Fort Ross Cove
Fort Ross State Historic Park, Sonoma Coast · near Jenner · North Coast
Scuba & Snorkel
At a glance
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Depth
- 35
- Water temperature
- 48–56°F · 7mm + hood/gloves or drysuit
- Best season
- Late summer/fall calm windows
Permits and booking
- Permit required
- No
- How the permit works
- No dive permit. Fort Ross State Historic Park — day-use fee. A sheltered-ish cove below the reconstructed Russian-era fort, historically a popular North Coast dive/abalone cove (abalone now closed statewide). Cold, exposed, boat-ramp access; experienced cold-water divers only. Narrow weather windows.
What is here
- Marine life
- Cold-water reef & kelp · Rockfish, cabezon, lingcod · Rich invertebrate life · Historic Russian-era setting
- Features
- Dive below a Russian-era fort · Sheltered-ish North Coast cove · Cold, rich reef & kelp · History above & below water
Worth knowing
- Certification required
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not permitted
- Good for a first timer
- No
Scuba & Snorkel detail
- Dive type
- scuba · snorkel
- Entry
- shore
- Viz
- 10–25 ft
- Intl tip
- Fort Ross State Historic Park charges day-use; the cove has a boat ramp. Cold-water gear mandatory. Abalone closed statewide — look only. Narrow calm-weather windows (late summer/fall). Tour the reconstructed Russian fort above water. For experienced cold-water divers. Combine with Salt Point just north.
The guide
Fort Ross Cove combines California history with wild North Coast diving — a sheltered-ish cove below the reconstructed Russian-…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Fort Ross Cove — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 38.514, -123.245