McAbee Beach is located at Cannery Row in Monterey. The entry and exit for the dive is partially
protected by the surrounding points and is mostly sand which makes entry and exit easier. The
biggest problem is to find a parking spot nearby at Cannery Row. Don’t forget to bring quarters to
feed the parking meters at the street ($1.50/hr?). It is a shallow dive site, but you only need to do a
short surface swim and you are in 20 feet of water and can safely descend for your dive.
The recommended dive is to head in a northeastern direction until you are into the kelp at about 35 feet of
water, then turn to the left, almost heading in a northwestern direction staying at about 30-35 feet of water. Take your time diving here. Look between and around the rocks. Look into the cracks in the
rocks. The rocks are covered with colored invertebrates, nudibranchs, sponges, anemones, and
tunicates. You will also find pipes from the old canneries. Don’t forget to look inside, because a lot of
times it is somebody’s home nowadays. We will meet at 6:00pm at the dive site, which is where
Hoffman Ave. hits Cannery Row.
General Guidelines for After Work & Night Dives: To participate in after work dives or night dives,
divers must carry a minimum of two lights, one main light and one marker light (usually attached to
the tank valve). The dive must be terminated if a person experiences a malfunction of his/her light(s).
That is why carrying three lights is strongly recommended so that dive team can continue the dive if
one diver’s light ceases to function. For everyone’s diving pleasure, the club would like to thank all
participants for adhering to these recommendations for club dives.
These dives are a lot of fun, come out and join us!
RSVP if you are coming on the MBSO Facebook page or by email to
info@montereybayseaotters.org, and meet on the sidewalk above the beach, adjacent to El Torito
restaurant.