Pacific Offshore Divers

It's Spring Time

That's right! Spring is just around the corner, so don't wait any longer. Come on by Pacific Offshore Divers, and checkout what's HOT for '95. We will meet or beat any advertised prices. In fact, even though our FongoBongo sale is over, we still have some great specials in the store. For instance, we still have some discounted scuba tanks left over from the sale. Come by and check it out, or just say hi.

Also while you're here, checkout our classes as well as our fun dives and dive adventures. We have openwater classes starting about every other week as well as accelerated and custom classes for any schedule. We also have a wide range of continuing education programs for the more experienced diver.

Visibility In Monterey Bay

Visibility is defined as the distance within which things can be seen. The visibility in Monterey Bay can be from 0 ft. up to 100 ft. although it averages out to be around 15 ft. to 30 ft. In my opinion visibility is often a poor indication of the true diving conditions.

I have had several good dives when the visibility has been only 5-10 feet or less. The key to low visibility diving is to move more slowly into the dive site (i.e. rocky pinnacle, kelp forest, wreck, etc.), and then stop and wait a few minutes to allow the little creatures to start coming back out. There are an amazing number of critters that duck back into their holes before you get a chance to see them; so have patience.

Another result that you see when diving in lower visibility is that a lot of critters that are normally nocturnal come out as a result of the reduced amount of light. You will be surprised to find that you can spend almost an entire dive on one or two rocks and still not see everything.

Write me with comments, suggestions, or topics you want to know more about at podi@ix.netcom.com and we'll see what we can do.

Maps of Monterey Bay Area

How many times have we seen the request on rec.scuba asking where the good dive sites are in the Monterey Bay Area, or where one can stay, or where to get refills? Well, it's a lot. We now have available the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Diver's Chart (25k image) for $5.95 (which includes all charges to get this chart to you within the United States).

This chart includes over 60 dive sites, plus shipwrecks, and scores of undiscovered pinnacles and walls! The charts are highly accurate, and can be used with GPS and Loran-C.

The chart also includes a complete planning section, featuring dive charter boats, where to stay, where to eat, parking, and much more!

Here is a sample of the effort used in putting this chart together. The figure below (which you can click on to get a larger view, 142K in size), shows the topography of Monterey Bay and surrounding area.

Other SCUBA Web sites around the world

• General Index (Currently down because of stolen machine)
• Aquanaut On-line magazine
• Diving Destinations
• Eric's SCUBA page (Washington area)
• Dive Computer Review
• SCUBA Information Page (Jon Gross)
• SCUBA archive (Peter Yee - NASA Ames)
• Archive Searcher (rec.scuba newsgroup)
• SCUBA Forum (General Travel Forum)
• SCUBA Information (University of Nevada Las Vegas)
• SCUBA Net (California - Monterey Bay Area)
• SNDA (Southern Nevada Diver's Association)
• FAQ (Pertains to rec.scuba)
• Weather forecasts (Telnet session)
• Interactive Marine Observations (Monterey Bay is Buoy 46026)

Pacific Offshore Divers, Inc.           Email: podi@ix.netcom.com
1188 Branham Lane                         Tel: (408) 265-3483

San Jose, CA  95118  USA                       (800) 375-DIVE
                                          FAX: (408) 265-3489