Local's
LedgeI was totally overwhelmed by the critters on the wall. There were nudibranchs to my left, nudibranchs to my right, above me, and below. Color was everywhere - purples, reds, oranges, yellow. But which one should I shoot first? Oh, the frustration of underwater photography!
There are those dive sites that divers only get a chance to visit once or twice a year. These are exposed to the ocean's fury, are swept by strong currents, and Mother Ocean infrequently lets her guard down and allows the luck diver to experience these wonderful reefs.
Perhaps the best example of this kind of site is Local's Ledge. The site sits between Monterey and Carmel Bays and is off the Cypress Point Golf Course. The shallow inshore area is covered by a thick covering of bull and giant kelp. Due to the exposed conditions and shallow depths this area is often too surgy for a comfortable dive. However, just seaward of the thick kelp is one of the best sites in all of Monterey.
Running parallel to shore are a series of steep-sided ridges. The tops of these ridges vary between 10 to 40 feet, and the bottom varies between 70 and 90 feet deep. Between the ridges and seaward of the site is a sand bottom. The ridges form a series of vertical walls and "U"-shaped canyons. In some places the rock walls are so close together that they are difficult to swim between, and in at least one place they form an arch large enough to swim through.
Tops of the rocks are covered with palm kelp, and below the kelp is a thick carpet of corynactis anemones. A bit deeper yet the rocks are sprinkled with large Telia and Metridium anemones, tunicates and colorful sponges. The color here for photographers and sightseers is incredible.
This is nudibranch heaven. I have never seen so many and so many different kinds of nudibranchs in one place. Horned nudibranchs by the hundreds, two species of dendronotids, Spanish shawls, Phidianas, and numerous species of white, yellow and orange dorids.
There is also plenty of fish life here, but little of it is worth hunting. Schools of blue rockfish may be found just outside of the thick kelp and there are lingcod, cabezon, sculpins and gobys hiding among all the invertebrate life.
Harbor seals haul out in large numbers at nearby Fanshell Beach and occasionally take the time to visit divers. Sea otters forage in the shallow water and are often seen napping in the thick, inshore kelp. Sea lions frequent the area as well.
During their southerly migration in December through February, gray whales come close to shore here. Lucky divers have had in-water encounters with these huge marine mammals at this location. In fact, last season some very fortunate divers snapped some excellent underwater photos of a newborn whale and her mother.
In short, this has all of the interesting marine life that makes
Monterey diving so enjoyable. The water here is often much clearer
than points in Monterey or Carmel Bays, but it is rare that ocean
conditions will allow you to diver here. When conditions are right
you will certainly want to check this spot out.
Location: Just south of Cypress Point and Offshore of the Cypress Point Golf Course.
Access and Entry: This site is accessible by boat only. Boats may be launched from The Monterey Harbor, Stillwater Cove or Point Lobos. Anchor offshore and south of the large wash rock with the small wash rock on its south side. There is a large stone house and a little brick house along the little cove inshore of the anchorage.
Visibility: Good, 20-40 feet.
Depths: 10-90 feet.
Photography: Great macro for nudibranchs, tunicates and small fish. Great wide-angle for kelp and reef scenes.
Hunting: Allowed, but there are not many game fish left in the Monterey area.
Hazards: Watch for big waves and swell, boat traffic, and long-shore currents.
Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News, lecturer and author of the book A Diver's Guide to Monterey County.
