San Mateo Scuba Diving locations & information provided by MITCHELL SCUBA.

Left pic is the Hwy. 1 turnoff for Fitzgerald Marine Reserve - Right pic shows the Reserve looking North.

FITZGERALD MARINE RESERVE DIVE SITE INFORMATION
BEACH DIVES
(SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED TO EXPERT)

To get to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve drive South from Pacifica on Hwy. 1 until you get to Moss Beach. You will see the sign showing the California Ave. turnoff to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve - San Mateo County Dept. of Parks. Spear fishing for most species is allowed - check the regulations if you are not sure what fish are ok to hunt. This is fairly shallow dive, and significantly different than the North side of the reserve. On occasion this area is subject to pollution, so check on water quality before you go diving here. The phone number for S.M. Parks is (650) 728-3584.


At the parking lot you will notice a ranger kiosk and restrooms. There are also many informative signs posted.

As you walk down to the beach area you will see the "trailhead sign" shown in the center pic above. It usually is posted with current water conditions, or so I have been told. When you get to the beach and decide to dive, please avoid the area to the left, shown in the left pic above. This is a well used "haul out" for the local pinniped population. The right pic shows the cove which is very nice for diving on a calm day - this area can be SUBJECT TO LARGE WAVES when the conditions are right! There are numerous rock formations and the area is generally calm enough to dive. Like all of the dive sites in San Mateo, the visibility is normally marginal.

The decision to dive (or not) is your responsibility. Keep diving activities within your training and comfort level. If you feel more training or experience is needed before attempting a dive, don't dive. Know personal limits, skill levels, and abilities of yourself and your dive buddy. Dive Safely and Dive Often!

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, contact me

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