says "To Monterey and Pacific Grove"). Stay on Del Monte Ave until you go through the tunnel. Immediately after the tunnel, get in the right lane. Follow this road (now Lighthouse Ave) to the last signal in New Monterey (marked by a Carl's Jr on the right). Make a right, then a left at the end of this street onto Ocean View Ave. Follow Ocean View Ave around the bay (a very scenic commute). At Lovers Cove, make a right to continue on Ocean View Ave. In the vicinity of where Coral Street intersects, find parking.

• Via 101 or 280
Take I-280 to Hwy 85 S. to Hwy 101 S. (or just hop on 101 to begin with). In Prunedale, take 156 W. to Hwy 1 S. to Monterey. Take the SECOND Del Monte Ave Exit (the one that says "To Monterey and Pacific Grove"). Stay on Del Monte Ave until you go through the tunnel. Immediately after the tunnel, get in the right lane. Follow this road (now Lighthouse Ave) to the last signal in New Monterey (marked by a Carl's Jr on the right). Make a right, then a left at the end of this street onto Ocean View Ave. Follow Ocean View Ave around the bay (a very scenic commute). At Lovers Cove, make a right to continue on Ocean View Ave. In the vicinity of where Coral Street intersects, find parking.

• Via the Dive Motels (Fremont St)
Head south on Fremont Street to Hwy 1 South. Now, we're never really going to get on Hwy 1, but stay with me here. Stay in the right lane of the on-ramp. It immediately turns into an off-ramp for Camino Aguajito. Take this exit, and make a right at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Take Camino Aguajito to Del Monte Ave, where you'll make a left. Stay on Del Monte Ave until you go through the tunnel. Immediately after the tunnel, get in the right lane. Follow this road (now Lighthouse Ave) to the last signal in New Monterey (marked by a Carl's Jr on the right). Make a right, then a left at the end of this street onto Ocean View Ave. Follow Ocean View Ave around the bay (a very scenic commute). At Lovers Cove, make a right to continue on Ocean View Ave. In the vicinity of where Coral Street intersects, find parking.