Diving the Monterey Peninsula

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I'd say the Monterey Peninsula is one of the finest places to dive in the USA. Not because it is the easiest diving, mind you - far from it - but because the abundance of underwater life in this place is spectacular.

Living things cover virtually every rock face. Coraline algae, sponges, tunicates, hydroids, cup corals, anemones of all shapes and sizes and colors cover the reefs like a blanket. There are nudibranchs and snails and shellfish and urchins and barnacles and the list goes on and on.

The density and diversity of invertebrate life at the Peninsula is truly exceptional.The kelp forests are thick with life, but the rocky reefs are no less covered with living things. In a single square meter of reef you can literally find hundreds of species. There are myriad fish of countless kinds and sizes, from huge mola mola sunfish down to tiny sculpins skirting in and out of every crevice.

I could go on and on, but mere words would fail. There is a big difference between someone telling you, and you seeing for yourself. But not many ever get to dive the Monterey Peninsula. Even if you are a certified diver, and can make the trip, this place is advanced cold water diving. It takes serious effort and "sticking to it" to become skilled using a drysuit and all the heavy, confining gear required. The water temps, the difficult environments, limited vis, and the often challenging ocean conditions around the Peninsula deter most.

But sorrow not. This is where I hope to help. I'm doing something I've always wanted to do this year - a true adventure - and I am inviting you to look over my shoulder and share it with me.

This winter I will be diving and photographing the waters of the Monterey Peninsula, exploring and seeing as much as conditions will allow, from Monterey Bay to Point Lobos. I'll be doing LOTS of diving for three solid months. On each dive I'll search out the varieties of marine life on the reefs, and capture photos as best I can of all I encounter. Along the way, I will add the images here. I invite you to check back from time to time, and see the project grow. My intent during these months is to create a large collection of images that will allow you - especially if you are not a cold water diver - to see some of this amazing place for yourself.

It may be you will fall in love with the Monterey Peninsula, as I have. - Ken Ashman

Log One

This first handful of images are a bit "early bird" since they are from the 18th of December, 2021. (My project is to photograph the Penninsula throughout the winter, but winter starts on the 21st this year... grin.) I jumped aboard the Beach Hopper II for two dives, first Octopus Reef, and then Metridium Mountain offshore Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove. Both dives visibility underwater varied from 20 to 25 feet, the water temp at 60 ft. depth 57 degrees. Surface conditions were moderately rough due to wind chop, but it was calm below - almost no surge. Topside it was a clear, beautiful morning. I arrived at K dock in the Old Fisherman's Wharf as the sun rose, excited to get the project started.

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Just after sunrise - it's loading time at K dock. The Giant Plumose Anemone Metridium farcimen 2 ft. long Plumose Anemones at Metridium Mountain

Nearing the Monterey Bay Aquarium A rockfish among Plumose anemones at Metridium Mountain. The cerianthid burrowing anenome Pachycerianthus fimbriatus All these from 18 Dec 21 were shot in full manual with a 12-24mm lens. My Nikon camera has a "cropped" sensor, so the actual focal length is 18-36mm. I used a single Inon Z240 strobe set at full power, and adjusted exposure with my aperature. I set the shutter speed to get the ambient light right - 200th of a sec gave me the daylight backgrounds. The technique I used is called "close in wide angle." The 12-24mm lens lets me get super close - often just a foot or two away - and still get the wide angle reef scene.

Pachycerianthus fimbriatus are commonly called Tube Anemones Metridium Mountain Giant Plumose anemones are mobile and pick places exposed to currents. A squared away and skilled drysuit diver.

Telia fish eating anemones Urticina piscivora at Octo Reef A rockfisk tucked in at Octopus Reef. Plumose anemones lined up along a rock face to catch the currents at Metridium Mountain.

Log Two

My next dives at the Monterey Peninsula were on Jan 7, 2022, again aboard the Beach Hopper II. Captain Mary Jo Nelson knows all the dives sites across the region. She is a skilled captain, and it's a pleasure to dive with her off her boat. This time we went to Amentos, and then on to Eric's Pinnacle. Both are on the Pacific Grove side of Monterey Bay.

It was a cool, calm, overcast day topside. The water was 57 degrees at depth. The ocean was flat, no wind so no wind chop. A mild swell rolled out of the northwest, and there was just a touch of current - likely from the tidal swing.

The vis at Amentos was limited, ~15-20 ft. at depth. We hit the water just after low tide. It was milky and low vis near the surface, and didn't get much better at the bottom. Visibility varies for lots of reasons, but as the tide comes in, clear cold water is pushed into the Bay from the outer deep. As a result, vis can improve with the rising tide - and deeper is usually better. Two hours later, when we giant-strided in at Eric's Pinnacle, the first 20 ft. was still milky, but visability opened up to ~30 ft. at 60 ft. depth.

Sheep Crabs cover themselves with sponges and algae to go unseen. Loxorhynchus grandis An aggregation of Blue Rockfish Sebastes mystinus at Amentos. A big Sheep Crab sittng pretty. Loxorhynchus grandis On day two I used my 12-24mm wide angle lens again, both dives. But instead of a single strobe (as on day one) I used two Z240 strobes, mounted on 3 ft. arms. The long arms allow for better light positions. I think the light outcomes on day two show it. Two strobes allow for more options. It was a cloudy day, lower vis, deeper dives, and the amount of sunlight reaching the reefs was low. At the shutter speed I felt comfortable using, no ambient light showed up in my frame - making the area beyond the reach of my strobes as if night.

Anemones cover the walls at Eric's Pinnacle - ~50 ft. Loxorhynchus grandis traversing the rocks at Amentos. Strawberry Anemones at Eric's Pinnacle Corynactis californica Corynactis californica covering Giant Acorn Barnacles Balanus nubilus in blankets of living color.

Very milky for the first 30 ft. at Eric's Pinnacle Sea Stars and sponges can be almost iridescent. These colors have not been inhanced or altered - two 5500K (sunlight equiv.) strobes. Every crevice is full of life at Eric's Pinnacle. This is a place I want to dive again and again.

Sheep Crab walking near the base of Eric's Pinnacle. A Scorpion Fish waiting for prey. Near the top of Eric's Pinnacle

Log Three

My third dive day was Jan 22. Once again aboard the Beach Hopper II, we returned to Octopus Reef and then Metridium Mountain. This time the water clarity was very good - 40+ ft. visibility. Water temp at depth was 57 degrees. A gentle swell rolled out of the northwest at 15 sec intervals. Glorious conditions for diving!

Ambient light only. To get my exposures right, I start with no flash. I use shutter speed to dial in the background ambient light. I'm using two strobes, but the sun is my 3rd light source. First thing I do is set my camera for the ambient light.

Octopus Reef

A Metridium farcimen at Octopus Reef.

A Sheep Crab chilling on a bed of anemones at Octopus Reef.

Nice vis made for great photo opportunities on day three.

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