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Shore entry

Otter Cove

California, United States
Open Water suggested3–18 m depthShore entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Otter Cove at a glance

Otter Cove is a shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 3–18.3 m (10–60 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Sea otter, Harbor seal, and Lingcod. Recent reports put the water around 16°C (60°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 5h ago
1.5 mwaves — about a meter and a half expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 16°C · seasonal avg 14°C

Site hazards: At low tide up to 30 yards of shallow or exposed rocks must be crossed; surge when swell wraps in from the wrong direction; thick kelp in summer

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sun
Sun7:00–17:00
Mon7:00–14:00
Tue7:00–12:00
Wed—
Thu—
Fri9:00–21:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:40 · Sunrise 6:09 · Sunset 20:19

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 4.2 km from site · graded 5h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

What Divers Say

Known for: Sea otter, Harbor seal, Blue rockfish
Best time: High tide on small-swell days; winter often calmest per local forecasts

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. Jan8%13°C3.0 m
  2. Feb1%13°C3.2 m
  3. Mar4%12°C3.0 m
  4. Apr19%12°C2.3 m
  5. May14%12°C2.3 m
  6. Jun18%13°C2.1 m
  7. Jul56%14°C1.6 m
  8. Aug71%14°C1.5 m
  9. Sep38%16°C1.9 m
  10. Oct22%16°C2.3 m
  11. Nov12%14°C2.7 m
  12. Dec9%14°C2.8 m

August hastypically 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

  • Sea otterCommonly seen
  • Harbor sealCommonly seen
  • LingcodOccasionally seen
  • Blue rockfishCommonly seen
  • Striped surfperchCommonly seen
  • Nudibranchs (various)Commonly seen
  • Giant kelpCommonly seen

Fills & rentals nearby

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

  • Bamboo Reef Scuba Diving Centers2.4 km

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

    Report a fix

  • Monterey Bay Scuba3.2 km

    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.

Site details

A quiet cove on Ocean View Boulevard about a quarter mile up the coast from Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, named for the sea otters that frequent its kelp beds. A broad shallow shelf of kelp- and coralline-covered rock in 10-15 feet extends offshore before the bottom slopes gradually to around 60 feet. Far less crowded than the Monterey classics, but the rocky shallows make it a high-tide dive.

reefshore

At low tide up to 30 yards of shallow or exposed rocks must be crossed; surge when swell wraps in from the wrong direction; thick kelp in summer

Reviews

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