California Dive Center, San Bruno — GRAND OPENING!

A diver explores Caspar's reefs.

Ever ponder how the little things we do today change the future? In the spring of 1850 the Frolic headed east from Hong Kong, and her captain made a small miscalculation and influenced California diving history. In those days sailing ships rode the northern trades to the Mendocino Coast and then took advantage of the northwesterly winds to head south to San Francisco or Mexico. The Frolic got a little too close to shore and ended up on the rocks, just south of present day Caspar Cove.

When the unlucky sailors made it to San Francisco, local merchants listened to their tales carefully and sent an expedition to salvage the Frolic. Would-be treasure hunters found local Indians wearing Chinese silks but never recovered any for themselves. They did, however, bring back stories of huge forests with enormous redwood trees. San Francisco was a growing town at that time and needed timber. The sinking of the Frolic lead to the great California Timber rush and spurred the development of logging ports along every minor cove in Mendocino County.

Rockfish

These timber ports are now our dive sites and Caspar Cove is a fine example. The floor of Caspar Cove consists of sand and gravel intermixed with rocks and boulders. It’s a calm place to dive with a few colorful anemones and other invertebrates to look at. The north wall of the cove is a wonderful place to explore. There is a maze of tunnels that lead back into a private little beach. Huge rocks jut up from the fifteen foot bottom to the surface and are covered with colorful marine life—giant green anemones, red coralline algae, purple kelp and many sea stars. There are a few short abalone in the cracks, but a fair number of small rockfish can be found in the shallow water. Because of the shallow water and interesting rock formations this is a great place to free dive or kayak.

The south side of the cove tends to get most of the wave action and is less frequently dived than the north side. On days when the swell is small this is a great place to explore and to hunt. There are more and larger abalone here than on the north side, as well as more and larger fish.

The really spectacular diving is not in Caspar Cove itself but in the rugged coast just north and south of the cove. The area between the south lip of the cove and the Point Cabrillo Reserve offers some of the most spectacular game hunting in all of California. On a calm day you can snorkel on the surface and count the nine-inch abalone 15 to 20 feet below. Abalone here are so thick that you can often find one abalone clinging to the shell of another. This is a particularly pretty place to free dive since the abalone are intermixed with giant green anemones and an assortment of colorful sea stars.

This is also a great place for spearfishing. Huge lingcod abound in the shallow waters, particularly in the late fall and winter. Spear fishers who spurn the use of tanks will be in heaven here because of the abundance of large fish in 15 to 25 feet of water. In a little deeper water look for larger-than-average schools of blue rockfish, trophy-sized black rockfish and a few nice cabezon thrown in for fun.

If you want to hunt make sure that you stay out of the Point Cabrillo Reserve, which begins about 2500 feet north of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. However, if underwater photography is your game, then by all means check out the reserve. Here you will find some of the best photography in Northern California. Huge fields of fluffy white Metridium anemones, friendly game fish, and an assortment of nudibranchs will keep your strobes blazing for a great many dives.

The topside scenery is as impressive as that below the water. The coastline is pitted with caves and arches, and harbor seals haul out on the offshore rocks. As you enjoy Caspar Cove, try to think back to the Frolic and what those unlucky sailors must have thought about the beautiful cove that now entombs their ship.

Dive Spot At-A-Glance

Location: Caspar Cove is located off Point Cabrillo Drive. Exit from Hwy. 1 at mile marker MEN 54.71.

Access and Entry: There is limited but free parking on the edge of the beach. Small inflatable boats and kayaks may be launched. Restrooms, and a store may be found across the road at the Caspar Beach RV Campground, call 707-964-3306. Access is also available by continuing on Point Cabrillo Drive to the southerly point of the cove. A steep trail leads to a little beach and several rocky shore entries. There is another public access point a bit farther down Point Cabrillo Drive. Turn west onto Otter Point Circle. There is limited parking and a public right-of-way to the bluff and a rocky entry.

Skill Level: Intermediate or better.

Depths: 10 to 60 feet.

Photography: Good photo ops. for game fish, invertebrates and wide-angle shots on offshore pinnacles.

Hunting: Good hunting for abalone, lingcod, rockfish and rock scallops. The Point Cabrillo Reserve lies south of Caspar cove. No form of marine life may be taken from the ocean area within 1,000 feet of the high tide mark in the vicinity of Point Cabrillo U.S. Coast Guard Lighthouse, bounded by lines extending due west (magnetic) 2,500 feet north and 1,600 south of the lighthouse. Access is free but a permit is required; call 707-937-5804. Make certain you know where reserve boundaries are to avoid being cited.

Hazards: Watch for surge, large waves, and boat traffic.