Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in San Luis Obispo County

There are 2 main spurs of rock offshore that are covered with macroalgae and invertebrates. These are separated by a wide sand channel that I have seen halibut, sanddabs, starry flounder and ratfish. On the rocks there are rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, and kelp greenlings. This can be a very clear dive with 50+ feet of vis, but usually it is less than 10 ft vis. When the swell bumps up there is a milky white precipitate that is just up off the bottom destroying the vis. This is in addition to the sand being lifted up and also ruining the vis. There are at least 2 big, old style anchors straight out from the beach here. Those are fun to come across. It is easy to launch a kayak or small boat from the beach here. There are some superb reefs you could access with a small boat. The dive has an easy entrance and exit, and is great for classes. The spring tends to have the coldest water down to 48degrees. The rest of the year it is usually in the mid 50s. Drive into Montana de Oro from Los Osos via Los Osos Valley Road. The beach is a few miles into the park on your right. If you reach the campground, you have gone a little bit too far. Plenty of parking in a dirt lot. Outhouse style toilets and picnick tables are the only amenities. Lots of beach goers especially on weekends, but few divers. You will see kayakers launch here, and on a big swell harcore surfers paddle out to the point. Short walk from parking area to the waters edge over a sand beach. Usually an easy entry with a relatively steep drop-off. I usually put my fins on at the edge of the water and I am floating within a few steps. You should not bother with this spot if there is much swell. Spooners Cove is also known as Montana de Oro.

This is a small pinnacle that comes up to 23 feet deep from nearly 150 feet on the offshore side. At the widest it is less than 0.2miles wide, so it is easy to miss. Once you spot it on your fish finder you may want to drop a marker so you don't lose it. Wind and swell are frequently problems in this area. The pinnacle can have incredible visibility and it is covered in life. Fish that are common here are: lingcod, cabezon, rockfish(black/yellow, gopher, blues, blacks, olives, kelps, tree, china, vermilion), kelp greenling, sheephead (big ones), gobies, Bathymasterids, and other standard fare. The entire pinnacle is covered with invertebrates including purple california hydrocoral. Amazing for photography. This is inside the MPA so hunting is 100% off limits. I get checked by wardens about a quarter the time I am out here. This is an amazing dive! A must see for all divers. Boat access only! Launch from Morro Bay and Head South. Or Launch from Port San Luis and head up the coast, giving Diablo Canyon a wide berth (1 mile is required by law). I suppose a true die hard could launch a small boat or kayak from Spooners and get here from there. The Magic is a dive boat which operates out of Morro Bay and makes special trips out here for small groups (6-pack). Go to the coordinates and look for the pinnacle on your depth sounder. the spot should be just inshore of the red buoy about 0.2nm. This is within the Pt Buchon MPA, so leave the pole spears at home. Buchon Reef is also known as Pt Buchon Reef, Buchon.

Diving under the pier offers up tons of small marine life. Nudibranchs, sponges, anemones, tunicates, crabs and small fish cover the pilings and bottom. Currents can be extremely strong inside Morro Bay, so plan your dive for slack tide. Visibility can be very poor, so good navigation skills are a must to avoid boat traffic and fishermen. Check with the Harbor Department office at the pier to let them know you will be diving. They will often allow you access to their dock to avoid a surface swim. North T-Pier is also known as Morro Bay T-Pier.