Gerstle Cove
Gerstle cove at Salt Point State Beach is about a half hour drive north of Jenner, on Hwy 1, in Northern California. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking on the way to the site. And once there, you’re rewarded with an almost 180 degree view of the Pacific Ocean. So even if the diving is sub-par, you should still enjoy the rest of your day.
Gerstle is a marine sanctuary, thus it is teeming with life. You will see ling cod, rock fish, star fish, crabs of all sorts and you may even see an octopus or a California sea lion. The cove is also relatively small and geographically protected, so the conditions are typically better than most Sonoma county dive spots.
The entry and exit to this wonderful destination can be tricky. It's very rocky and during the warm months, extremely slippery. Because of the difficult entrance and lack of civilized boat ramp, You'll want to be in decent shape for this dive. But if you're up to the task, it's one of the more rewarding dive destinations on the Northern California coast.
- Spectacular scenery
- Out of the way
- Showers
- Changing room
- Ample parking
- Abundant marine life
Reviews (1)
byDan Smitters, June 22, 2007
I've been to Gerstle a few times and I have to say, it's hit and miss. It can be spectacular, especially in the winter. But the visibility (like a lot of northern California dive sites) is really unpredictable. I like diving it in the winter, because it's got an entrance littered with huge rocks, that during the summer are usually covered with very slippery algae.
But if you catch the place on a good day, then you're in for a treat. Like the article says, it's a protected marine sanctuary, so it's teeming with life. Definitely worth the trip!
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