Metridium Fields (Monterey Breakwater deep)
Monterey (off the Breakwater) · near Monterey · Central Coast
Scuba & Snorkel
At a glance
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Depth
- 60
- Water temperature
- 50–58°F · 7mm or drysuit
- Best season
- Calm fall days clearest
Permits and booking
- Permit required
- No
- How the permit works
- No permit. The Metridium Fields lie off the end of the Monterey Breakwater at ~50–60 ft — reached by a longer surface swim or navigation from the San Carlos Beach entry. A famous field of white plumed anemones. Intermediate: depth and navigation from the Breakwater. Same access/parking as the Breakwater.
What is here
- Marine life
- White Metridium anemone forest · Rockfish & lingcod · Nudibranchs & crabs · Sea lions overhead
- Features
- Ghostly white anemone forest · Classic Monterey deep-shore dive · Navigation challenge from the Breakwater · Sea lions overhead
Worth knowing
- Certification required
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not permitted
- Good for a first timer
- No
Scuba & Snorkel detail
- Dive type
- scuba
- Entry
- shore
- Viz
- 15–40 ft
- Intl tip
- The Metridium Fields are off the Breakwater's end at ~50–60 ft — navigate out along the jetty from San Carlos Beach (same access/parking). Intermediate: depth + navigation. A guided dive or good compass work helps. Sea lions overhead throughout. Combine with the shallow Breakwater. Calm fall days are clearest. Cold water — 7mm or drysuit.
The guide
The Metridium Fields are one of Monterey's signature dives — a ghostly forest of white, plumed Metridium anemones carpeting the…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Metridium Fields (Monterey Breakwater deep) — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 36.609, -121.894