Shrimp

Stillwater Cove
What makes an ideal dive site? Lots of marine life? Of course! Calm waters? Most like that. Shallow? More bottom time! If that’s what you are looking for, then you must check out Stillwater Cove.
Stillwater Cove lies on the north side of Carmel Bay, and the cove is protected by Pescadero Point. When the northwesterlies are blow’n, this is one of the calmest spots in the Monterey area, and the normally placid waters live up to their name. Much of the cove bottom is sand, sprinkled with a rocky patch reef. In the center of the cove are the massive Pescadero Rocks. The best diving is on the south side of the rocks and on the massive wall, just south of the rocks.

Painted greenling

The shallow rocks are covered with all of the colorful marine life that makes California diving so interesting—carpets of red corynactis anemones, giant green and blood red telia anemones, and yellow and cobalt sponges. The shallows around Pescadero Rocks house an abundance of hermit and decorator crabs and shrimp. This area is also a great place to observe and photograph nudibranchs. The simple dorids such as the lemon and Monterey nudibranch are here in abundance. Photos of orange and white clown nudibranchs, gaudy red and white phidianas, and ostentatious dendronotids will wow your friends. These creatures are intrinsically photogenic, but it is a real treat to find them in colorful backgrounds.

About 100 feet from Pescadero Rocks the bottom drops from 30 to 50 feet in a massive wall that runs nearly 100 yards. Much of the wall looks like it was once vertical and flat, and then someone with a massive ice cream scoop carved out short caves, undercuts, and shallow depressions. It’s more like diving underneath a wall than alongside one. The rock surfaces are adorned with encrusting sponges in hues of cobalt red and yellow. On the west side of the wall is a float, marking the location of an underwater statue.

The nooks and crannies of the wall harbor an assortment of photogenic invertebrates and fish. It is a good idea to carry a flashlight so you can see what is hiding deep in the cracks. There may be a colorful blue-ring top snail or a chestnut cowry waiting for you. Also look for small sculpins, gobys, and rockfish underneath the ledges. This is a great place to photograph small fish. Take your time swimming along the wall as some of the more beautiful critters are well camouflaged, and would prefer not to be seen.

Most dive Stillwater from one of Monterey’s charter boats, although small inflatable boats and dive kayaks are easily launched from the pier or beach. The calm conditions and interesting marine life make Stillwater Cove the most commonly requested dive site on local charter boats.

Dive Spot At-A-Glance
Location: Along the 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach.
Access and entry: By boat from Monterey or via the beach near the Pebble Beach Club House.
Skill level: Beginner to advanced.
Depths: 20 to 60 feet
Visibility: 15 to 40 feet
Hunting: Carmel Bay is an ecological reserve and no invertebrates including rock scallops may be taken.
Photography: Good macro photography for nudibranchs and other little invertebrates. This is a good spot to photograph small, reef fish.
Special rules: Diving from the beach is limited to 10 divers per day; there are 6 parking spots that must be reserved up to 14 days in advance. There is a loading/unloading area, but incoming traffic is prohibited between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. A pier and boat hoist available for recreational craft only, from May 1 through September 30, with a limit of 10 boats per day. Diving, sunbathing, and picnicking are permitted during daylight hours only and only on the beach east of the pier. Spearguns are also prohibited on the beach. Call (408) 625-8507 for reservations and additional information.

Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News and author of the books A Diver's Guide to Northern California and A Diver's Guide to Monterey County published by Saint Brendan Corp.