San Mateo Scuba Diving locations & information provided by MITCHELL SCUBA.
Left pic looking South to Little Pedro Point - Right pic looking North to the end of Shelter Cove.
SHELTER COVE DIVE SITE INFORMATION
KAYAK DIVES
(SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED TO EXPERT)
Shelter Cove Beach is secluded from the general public and is located on the South side of Pedro Point. The Beach has about 12 small occupied houses. A number of years ago the road going to this cove was washed out and now the only access is by foot. Access is restricted to the residents of Shelter Cove. This cove is protected on the North side by Big Pedro Point, and on the South side by Little Pedro Point.
Left pic is the restricted gated access to Shelter Cove located on the road which runs along the North side of Pedro Point.
Right pic shows the intersection of Blackburn and Kent - the location of the second trailhead to Shelter Cove - also restricted access.
Middle pic indicates there is little parking at Blackburn and Kent due to the number of new homes in the area.
The gated entrance at the top of the cliff is half-way out to the end of Pedro Point. This gated entrance is a good reference point to find the reef system which runs due North to the other end of Lindemar Beach. If you line up with this gate and the hill to the North you will be very close to the reef system which is in about 25 feet of water. This beach is a very popular surfing spot, and I advise caution when entering and exiting.
Even though there is restricted access to the Shelter cove, the pathway located at Blackburn and Kent offers a very good vantage point of the cove. Just follow San Pedro Road up the small hill until you get to Kent and veer to the left. It is an excellent spot to check out the conditions before launching a kayak and paddling from Lindemar Beach around Pedro Point.
Above is a close up of Little Pedro Point. If you look closely at the base of the middle peak you will notice a large rock protruding out ot the water. This rock is actually a large flake which has fallen off of the North face of Little Pedro Point. The area to the North of Little Pedro (which is in Shelter Cove) does have some kelp growth on occasion, and there are fish in the cove such as Lingcod and Cabezon. It is a very simple dive if you just hug the face of Little Pedro and just follow the contour of the rocks. Use caution in this area and as always check the conditions before diving. I went back the day after this picture was taken and the waves were rolling in at about 4 to 5 feet high.
The best way to get access to Shelter Cove is by kayak. The small shopping center (shown above) just South of the Lindemar Beach parking lot is the best launch point for a kayak. Turn on San Pedro Avenue to get to the to the shopping center, then turn right to get to the North end of the parking lot. It is a very short walk over the sand to the beach. Just launch your kayak and head out to the end of Pedro Point and head south for a few minutes until you are in Shelter Cove.
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