San Carlos Beach a.k.a. Breakwater Beach (Beginner)

Many divers don't call this beach immediately adjacent to the Breakwater steps anything other than Breakwater. It provides a great contrast to the wall of the breakwater.

San Carlos Location
Underwater Site Map

Image Legend:   Red     - generally uninteresting unless you like sand or surgy rocks.
                         Yellow - better diving but tends to have less fish and invertebrates
                          Green  - best diving at the site

Be aware that the photos "compress" distances as you go from shore to the open ocean. It may appear that there is little good diveable area (green), but that is only because of its distance from shore in the picture.

View from the Picnic Area                                                                          

The best diving is in the kelp bed to the left. On the way out, you can see somewhat of a channel in the kelp that heads out to sea. Go out this channel until you are about half way out. Take a heading parallel to shore. Be aware that there is a large open sandy area  as you head toward the northwest. In low visibility, this can create the impression that there is nothing out there except sand. If you encounter this patch, angle into shore until you pick up the kelp beds again, and then head parallel to shore. However, this sand patch is the most common place that I have seen bat rays.