Coral Street Beach/Lucas Point
Coral Street is a less visited site on the Peninsula but it offers some excellent diving for those who aren't put off by a long surface swim. It's located at the intersection of Coral St. and Ocean View Blvd.
Contents
Quick Info
| Coordinates | 36.635413, -121.927293[1] |
| Depth | 30-80 ft |
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Access Method | Surface swim, Kayak, Boat |
| Protection Status | Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area
Taking of finfish permitted |
Access
Parking along Ocean View Blvd is free. Everything else will cost you. For divers looking for current, urchin barrens and shallows suitable for spear fishing, this site and Chase Reef are easy and accessible but for the true gems like Ball Buster you'll need to work for it.
Attractions & Wildlife
Coral Street inshore in recent years has become a heartbreaking urchin barren, lacking much of the kelp it had only a few years ago. The close shallows are only about 30 feet deep and save the occasional bull kelp stipe, mussel shoal or pinnacle it is mostly dreary Purple Urchins and Sea Cucumbers as far as the eye can sea. Spear fishing is permitted but not particularly productive.
For near-shore surface swims, one option is to proceed out until parallel with the last rocks, descend, and continue away from shore until you reach the barrens.
Aumentos Reef however, is an ambitious (nearly half mile!) swim out upon which the shore diver will encounter exceptional diving on a truly spectacular pinnacle. The bottom here is about 80 feet but the pinnacle climbs to nearly 40 feet below the surface. This might suit boat divers better, however. Dolphins, porpoises and even whales have been seen very close to shore here as they round Point Pinos.
Chase Reef is a bit closer in and has the more familiar canyons and ridges with abundant life at a much more accessible location.
Eric's Pinnacle is closer to shore to the south nearer to Otter Cove.
See what other species visitors have observed at Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area via iNaturalist.
Skill Level & Hazards
This site is somewhat more exposed than those farther down the Peninsula and has a tendency to experience more current, swell and surge that comes around Point Pinos from the open ocean. The boat traffic is also very high owing to fishing, diving and recreational activity.
When diving near shore in the barrens, false bottoms of high rocks on the kick in can lull you into early fin removal; there's no such thing as too close to shore to take your fins off. Coming in or out, thick eelgrass on high rocks presents an entanglement hazard.
Nearest Emergency Medical Facilities
Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula 23625 pacific Grove-Carmel Hwy, Monterey
EMS activation by boat: Notify Coast Guard boat crew on channel 16 or call 911.
Patient transfer at Fuel Dock or at sea.
- ↑ Andrew Middleton/Bathyscope map ref. data from Dr. Rikk Kvitek, CSU Monterey Seafloor Mapping Lab
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