Otter Cove
Sometimes we dive for the surprises that the ocean offers, never knowing what may be around the next rock. At other times we have a purpose in mind. Perhaps you need “bag” a new animal for your photo library, or maybe visit with an old friend. If you are specifically looking for otters in Monterey you should head to—yes, you guessed it—Otter Cove.

This little-used site is just down the road from Lover’s Point and is aptly named. There are numerous otters here, but for divers there are a whole lot of other critters as well. The water near shore is shallow and consists of a boulder-strewn bottom. The shallow water goes a long way out; 50-75 feet offshore you can still stand up. These rocks are covered with algae and are quite slippery. Divers should exercise caution, particularly at low tide when crossing these rocks.

At about 150 yards out, the bottom drops away quickly to 50 feet. The bottom is sandy with massive rocky pinnacles, and these rocks support a thick bed of kelp during the summer and fall months. Huge red Tealia anemones dot the surfaces of the surge channels, and giant green anemones are more common in the shallows. Some pinnacles are covered with thick carpets of strawberry anemones, while others are covered with yellow, orange or cobalt encrusting sponges. Huge patches of some rocks are covered with bryozoans, and numerous species of nudibranchs are seen grazing on the encrusting invertebrates. Look for dock shrimp in the cracks.

Small lingcod and cabezon are often found hiding in rocky nooks and crannies. These are well camouflaged and believe they cannot be seen. This makes them perfect quarry for photographers and fish watchers. You will also find kelp rockfish among the kelp fronds or in caves, along with gobies, sculpins and other tiny fish.

Otter Cove is aptly named, since there is usually a raft of otters here. Perhaps as many as 15 to 20 animals may be found sunning themselves at the far edge of the main kelp bed. It is difficult and illegal to approach otters on the surface. However when hunting for food underwater they will sometimes choose to check out divers. Otters are not as playful as seals or sea lions, but occasionally choose to approach divers.

Otters feed on mollusks such as abalone and clams, crabs, and burrowing animals such as fat innkeeper worms. You can watch them as they swim into tiny cracks looking for abalone, or in the middle of a great plume of sand and silt as they dig for dinner in the sand.

Another animal known for its digging ability is the bat ray. These are often found on the sand bottom to the right of the entry point. Bat rays are often found digging for mollusks in the sand, and large, scooped out depressions on the ocean floor are a good sign that bat rays have been feeding there.

Otter Cove has easy access and lots of marine life. This site will reward the most seasoned diver with new experiences and some old friends as well.

Dive Spot At-A-Glance
Location: In Pacific Grove along Ocean View Blvd. at the intersection of Siren Street.
Access and Entry: Park in the little lot at the intersection of Ocean View Boulevard and Siren Street. Walk down the stairway to the beach. Bring what you need with you since there are no facilities at the Cove, although the business areas of Monterey and Pacific Grove are a short drive. There is no boat launch. Accessible via charter boat.
Skill Level: Intermediate or better from shore, all skill levels from boats.
Depth: 10-60 feet.
Visibility: Good, 10-40 feet.
Photography: Excellent macro and good wide-angle photography.
Hunting: Fair to poor hunting for small lingcod, cabezon and rockfish. Otter Cove is included in the Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Fish Refuge, and no invertebrates may be taken from the intertidal zone to a depth of 60 feet.
Hazards: Watch for surge and surf. Conditions here can change rapidly; conditions are typically calm in the morning and get rougher as the late morning wind picks up. Watch for slippery rocks.

Bruce Watkins is a regular contributor to California Diving News and is the author of the books A Diver's Guide to Monterey County and A Diver's Guide to Northern California.