Monastery Beach

Carmel, California, United States

Known locally as "Mortuary Beach" for its notoriously treacherous shorebreak and the Carmel Submarine Canyon that begins a few metres off the sand — an advanced shore dive where depths exceed 60 m within easy swimming distance. Kelp forest, giant sea bass encounters, wolf eels, and nudibranchs along the rock reef; the south end is slightly gentler than the north. Entry timing is critical and conditions turn dangerous fast; not for novice divers.