Carmel, California, United States

Point Lobos

Point Lobos State Marine Reserve protects the granite headland just south of Carmel and is widely considered the most beautiful kelp forest dive in California. Diving is by permit only and limited to roughly fifteen pairs per day, which keeps the site quiet. Two coves are open to divers: Whaler's Cove on the north side, and Bluefish Cove on the south side, accessed by a longer surface swim. Granite ridges, pinnacles and kelp-draped reefs run from 6 metres in the coves to past 30 metres on the outer pinnacles. The reserve has been a no-take area since 1973 and the fish life reflects it: giant lingcod, schools of blue and olive rockfish, vermilion rockfish, large cabezon, kelp greenling, and a healthy population of California sea lions and harbor seals. Sea otters use the inner kelp canopy. Visibility is variable but regularly the best on the Monterey Peninsula, with 10 to 20 metres possible on calm fall days.