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AdvancedShore entry

Butterfly House

California, United StatesDirections
AOW suggested5–27 m (15–90 ft) depthShore entry5mm wetsuit typical

Butterfly House at a glance

Butterfly House is an advanced shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 4.6–27.4 m (15–90 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Blue rockfish, Vermilion rockfish, and Harbor seal. Recent reports put the water around 19°C (66°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate · sunset 18:17

Forecast for this hour · 3:00 · run 16 h ago
1.0 m (3.1 ft)waves — about a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 19°C · seasonal avg 16°C ( · Forecast 66°F · seasonal avg 60°F)

Site hazards: Steep cliff path with heavy gear (multiple trips advised), significant surge in the shallows, rapidly changing conditions, hazardous rock-reef with rogue waves to the left of the entry, current pushing north beyond the protective rocks

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Sat
Mon8:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–19:00 moderate

1.2 m waves · 8 kn wind (3.9 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Tue8:00–18:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 7 kn wind (4.9 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 5 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 moderate

1.6 m waves · 6 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Fri8:00–11:00 moderate, 11:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–19:00 moderate

1.4 m waves · 6 kn wind (4.5 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Sat8:00–17:00 favorable, 17:00–19:00 moderate

1.0 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:59 · Sunrise 7:25 · Sunset 18:17 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 10:20 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Butterfly House

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Blue rockfish, Harbor seal, Giant kelp
Best time: Very small swell days, typically fall; abort if conditions look questionable

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 8% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (56°F), waves have typically been 3.0 m (9.9 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  2. February, 1% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (55°F), waves have typically been 3.2 m (10.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  3. March, 4% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 3.0 m (9.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 19% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 2.3 m (7.7 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  5. May, 14% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 2.3 m (7.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 18% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (56°F), waves have typically been 2.1 m (6.9 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  7. July, 56% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  8. August, 71% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.1 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  10. October, 22% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (60°F), waves have typically been 2.3 m (7.6 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  11. November, 12% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 2.7 m (8.9 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  12. December, 9% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (58°F), waves have typically been 2.8 m (9.3 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots

August has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

  • Monterey Bay Scuba8.2 km (5.1 mi)

    Report a fix

  • Bamboo Reef Scuba Diving Centers8.5 km (5.3 mi)

    Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa-Su 07:00-18:00 hours from OpenStreetMap — call ahead

    Report a fix

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

An advanced Carmel shore dive named for the private home with a butterfly-shaped roofline on Scenic Road south of Carmel Point. A steep winding path leads down the cliff to a rocky staging area and tricky entry, beyond which lie granite reefs, sand channels and a rich giant kelp forest with depths dropping from 15-20 feet near shore to 60-90 feet within kicking range. The site is exposed to swell from nearly every direction and should only be dived on very small swell.

reefshore

Steep cliff path with heavy gear (multiple trips advised), significant surge in the shallows, rapidly changing conditions, hazardous rock-reef with rogue waves to the left of the entry, current pushing north beyond the protective rocks

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