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Monterey Breakwater

Monterey Breakwater

California, United States

Depth
Depth Icon

15m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

6m - 18m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Beginner

Monterey Breakwater

California, United States

Monterey Breakwater
Depth
Depth Icon

15m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

6m - 18m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Beginner


About Monterey Breakwater

This is one of the most heavily dove sites in Northern California. This site gets over-crowded on weekend and seems to be the ultimate diving location. It has a small sandy beach with the bottom consisting of sand and rock formations. The breakwater wall, along with the rock formations are covered in beautiful corals. Abundant marine life covers this area. Here you can also dive along the wall and salvage some interesting artifacts that were left behind by divers or that has dropped into the water from the breakwater wall.

Monterey Breakwater Dive Info

Terrain & Features

Wall, Rock, Other, Night, Reef

Entry Type

Boat

Max Depth

15m

Visibility Range

6m 18m

Experience Level

Beginner

Best Gas Mix

21%

O2

11% at 13m / 36%

O2
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Marine Life

  • Groupers
  • Otters
  • Rays
  • Seal
  • Various
Weather Conditions

Water temperature (℃)
Air temperature range (℃)
Average air temperature (℃)
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Dive Operators near Monterey Breakwater

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Location

Dive Site Hazards

  • Unstable Visual Ascents — Relying on wall visuals can destabilise ascents.

  • Gradual Depth Creep — Lack of visual bottom reference can cause unnoticed descent.

  • Unsignalled Downcurrents — Downcurrents can form without visible indicators.

  • Bubble Trapping Under Overhangs — Rock overhangs can trap exhaled bubbles, reducing visibility and causing disorientation.

  • Reflected Surge Patterns — Surge reflecting off rock faces can create irregular and unpredictable water movement.

  • Current Funnel Effect — Narrow gaps between rocks can accelerate water flow unexpectedly.

  • Landmark Misidentification — Familiar sites can become unrecognisable at night.

  • Light-Induced Tunnel Vision — Focused light beams reduce peripheral awareness.

  • Depth Perception Errors — Reduced ambient light increases depth perception mistakes.

  • Hidden Depth Variations — Complex reef topography can conceal depth changes, leading to unintended profile variations.

  • Distraction from Marine Activity — High fish activity can distract divers and delay depth or gas awareness.

  • Rapid Surge Direction Changes — Surge near reef structures can reverse direction quickly, pushing divers sideways into unexpected areas.

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