Fort Ross
This dive site offers a unique experience with its beach entry, although it can be challenging when the surge is coming in from the wrong direction. Once you're in the water, there are two options to explore. Heading to the northwest, you'll come across a series of pinnacles and the remnants of an old wreck, although there are no opportunities for penetration. If you go south, you'll discover a series of rock walls.
The pinnacles in this area are teeming with metridium anemones, creating a vibrant and colorful underwater landscape. You can also expect to encounter a variety of fish species, including lingcod, cabezon, and rockfish. Additionally, the site is home to an abundance of nudibranchs in all the colors of the rainbow.
With a visibility of 3 meters and a maximum depth of 11 meters, this dive site is suitable for divers of all levels, including beginners. Located near Fort Ross, Sonoma County, California, United States, it offers an exciting diving experience in the United States.
The pinnacles in this area are teeming with metridium anemones, creating a vibrant and colorful underwater landscape. You can also expect to encounter a variety of fish species, including lingcod, cabezon, and rockfish. Additionally, the site is home to an abundance of nudibranchs in all the colors of the rainbow.
With a visibility of 3 meters and a maximum depth of 11 meters, this dive site is suitable for divers of all levels, including beginners. Located near Fort Ross, Sonoma County, California, United States, it offers an exciting diving experience in the United States.
Diving Conditions Score for Fort Ross
4.7
Below AverageChallenging conditions, for experienced divers only.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Fort Ross
Depth
11m
Visibility
3m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Fort Ross
Wave Height
1.68m
Wind Speed
10.8 m/s
Water Temp
15.1°C
Visibility
18km
Cloud Cover
9%
Wave Period
8.55s
Air Temperature
13.2°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Fort Ross
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Fort Ross
Best time to dive: 12:00 with score 6.032166666666667/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.66m, Wind 2.7 m/s.Best night dive time: 23:00 with score 5.144641496598639/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Fort Ross: 06:00
Sunset at Fort Ross: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Fort Ross are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
12:00Score: 6.0/10
Waves: 1.66m (8.6s), Wind: 2.7 m/s
Best Night
23:00Score: 5.1/10
Waves: 1.44m, Wind: 11.1 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Fort RossAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Fort Ross
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Fort Ross
Winter
Avg. Score: 8.8/10
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Fort Ross
January
Score: 9.0
February
Score: 8.8
December
Score: 8.5
Ideal Conditions for Fort Ross
Water Temp
16.8°C / 62.2°F
August
Visibility
16.9m / 55.4ft
January
Wave Height
0.6m / 2.0ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Fort Ross
Fort Ross shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with August being the warmest month (16.8°C) and December the coldest (5.6°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.6m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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