It’s official – after this past weekend, I am now a level one certified diver!
Getting scuba certified has been something I’ve wanted to do since I went to Belize four years ago. I’m deeply fascinated by having the ability to explore something we as humans still know little about. Those who know me know that I’m very outspoken about my love for sharks and Finding Nemo. Given that I had some time to spare these past few months, it was the perfect time to accomplish this personal goal and set forth my resolutions.
I got certified in Monterey, a seafaring town only a couple hours away from San Francisco, yet in my opinion, under-visited. Admittedly, this time of year it’s cold and rainy (I wore a 7mm wetsuit to dive – over twice the thickness of what I wore in Hawaii!), but it is also raw and beautiful. Viewing kelp forests at the aquarium which I swam through only a few hours earlier was an incredible feeling of what the ocean has to offer, and I can’t wait to use my newfound certification to continue exploring.
I took some photos of my weekend in Monterey, along with some spots I visited after I was done diving. If you’re going for a weekend trip, I highly recommend checking out the following:
San Carlos Beach/Breakwater { Popular diving spot. You’ll see divers here on most days early in the morning before 7am. It’s also a great view of the ocean without the crowds of Cannery Row }
Poke Lab { Finally, poke has come to California and it’s delicious! Love this build-your-own-bowl spot; please come to SF! }
Parker Lusseau Pastries { Quiet French bakery with unassuming pastries and coffee, but great to get cozy in and escape the rain }
Fisherman’s Wharf {Touristy, as all wharfs are, but fun to take a stroll through }
Liberty Fish Co { Get the smoked peppered salmon sandwich with everything on it and hot sauce }
Water + Leaves { Danish coffee and tea shop, with lots of white space and traditional pastries }
Monterey Bay Aquarium { It’s geared towards kids, but the inner nerd in me loves this place to no end. I could spend hours looking at the hammerhead sharks in the Open Sea exhibit }
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