Beachhopper II Dive Charters

Best dive boat, captain, and crew in Monterey bar none!!! I’ve been diving the beach hopper for the last 1.5 yrs since I took a 25 yr hiatus. I was trained in the tropics so Monterey diving was definitely more challenging. Mary Jo, Derek, Josh, Keith, Bob, Kim, and Alex always made me feel safe and we’re always ready to assist when I needed it. I’d always book with them first before looking at other charters. One time I dropped my camera during a night dive. Mary Jo took us back to the same site the next morning and lo and behold within 5 mins one of the divers found my camera!!! And don’t forget to try the brownies. They are deadly delicious!!!

Diving off the boat is always a lot of fun Mary Jo is an awesome captain. Her whole crew is fantastic. Always very helpful and very good dive sites they are very accommodating for everyone. She makes very good brownies. If you want a fun time dive off the Beachhopper11. Thanks for the awesome diving.

Beachhopper II – Awesome
Super Friendly Staff/​Professional
Love Mary-​Jo, your Captain for this boat ride to fun dive sites. Very knowledgable both in transporting divers but also Diving in general. I have more than 10 years of Diving experience; diving sporadically and I still make those fumbling mistakes. Mary-​Jo kindly, in a big sister way helps you be prepared and sets you up for success in the water. That said, come prepared, bring your PADI cards and your gear. They certainly try to accommodate but they are not a spare parts boat. They treat you like an independent Diver making your own decisions.
Beach hopper II, Mary-​Jo, and Kim present a warm hospitality/​hot water/​quick snacks/​homemade baked goods that if not eaten go to Aquarius Dive shop (Not Glens Aquarious dive shop.
Kim, your Dive Master, and So much more, is very willing to share local information He is very professional and all around a really nice guy.
Both talked to us about the dive sites, there plan of communications pre and post dives. Really enjoyed there services. I will definitely use them again if traveling back to Monterey, CA

We used beach hopper II for a two-​tank dive and it was fantastic!
The crew were all super helpful and welcoming, even stopping off at the dive shop where we rented our gear from so that my colleague could pick up a piece of equipment that she forgot.
They walked us through the dive sights ahead of time in great detail, and had hot water and food/​snacks on the boat complimentary.
The captain, Mary-​Jo was also so thoughtful and helpful… even helping me through some technical issues with my dive equipment once I was in the water.
Their website is not the best and could use an update… the online reservation platform is a little cumbersome… but that is a minor issue, and you are honestly better off just calling Mary-​Jo first anyway.
All in all, Beach Hopper II made for a fantastic trip!!!

DIVE VESSEL
(4.5 stars)
2 tanks — $ 95 (they provide the ride out and the tanks only)
Bring your own dive gear
They say Monterey is a tough place to dive… it sure is!!! Boat diving vs Beach diving, boat diving are my favorites. K Doc is where all the dive boats do pick-​up and drop-​off. The BeachHopper II arrived on the dot and left on the dot (8am and 8:30am). Water can be cold, 7 MM suite was perfectly fine!
The vessel was fully loaded with 12 divers. Honestly, I felt uncomfortable with that many people as there was barely any room to prep your gear and change air tanks when everybody is trying to do it all at the same time. It is manageable but it is crammed. The boat ride wasn’t as rocky as I thought it would be — 20 minutes and we were at our dive locations. Plenty of snacks and beverages for you to munch on between dives. The boat crew WAS AWESOME. They were helpful with helping you get off and on the boat wit your HEAVY dive gear.
THE DIVES
First dive we were at the D-​cup site with massive kelp forest. Visibility and water clarity was JUNK. I could only see 5ft what is infront of me. We had used the anchor line to descend and going through the kelp to get to the bottom was a workout. I lost my dive-​knife that was tightly strapped to my right calf (If anybody finds an OceanPro leg strap Spinner Knife 304 Grade Stainless Steel 2.55 inch blade — its mine and please return). We got to the bottom and visibility improved but I can literally only see less than 10 feet away and the clarity of the water had the green. Kind of disappointing but expected at Monterey.
Second dive we were at the Octopus Rock site with less kelp and walls of rock formations at the bottom. There was little bit of current at the surface which took the energy out of me to move at the surface from south of the boat to north of the boat (with all the equipment and 20 pounds attached to my BCD), my dive partner had to back-​tow me until I caught my energy. We descended using the anchor line and this dive was deeper and the waters were colder but it was not as difficult as the first dive. I saw a lot of random fish, lots of rock walls and so many big crabs. Unfortunately I didn’t see octopus though it was expected to see them. I was hoping a sea-​lion or whale would come through, but not this time around.
Will I be back? All my logged dives at Monterey (regardless if it is beach or boat) has not been the best visibility and experience. It is much more expensive to dive in Monterey than it is in SoCal. These factors will not stop me from coming back to get more water time in.
Until the next review…

I dove in this boat a long time a go… had a great time… time to book again!

What a great diving experience. I’ve been out a few times with this crew and there’re awesome! They take you to great dive sites around Monterey and Carmel. The boat is stocked with a variety of snacks and drinks. If homemade treats like brownies, dive bars, or cookies are on board you must try some.
They have been in the business for years. The crew is knowledgable about diving and care about your safety. One of my favorite things about the boat is the crew is very personable. They call you by name, help you with your dive gear, and make sure you have everything you need.
This boat will always be my first choice if it is available. It’s a smaller boat so make sure you make a reservation. Make sure to bring cash so you can tip the crew when you dock, they deserve it for all they do to make the trip memorable.

Brownies on my trip not cookies!
Mary Jo is a great captain. I only have a dozen or so dives under my (weight) belt, and although most of the other divers on the trip were much more experienced, my buddy and I were made to feel very welcome. She and the dive master were very helpful, friendly and informative. Looking forward to returning!

The captian is great and have nothing but good dive days on this boat. Also some really great cookies!

I’ve been diving the Beach Hopper II for a few years now and will only dive another boat if the Hopper isn’t running. It’s a small family-​run operation with some of the most knowledgeable staff in the business.
If you’re an experienced diver looking for challenging dives or a new diver who just got certified, the Beach Hopper II can accommodate you.
It’s a fun boat with a great crew. You couldn’t do better.