Diving with a Purpose
At the Deep Ocean Explore Store, we love introducing novice and advanced divers alike to the world of cold water diving in Monterey. Our dives will focus on citizen science, ocean advocacy, and skill development.
Dives will be available on a monthly cadence and take place at various Monterey and Carmel beaches. Join us on a journey beneath the waves as we explore the vibrant seabeds of Monterey Bay.
If you're interested in adding on a new certification while attending a Dive with a Purpose, just let us know when you sign up.
❗Scroll down to see descriptions of each dive.❗
Availability: In Stock
Skills Tune Up
A fun dive focused on precision and comfort. An instructor leads the dives, observes your trim and movement, and gives personalized tips between dives. You’ll leave feeling more efficient, relaxed, and confident underwater.
Nudi ID
Join us for a colorful, slow-and-curious Nudibranch ID Dive in beautiful Monterey! This is a relaxed, skills-friendly fun dive focused on spotting and identifying the tiny, neon sea slugs that make our local reefs world-class.
We’ll move at an easy pace through kelp and rocky reef, practicing buoyancy, trim, and mindful observation while searching for Monterey favorites like the Spanish shawl and Hopkins’ rose.
Perfect for divers of any certification level who want to sharpen their awareness, improve control, and geek out on marine life. Slow dive. Sharp eyes. Maximum color.
Sea Lion Dance Party
We’ll brief thoroughly on how to responsibly dive with California sea lions: staying calm and neutrally buoyant, giving them space, avoiding blocking their paths, and keeping hands tucked so we don’t initiate contact. These are wild animals, and our role is to be respectful, predictable guests in their playground.
Underwater, we’ll position ourselves along the rocky reef near the end of the breakwater, and let the sea lions decide the interaction. Expect fly-bys, bubble trails, synchronized spins, and lots of eye contact. We focus on situational awareness, buddy positioning, and maintaining control in a surge so the experience stays safe and magical. This requires a long surface swim as we'll descend around the "9.5"
Perfect for divers of all certification levels who are comfortable in Monterey conditions and want to build confidence in dynamic environments. Equal parts wildlife etiquette, buoyancy practice, and pure joy.
