Location: Del Monte Beach - North of Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey

Maps Available:
- Beach View
- Underwater Topo

Dive Level: Beginner to Intermediate

General Overview:
Del Monte Beach actually spreads from Fisherman's Wharf (Monterey) all the way to Moss Landing. For our purposes, we'll focus on the area immediately north of Fisherman's Wharf. The water here is generally calm, due to the protection of the wharf and breakwater. About 200 yards offshore and running parallel to shore is a large shale reef (known as Tanker Reef or Shale Beds). The sea floor itself is primarily shale ledges, hosting bull and giant kelp or sandy patches with occasional eel grass.. Looking closely at the shale, you'll also see evidence of boring clams. Del Monte Beach also is home to a Buffalo Half Track, a crumbling armored personnel carrier. A short swim from there will bring you to a small sailboat - both in about 20' of water. Del Monte Beach is also the best location for halibut hunting.

Site Amenities:
Depending on where your entry point is, you will pay for parking - so keep those rolls of quarters handy! There are restaurants along Del Monte Ave near many of the common entry points, including a McDonald's and a British Pub at the wharf. There are no air fills available.

Entry/Exits:
There are several entry and exit points:

- Fisherman's Wharf (Wharf #2). This entry point provides easy access to both the wharf dive site as well as Del Monte's shale beds. This is easily one of the calmest entry/exits in California! Wharf #2 hosts a maze of pillars supporting a ceiling 30' above you as you dive. It's a dark dive, so bring a light! Parking is available at Fisherman's Wharf.

- Monterey Bay Kayaks. This is an easy entry/exit, and is commonly used wihen heading out to check out the Half Track. MBK is located at Del Monte Ave and Cortez St.

- McDonald's. This is an easy entry/exit, and is commonly used by hunters. McDonald's is located at Del Monte Ave and Camino El Estero.

- the Laundrymat. This is an easy entry/exit, and is commonly used by hunters. The Laundrymat is located at Del Monte Ave and Park St.

Notable Sights:
All these entry points provide very similar diving (other than Wharf #2). The shale beds are interesting to poke around, and the eel grass hides juvenile fish as well as unique nudibranches. The Half Track and sailboat hosts a growth of anemones, scallops and other invertabrates.

The Wharf's pillars provide a substrate for all kinds of invertebrates to cling to and flourish. Sheep Crabs hang from the pilings - they can be up to 2' across! Lingcod abound (although typically quite small), as well as cabezon, flatfishes, and the occasional ray. Also living at the Wharf are those quiet mammals known as the California Sea Lion - chances are pretty good they'll check you out.

Insider Info:
The Wharf has many hazards, including fishing line and gill nets - you'll need to carry a good knife! Diver's must obtain permission from the harbor master before diving under Wharf #2. If you're hunting, it's a good idea to exit close to your vehicle - I know of at least one dive team that had to carry a 50lb halibut almost a quarter of a mile because they forgot this one.

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 find your entry/exit point.

• 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 find your entry/exit point.

• 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 find your entry/exit point.