Fisk Mill Cove is a rocky, protected cove located at the Northern boundary of Salt Point State Park. The cove itself is somewhat protected from incoming swells, however when the swell is up and waves are breaking, it can be a very difficult place to dive. It remains popular among abalone divers, and the place is loaded with them! Divers who can get down 20 feet or more will likely have little trouble getting their limit of abalone in a relatively short period of time. The bottom is littered with piles of rocks, outcroppings, shelves and dropoffs which is the perfect habitat for abalone. In Summer months, the kelp can get thick here, so the usual precautions should be taken to prevent entanglements.
Just getting to the cove takes some effort. While some divers may choose to park at Salt Point State Park, others choose to park along the highway and walk down a mile-long trail to the headlands, then climb down the cliff (with the help of a wooden starcase and ropes to assist). While not for the faint of heart, it's not that difficult for most divers in decent shape.
Visibility varies quite a bit year 'round, and even in calm late-Summer the algae blooms and swells can reduce visibility to just a few feet. On a good day, visibility up to 20 feet can be seen. Dive conditions can be checked by visiting the Salt Point Dive Conditions web page (click here).
Although somewhat protected, Fisk Mill Cove still gets rough, and it should only be dived on the calmest days, when waves are small with few or no breakers. Visibility ranges from 0-20+ feet, and can vary a lot day-by-day, even during Summer months. The kelp can get very thick during the Summer. Use extreme caution, as in all dive sites, and carefully evaluate conditions before diving this site.
