Del Monte Beach

Should you ever stand on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey and look right, you will gaze on a wide sandy beach that seems to go on forever. On a clear day you can view the beach all the way to Santa Cruz, some 25 miles north. Del Monte Beach is bordered by ice plant-covered dunes and groves of tall eucalyptus trees and is a great place to beachcomb, picnic, or just catch a few rays. Offshore divers find a habitat that is unique to the Monterey Area.

The waters near the wharf are almost always calm due to the protection of the wharf and breakwater. It is, therefore, no surprise that this part of Del Monte Beach is a favorite location to take students on their first dive. The calm conditions and flat bottom also makes this a perfect location for advanced students to practice navigation skills.

In the shallow water (10-15 feet) near shore lie extensive beds of sand dollars. As the water deepens a bit the sand gives way to fields of eel grass. Within the protective environment of the eel grass are numerous juvenile fish and an assortment of tiny nudibranchs that are unique to this habitat.

Beginning about 200 yards offshore from wharf #2 and running towards the Monterey Beach Hotel is a large shale reef. This patch of ocean is sometimes referred to as Tanker Reef or Shale Beds. The sea floor here consists of a series of shale ledges running parallel to shore. Attached to this meager rocky foundation is a thin forest of kelp consisting of both bull and giant kelp. Within the tiny crevices of the shoals are found a few octopus and a few small fish.

Occasionally warm, El Niño waters bring Melibe nudibranchs into the bay and these strange-looking nudibranchs collect in the fronds of giant kelp. Melbia are also called lion nudibranchs due to their large "mane" that is used to catch their planktonic dinner. The shale is attacked by a species of boring clam that rasps away burrows into the soft shale. The clam holds onto the shale with its foot and uses its shell as a scraping tool. Beachcombers often find pieces of shale on the beach decorated with neatly drilled holes. This natural art is a result of many years of hard work by little clams.

Del Monte Beach is one of the best locations in California for hunting halibut. Halibut can be found at Del Monte seasonally, and the season may begin as early as April or as late as July, depending on the year. The entire Del Monte beach area is good for hunting halibut and the fish tend to move around in loosely associated groups. Large fish may be found from 40 feet to just beyond the surf line. Often a halibut will bury itself under a thin layer of sand with only their eyes exposed, while at other times they will be found lying in plain view. Their camouflaged coloration makes them difficult to distinguish from the sand bottom.

It requires a fair amount of skill and patience to see a halibut. The same can be said of many of the California's sand-dwelling animals. Divers with good observation skills and a bit of patience can find a sand-bottom dive very enjoyable. They are often rewarded with encounters with strange and beautiful critters, unique photographs, and sometimes a halibut dinner.

Dive Spot At-A-Glance

Location: Between Wharf #2 in Monterey and California State University, Monterey Bay.

Access and Entry: Fee parking is available at the foot of wharf #2, and in the small lot next to Monterey Bay Kayaks. Additional parking may be found near the end of Park Street near the laundromat. Divers with boats may launch at the breakwater and head out to the waters off the California State University, Monterey Bay (formerly Fort Ord).

Skill: All levels.

Depth: 10 to 40 feet .

Visibility: 5 to 15 feet .

Hunting: Fine spearfishing for halibut. California Fish and Game laws specify a bag and possession limit of three halibut north of Point Sur, minimum size, 22 inches total length. Season is open year 'round. California halibut have a rather large mouth; both eyes are usually, but not always, on the left side of the head; and the maxillary (upper jaw) extends past the eye.

Photography: Fair macro for sand-dwelling animals; Melibe nudibranchs can sometimes be found on the giant kelp beds.

Hazards: Watch for boats.

Bruce Watkins is a regular contributor to California Diving News and hundreds of his articles and photographs have appeared in various magazines. He is the author of A Diver's Guide to Monterey County, published by Saint Brendan Corp.