As I was driving down the PCH from a memorable day in Big Sur, I was anxious to find a beach after 3 failed attempts to get into Pfeiffer Beach. Then, I saw this quaint little beach on the left side of the road and decided to stop here and see the ocean and lay in the sand. Little did I know that this beach is the most dangerous beach in California and is known as Mortuary Beach to the locals due to many deaths and drownings. Some people even get swept up from sitting on the beach. It is gorgeous though. It is made up of tiny pebbles instead of sand and absolutely beautiful. I couldn't help it so I had to let the waves crash on my feet. The water was a gorgeous tye dye blue. It did catch me by surprise a couple of times. Then, as we were leaving, I saw a sign that said do not play on the water's edge. I didn't think anything of it, but I after reading about it, I can see why. The water can pull you in quick if you are not careful. I loved it here, but this would probably be my last time for safety reasons. read more

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Beautiful views, near Pt. Lobos but please, please, please don't try to swim here! I'm a local and I can't tell you how many people have drowned from the undertow. Locals call it Mortuary beach instead of Monastery beach for a good reason. read more

Being a public beach, this one tends to get overcrowded easily. It's a popular spot for divers and tourists alike, so if you want to avoid the crowds get here early and only stay for a bit. The posted info at the entrance about diving accidents is a tad scary. It may have been from 1980-whatever, but the site is still dangerous if you don't use caution. I spoke with a divemaster about the dangers of this beach - in fact, they were leaving after canceling a class due to the nasty swells. I would recommend erring on the side of caution if you choose to dive here. read more

I really like this beach. The only thing that I dislike is the "sand." Well, like previous reviews have said...more like pebbles. I like to walk barefoot at the beach, but at this beach I can only do that for so long. After a while the pebbles start to hurt. Seriously, these little pebbles will exfoliate your feet and it gets a bit uncomfortable to walk on after a while. One positive thing about these pebbles is if it's windy out, sand isn't blowing everywhere. On the weekends sometimes this beach can get a little crowded (not as much as other beaches around), but I've noticed people don't stay too long. They park..get out..walk around a bit...take pictures...and then leave. Just some random info about the area: -- Monastery Beach is 1.7 miles south of Carmel Valley Road -- Dog friendly -- No fishing -- Rules/advisory: beach is not safe for swimming -- I've seen several scuba divers because this beach has a popular dive spot -- There is a rocky area to the far left of the beach, there is a warning on climbing on the rocks, but if careful I think it's a cool spot to take pictures and there are little tide pool areas -- The website says no fires on the beach, but I've seen people do it and I've seen several leftover ashes from previous fires -- Bathrooms are usually clean, stocked, and working. -- Every time we go here I see some sort of sea life (otters, seals, dolphins...etc) -- We've always found it convenient that Safeway isn't too far away. Sometimes we pick up sandwiches from here and bring them to this beach and have lunch. -- I've seen weddings here. Small ones. Usually they are off to one side...and the beach is a decent size, so there are plenty of other areas to enjoy if this happens. This is a great place to kickback,have a BBQ, take pictures, and enjoy the beach. We usually bring our beach chairs, mini BBQ pit, and music and spend hours here. read more

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Even the most oblivious person on the planet ought to be able to instantly see that the shorebreak here is treacherous. Sheesh! Just LISTENING to it ought to be enough. However this - and the beaches between here and the rivermouth - are absolutely gorgeous to look at. Two points for that, and one extra point for the excitement of watching 3 year old Mikey from Tulsa wander in and out of the swash zone while dad and mom are zoning out on their i-phones. read more

usually very crowded with locals surfing and A Lot of Tourists. Its the first easily accessible parking and beach officially south of carmel. just the beginning of Big Sur. if you have the time and mobility/agility to try another Big Sur beach, I would if I were you. We only stopped there tonight to practice some long exposure night photography with the lights of Pebble Beach and Carmel off in the distance. we almost never stop here during daylight hours. so many better beaches just a hop down the road. I know because I have run every footfall from Rio Rd down past Andrew Molera during the Big Sur Marathon in april. and i've stopped while driving to take pictures from every vantage point along the way. many better places to A. park B. enjoy the sun (when the fog does break) and C. appreciate the beauty of Big Sur Beaches! read more

What an amazing experience it was to stay on this beach for 6 days. Every day we saw Humpback whales, dolphins and seals. When the sun is out, the water turns incredible shades of cerulean blue and turquoise. There are gorgeous rocks you can crawl on to watch the various sea mammals and birds enjoy their feeding frenzy. I was here in August and it blew my mind. People warn against swimming due to the rip tides, but I went in and swam with the seals during a calm moment. read more

Monastery Beach - Beauty in the protected bay - Beaches Near Me - Carmel, California

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Loved this beach! We did not plan to go here but it's right off the highway and hard to resist the clear blue water and pebble sand (see my picuture). It's not sand but small pebbles and the pebbles are really rough on the feet so keep sandlas on. The waves are no joke! THe waves are very strong and the risk of undertow and entrapment is high. Tons of warning signs. THe nickname is mortuary beach because of drowning that have occurred here. Stay clear of the water unless your experienced and are prepared for the strong waves. The water creeps up so quicly it's crazy! This is supposed to be one of the most dangerous waters for diving. In summary great for relaxing and taking a break from driving. All you have to do is pull over and park off the highway!! That on itself deserves 5 stars. I would recommend this beach for gaining some sanity but stay clear of the water. read more

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Came here about 10 years ago and decided to give it a shot again on a cloudy (and eventually rainy) day. We brought an outdoor grill and was convenient from the parking lot to set up on the sand and enjoy BBQ. Also, was a nice way to end an earlier visit to Point Lobos State Reserve. Down sides include sand being a bit hard to walk in (tiny pebbles) and not as much flat areas for sports as it quickly slopes toward the water. Looks like lots of fire pits were set up here in the past as my feel quickly turned dark on the bottom probably from ash. But washes off easily. But playing in the water for the kids was fun and not too crowded on a cloudy. Looks like there was a bathroom there, but didn't get to see it's condition. Cars move up and down the highway fairly quick along this stretch. read more

I like this beach. Parking is a few level sandy steps away from where you place your beach blanket. A public restroom is right there too--go if you can't wait 15 minutes to some place better. It's a good place to sit, read, take pictures or make a sand castle. Not for swimming or even wading, the currents are treacherous. But for super watchful parents and adults, it can be a good place to have a picnic and enjoy the sun. read more

Monastery Beach - Kids playing - Beaches Near Me - Carmel, California

We found this beach by accident but we're glad we did. We went during president's day weekend and it wasn't crowded at all. Parking is pretty easy off the highway. We brought our lunch and stayed a couple hours. One thing I really liked was the type of sand there was on this beach. It was like tiny pebbles so it was so easy to brush off when it was time to go. read more

Monastery Beach - The sand - Beaches Near Me - Carmel, California

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First its free parking and free view... but its dangerous for swimming. If you just going to relax and see the gorgeous view its worthy... read more

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This is a beautiful and easily accessible beach. I recommend spending a little quiet time here. I love pebble beaches. As the signs, the reviews, and stories one can dig up online have mentioned, it is a dangerous beach when the waves are high and fast, mostly for divers but swimmers too. The drop off is very steep and you have to watch out where entering and exiting (enter from the left, looking from your position in the middle of the beach). I took one look at the sign and knew nonetheless that I was going to swim here anyway. I'm loony about ocean swimming and love cold water, but I also respect the ocean and enjoy living. This is not necessarily a recommendation to swim. Know thyself. That being said, the surf was extremely calm that afternoon. I had brought my neoprene cap, goggles, no wetsuit (wetsuits are for sissies) and towel. I was with my best friend, who headed in to deep water dive and his girlfriend, who enjoyed all the goings-on from the beach. I took a view full body immersions at the left side and tested the waves and temperature. It had a green light. After an intense swim around the kelp forests, I was again in that clear light blue water as I swam out in front of the center point of the beach. As I looked down twenty feet below to the white sanded bottom, a school of sardines swam under me and that's when I had company - a curious harbor seal. It was a pleasant shock, as I can never forget what predators may lurk in the oceans. Next moment, this medium sized seal was 10 feet below me just hovering, no malice and all love. I swam gently back onto the shore and caught a wave in, felt blessed by this seal. It was the first time I have had a seal come that close in all my ocean swims and in perfect view in the clear water. May do it again.... read more

Beautiful beach location off the road. Lots of parking, really nice restroom facilities, and with a walk over the sand towards the water, you escape the road noises coming from behind. the beach offers amazing views of carmel bay. The day we went it was a perfect day to launch a kayak. The beach is kind of steep though, so the surf can be a challenge depending on the tide and conditions. We even saw a whale wandering through the bay while we were here. And, the sand was heavenly to lay in, even though I've still got the little pebbles coming out of my clothes weeks later. read more

Nice quiet beach along the 1, but the sand is very course, almost like pebbles. Would be better if the grain was more fine. read more

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Another fatality as a young child was pulled under recently, capping off a 20 year trend of at least one death every year at this beach. Stay away, or at least 20-30 feet away from the water. Adults and children have been killed here. read more

As beautiful and clean this beach is, please don't get too close to the water. It's well-known for its strong rip tides and drownings. The last time I went I got sucked in with my mom but luckily we were thrown back to shore by the wave PLEASE BE CAREFUL ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO GET YOUR FEET WET I can't overstate how dangerous this beach is read more

Beware of this beautiful beach. Like the other reviewers I just want to emphasize to people passing by. Don't walk near that water. I personally know people who have nearly drowned there when they were walking close to the water and got knocked down by the strong sneaker waves. Very dangerous place. read more

The nickname for this place is mortuary beach and for good reason there are fatalities here every year. An exceptionally deep shoreline coupled with a long surface swim and exposure to ocean swells makes this site dangerous for divers and that same deep shoreline makes it dangerous for beachgoers as well. The steep conditions make the waves actually break onto the beach. Not where you see the waves break and the water runs to the shoreline but where the wave crashes onto the sand. So much so that it has spawned an expression called the monastery crawl where divers are struggling to get back onto the safe part of the beach . Definitely not for beginners or people who are not comfortable in the water. I came here for a deep dive last Sunday my first at 100'. During the long surface swim where I would lose my companions in the swells I could see large shapes swimming below (two actually one dark and one lighter). I felt an initial pang of fear which was quickly overridden by my need to know what these creatures were. My companions were backstroking out but I always prefer to snorkel because of my natural curiosity, I want to see what's below. We get to the place we want to dive and start descending and I'm still seeing the dark shape which turns out to be a seal the light one I never see again. Damn, what did I miss? Down at 100' it's beautiful. All of my previous dives have been in shallower water and I've never seen anything like this before. Everything is a shade of blue and light grey. So beautiful and so dangerous because of the entry and the exit. Five stars for the dive site. Minus one for the entry. Minus one for the exit. You literally get smashed onto the beach by the wave. Be careful out there, It's a great site but it's not worth your life. read more

Monastery Beach is often use for Advance Open Water class's deep dive dive. The South end is far more shallow and somewhat protected from the open but it's equally challenge because of the swell and wave. If on a calm day, sun light actually penetrated deep enough and you can enjoy a very bright & colorful dive. This was taken on the South end - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadiver/482975548/in/set-72157603784623635/ North end are more common which is the deep end. Swim to the edge of the kelp and drop down to 75 ft, when you see the tomb stone, you are at the right place. Often found seals, harbor seals, Follow the rock contour look at all kind of life and slowly toward the beach would be how normally end the dive. Stay under these kelp as you approach 20~25ft http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadiver/2211747768/in/set-72157603784637205/ The closer one stays to the north end instead of the middle of the beach, the better chance not have to pratice kelp crawl or beach crawl and surface after you are clear of the kelp patch. Entry and exit is indeed challenging but walking back to the car is even worst, that's the downside of this dive site. read more

DO NOT SWIM!!! - Most Dangerous & Hazardous Beaches on the West Coast...Serious Undertow & Rip Tide. Bring a picnic watch the sunset, walk hike...Enjoy read more

Giving it 5 stars cause I just got married here! We needed a somewhat scenic place to perform our private ceremony and we literally walked on there hours before, decided it was perfect and that was that! Not many people around because the water is deadly (people die from the undertow here!), but that suited us just fine. We took some sand back for memory, and would definitely visit when we return to the area. read more

Beautiful beach, beautiful ocean and views. But DO NOT swim here. People have died here before, including scuba divers! Beware, there are very few warning signs posted. But it's a great place to lay out and soak up the sun and enjoy the Carmel beauty! My favorite spot to tan. read more

Gorgeous views and all but as a tourist who isn't a strong swimmer the sign that says " be careful of sudden rogue waves" made me visualize a tidal wave washing me and drowning me out at sea. Think I'll just settle for a evening bonfire. The beach is much better for that...safer too! read more

Amazing amazing beach....beautiful. Be careful very steep beach with waves breaking on the sand. Any time you see very large grains of sand that is a rough steep beach. There is a drop off just past the breakers.....but....there is not a better dive site. The canyon comes close to shore about 400 yards out so amazing sea life. The beach is clean, good bathrooms easy access and away from the tourism of Monterey and Carmel. If you dive get in and out in the far south corner but BE CAREFUL....every year people die. Monastery Beach is my go to and favorite dive site. Keep kids away from the water. read more

A usually uncrowded beach off the beaten path. Hands down the best place for diving and checking out the tide pools. Gorgeous spot to enjoy the sea and build sandcastles. There is a sandcastle building tournament here every summer in July. I highly recommend exploring the awesome caves here at low tide! read more

Be careful if you plan to visit this beach. I almost got drowned here. The waves were gigantic which pulled me off and I fell down near the shore calling for help. Many people have drowned here and it is well known as 'Mortuary Beach' which I got to know later from locals after this incident. We got here through a public trail that leads to it. Stay safe if you plan to visit this beach from anywhere... DO NOT GET INTO THE WATER.. read more

Used to dive North Monastery Beach for deep dives before we got a boat. That is the main attraction. Very few Carmel dives are accessible from a public area without a boat without crawling over boulders. NOT A SWIMMING BEACH!!!!! DON"T DO IT. DON"T WADE!!! This beach comes in at almost 45 degrees. Two steps and you're over your head. On a rough day, surf won't show on the beach. Look for the surf on the wash rock beyond the North edge of the cove. It can be 10' there and crashing over the rock, but the beach looks calm because the shoreline is so steep that waves don't build on it. They just smash you into the sand and roll you around once you're in. Just last week another person died trying to save three others who stupidly waded in on a windy day. The water is below 50 degrees and once in, you can't overcome the currents without fins. Haven't dove South Monastery, but it's a shallower dive with easier entry. Like all Carmel dives, it's a very pretty area and the water is usually blue and clear due to open ocean exposure. Some open water instructors use it for their classes. (I wouldn't, it's too dicey and day to day). You should only enter the beach at either end, behind the protection of the kelp beds. Never enter mid-beach. The North end is one of the easiest natural navigation dives you'll ever do. Drop just outside the kelp toward the wash rock and follow the kelp till it ends, go right and boulder hop down the hill. This goes straight down the Monterey Cyn. to 12,000 feet or so, so make sure you watch your gauge. You'll find big Rockfish and Lingcod, an occasional Wolf-eel, and lots of Mollusks and other good stuff. On a good day, vis can be 75-100 feet. Typical water temp is 46-52f. Same way back and come in behind the kelp. KEEP YOUR MASK ON, YOUR REG IN AND CRAWL OUT QUICKLY WHEN A WAVE DEPOSITS YOU TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER ONE. You're not safe until you're on dry sand. Leave enough air for your safe exit. Besides the safety aspect of knowing what days to dive and when to not go near it, you have to haul your gear across a couple of hundred yards of deep nasty "Monsterberry" sand. More like gravel-gets in everything, causes your reg to free flow and your dump valves to stick open. Rinse well. read more

most dangerous beach in monterey, county. they should have skull and crossbones signs across the width of this beach. so many people have drowned just walking along the shore and being hit by a wave and drowned. ok to stop and take pictures from a distance but don't walk along it especially with kids. the state park service should put up better signs to warn people off. i stopped with some friends to show them last year and an hour later a woman was hit by a rogue wave at the shore, dragged in and drowned in front of her daughter. if she or others had gone in they would be drowned as well. better beaches to visit than this one. read more

Beautiful, quiet, and uncrowded, at least during the week. Not really a place to swim, but a great place for views, peace, quiet, and sea animal watching read more