Central Coast divers notice ocean changes due to warmer water

The water in Monterey Bay is warming up and that’s not necessarily a good thing for divers.

“I’ve spent more than a year of my life underwater,” said John Foxhall, Instructor with Carmel Bay Divers.

John Foxhall, a former electrician now, now full-time scuba dive instructor, said he has seen a change in the ocean.

“It’s not quite as bad as going to your favorite Japanese restaurant and getting a big bowl miso soup and giving it a big stir and then putting your face in it,” said Foxhall.

Foxhall said the water visibility is typically best in the morning. This is because the sea breeze picks up in the afternoon, but since the water in the bay warmed up a few degrees last week, that poses a problem.

“When the water gets warmer you get more algae growth and so with the more algae growth the water gets green.”

These events are typical for this time of the year and last week’s lower 60s and are back into the 50s. However, despite the lower visibility, diver say it doesn’t take away from the fun.

Stefan Murse is from Germany and was out getting training from Foxhall.

“You see different animals. Different fish, different formation of the bottom of the ocean so it’s great,” said Diver Stefan Murse.

Foxhall’s passion for the ocean extends further than just scuba diving. He sees firsthand what pollution does to the ocean. He collects all the trash he can while he is underwater, but Foxhall isn’t the only ocean conscious diver.

Morgan Lugo, owner of Breakwater Scuba, has been in the area since 2001. He says he’s noticed the water gradually getting warmer.

“We are starting to see life that shouldn’t be here. We are seeing huge migrations of life coming through from the Channel Islands, from Mexico, and starting to see new species out here all the time,” said Morgan Lugo.

During the winter, water and air temperatures will start to cool back down giving the best diving conditions.