MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA

Find your next great dive.

Dive smarter. Explore more. Seven-day forecasts and live ocean data for every local shore dive.

  • 0 Great now
  • 7 Good now
  • 13 sites tracked

Ocean right now

Updated Wed, Oct 14, 4:30 PM PDT

How offshore data is used

These numbers come from two offshore buoys: Monterey Canyon Outer (46236) for the bay sites and Point Sur (46239) for the Carmel side. They measure the open ocean, not the beaches, so each site's rating adjusts them for that spot:

  • Swell direction Every site has its own window of directions it's open to. Headlands like Point Pinos, Cypress Point and Point Lobos block swell from some directions, so the same swell can hit one beach at full strength and barely reach another.
  • Swell period Longer-period swell carries more energy and bends around points more, so it reaches sheltered sites more and produces deeper surge than short-period swell of the same height.
  • Several swells at once The buoys often see two or three swells from different directions, and each is weighed against the site's exposure before they're combined.
  • Wind Onshore wind at a site adds chop and makes entries harder; offshore wind usually smooths the surface until it gets strong. Wind is from the National Weather Service forecast for each site.
  • Site rules Each site has its own limits, its own onshore wind direction and its own tide rules. Monastery and Carmel River get stricter limits because their shore break turns dangerous quickly, the Breakwater reads rougher when a high tide of 5 ft or more meets the swell, and extreme low tides count more at the Point Lobos ramp, Bluefish and Coral Street.
  • Forecast check The wave forecast is compared with what the buoys actually measured and corrected when it runs high or low.

The buoys sit offshore, so "Waves" on each card is an estimate for that site. Always look at the water before you get in.

Monterey Bay

Total waves
4.3ft
Swell period
13s
Swell from
WNW
Wind
10kt

WNW swell is affecting these sites about equally right now.

Buoy 46236 · 53 min ago

Carmel and Point Lobos

Total waves
6.9ft
Swell period
15s
Swell from
W
Wind
5kt

W swell is hitting Fanshell Beach, Carmel River Beach and Monastery Beach hardest; Stillwater Cove is comparatively calmer.

Buoy 46239 · 53 min ago

Monterey tides

Falling
Next low
8:15 PM
Height
0.3 ft
View all tides
0123456 ft12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AMH 2:20 AML 6:24 AMH 12:33 PML 8:15 PMNow 2.7 ft0123456 ft12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AMHigh 2:20 AM · 3.8 ftLow 6:24 AM · 3 ftHigh 12:33 PM · 5.3 ftLow 8:15 PM · 0.3 ftNow 2.7 ft

Monterey (NOAA 9413450). Heights in feet above mean lower low water.

Dive sites

Monterey Monterey and Pacific Grove

Wharf 2 forecast

Wharf 2

Wharf II · Monterey Outside the pilings only
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
0.5ft
Period
13s
Wind
10kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Fair Fair

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Sheltered from most west swell. Local wind chop on the surface.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.8 ft
  • Good to ~3 ft
  • Fair to ~4.2 ft
  • Rough to ~6 ft
  • Severe above ~6 ft
View forecast
Breakwater forecast

Breakwater

San Carlos Beach · Monterey
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
0.5ft
Period
13s
Wind
10kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Fair Fair

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Sheltered from most west swell. Local wind chop on the surface.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.5 ft
  • Good to ~2.5 ft
  • Fair to ~3.5 ft
  • Rough to ~5 ft
  • Severe above ~5 ft
View forecast
McAbee Beach forecast

McAbee Beach

Monterey (Cannery Row)
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
1ft
Period
13s
Wind
10kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Rough Rough

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Sheltered from most west swell. Local wind chop on the surface.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.7 ft
  • Good to ~2.8 ft
  • Fair to ~3.9 ft
  • Rough to ~5.5 ft
  • Severe above ~5.5 ft
View forecast
Lovers Point forecast

Lovers Point

Pacific Grove
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
1.7ft
Period
13s
Wind
11kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Rough Rough

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Some surge possible around the point.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.7 ft
  • Good to ~2.9 ft
  • Fair to ~4 ft
  • Rough to ~6 ft
  • Severe above ~6 ft
View forecast
Otter Cove forecast

Otter Cove

Pacific Grove
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
1.7ft
Period
13s
Wind
11kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Fair Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Rough Rough

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Some surge possible at the stairs.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.7 ft
  • Good to ~2.8 ft
  • Fair to ~3.9 ft
  • Rough to ~5.5 ft
  • Severe above ~5.5 ft
View forecast
Coral Street forecast

Coral Street

Pacific Grove
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
2.8ft
Period
13s
Wind
11kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Fair
  5. Fair Fair
  6. Fair Rough
  7. Severe Severe

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Some surge possible in the channel.

Waves at this site, 13 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.5 ft
  • Good to ~2.6 ft
  • Fair to ~3.6 ft
  • Rough to ~5 ft
  • Severe above ~5 ft
View forecast

Carmel Pebble Beach, Carmel and Point Lobos

Fanshell Beach forecast

Fanshell Beach

17-Mile Drive · Pebble Beach Gate fee · closed Apr 1 to Jun 1
SevereRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
4.4ft
Period
15s
Wind
9kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Severe Severe
  2. Rough Rough
  3. Rough Fair
  4. Rough Rough
  5. Severe Severe
  6. Severe Severe
  7. Severe Severe

TonightSevere

Why this rating?

Right now

Exposed site: 4 ft brings severe surge on the beach.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.3 ft
  • Good to ~2.2 ft
  • Fair to ~3.1 ft
  • Rough to ~4.4 ft
  • Severe above ~4.4 ft
View forecast
Stillwater Cove forecast

Stillwater Cove

Pebble Beach Call ahead · gate fee
GoodRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
1.4ft
Period
15s
Wind
8kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Good Good
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Good
  5. Fair Good
  6. Fair Fair
  7. Fair Fair

TonightGood

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Some surge possible on the beach.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.4 ft
  • Good to ~2.3 ft
  • Fair to ~3.3 ft
  • Rough to ~4.7 ft
  • Severe above ~4.7 ft
View forecast
Copper Roof House forecast

Copper Roof House

Carmel Beach · Carmel
RoughRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
2.4ft
Period
15s
Wind
8kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Rough Rough
  2. Fair Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Fair Good
  5. Severe Rough
  6. Rough Rough
  7. Severe Severe

TonightRough

Why this rating?

Right now

Exposed site: 2 ft brings strong surge on the beach.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.2 ft
  • Good to ~1.7 ft
  • Fair to ~2.3 ft
  • Rough to ~2.8 ft
  • Severe above ~2.8 ft
View forecast
Carmel River Beach forecast

Carmel River Beach

Carmel
SevereRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
2.8ft
Period
15s
Wind
8kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Severe Severe
  2. Rough Fair
  3. Good Good
  4. Rough Fair
  5. Severe Severe
  6. Severe Severe
  7. Severe Severe

TonightSevere

Why this rating?

Right now

3 ft is enough for a powerful, dumping shore break on this steep beach.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.5 ft
  • Good to ~1.9 ft
  • Fair to ~2.2 ft
  • Rough to ~2.7 ft
  • Severe above ~2.7 ft
View forecast
Monastery Beach forecast

Monastery Beach

Carmel
SevereRight now

Steep beach: powerful shore break

Consistent through tonight
Waves
1.7ft
Period
15s
Wind
8kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Severe Severe
  2. Rough Rough
  3. Fair Good
  4. Severe Rough
  5. Severe Severe
  6. Severe Severe
  7. Severe Severe

TonightSevere

Why this rating?

Right now

2 ft is enough for a powerful, dumping shore break on this steep beach.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1 ft
  • Good to ~1.2 ft
  • Fair to ~1.4 ft
  • Rough to ~1.7 ft
  • Severe above ~1.7 ft
View forecast
Point Lobos forecast

Point Lobos

Whalers Cove · Carmel
FairRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
2.1ft
Period
15s
Wind
7kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Fair Fair
  2. Fair Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Good Fair
  5. Rough Rough
  6. Rough Fair
  7. Rough Rough

TonightFair

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Small waves, but long-period surge builds at the ramp.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~1.1 ft
  • Good to ~1.9 ft
  • Fair to ~2.6 ft
  • Rough to ~3.7 ft
  • Severe above ~3.7 ft
View forecast
Bluefish Cove forecast

Bluefish Cove

Point Lobos · Carmel
FairRight now
Consistent through tonight
Waves
2ft
Period
15s
Wind
7kt

Daily outlookAfter dark, 8 PM to midnight

  1. Fair Fair
  2. Good Good
  3. Good Good
  4. Fair Fair
  5. Rough Rough
  6. Rough Rough
  7. Severe Severe

TonightFair

Why this rating?

Right now

Partly sheltered from west swell. Small waves, but long-period surge builds on the swim out and at the site.

Waves at this site, 15 s swell:

  • Great under ~0.9 ft
  • Good to ~1.5 ft
  • Fair to ~2 ft
  • Rough to ~2.9 ft
  • Severe above ~2.9 ft
View forecast

Live cams

Filters

Sort
Show

Explore Monterey underwater

A white anemone on a rock under the kelp canopy
Anemone in the kelp
A harbor seal swimming underwater
Harbor seal
A school of blue rockfish swimming beside a kelp stalk
Blue rockfish
An orange and white opalescent nudibranch crawling over dark red seaweed
Opalescent nudibranch

Local reports and sources