Gerstle Cove Dive Site

Gerstle Cove Dive Site

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Dive Area
Enter and drive straight toward the "Day Use" area. At the end of a 1/4 mile paved road, you'll find a large paved parking lot. Amenities here include toilets, scuba gear rinse area and shower, and, last but not least, eagle-eyed Park Rangers intent upon finding (and arresting) anyone who violates rules relating to this underwater marine park: No take of anything within park boundaries (delineated by the bright yellow markings on the two rocks at the north and south ends of Gerstle Cove--you can't miss them). (Note, they also enforce abalone laws which apply to waters outside the park, which is just a short surface swim away.)

This is one of the most popular intro areas for new divers as well as for certified divers just getting acquainted with cold water diving. Inside the cove, the maximum depth is about 40 feet, and there are some nice stands of 20-40 feet kelp with their own resident populations of popular California in-shore fish. In addition to huge sunflower stars (I've seen them as big as 2 1/2 feet in diameter here), there are jillions of abalone (NO TAKE!), crabs, anemone, nudibranchs, etc.

For detailed information about one of our recent dives here, and to view photos of the varied plants and animals you'll find there, click here.

Here are a few shots of Gerstle Cove...

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