Stump Beach is just South of Fisk Mill Cove at Sonoma milepost 41.22. It is marked by a large sign and is part of Salt Park State Park. There is a well maintained walkway to the beach at the end of the parking lot. Stump Beach is a large cove with a sandy bottom in the middle and rocky terrain on both sides. Use extreme caution when diving this area and know what the tides are doing. Waves can kick up very quickly and the cove can develop a very powerful rip-current. If you see waves breaking in the cove I would recommend that you not attempt a dive.

Fisk Mill Cove is part of Salt Point State Park at Sonoma County milepost 43.17. If you park in the parking lots there is a day use fee. There are three options for access here:
***** If you turn left after you enter the park you wind up at South Fisk Mill Cove, which is not much of a cove, but it has abundant abalone. There is a restroom in the lot, and access to the ocean is down a small stairway at the end of the parking lot and a short scramble down a cliff.
*****The other access to South Fisk Mill Cove is to park about a ¼ mile South of the park entrance on the roadside, and walk across the field to a small ridge which leads down to the beach. If you are going to launch a kayak, the walk across the field is much easier than scrambling down the cliff.
***** If you turn right after you enter the park you wind up at the parking lot for North Fisk Mill Cove. There is a fairly well defined path to this beach, but there is a little scrambling involved to get past the gully cut by the creek.

This area has good spearfishing and abalone diving. The bottom is rocky with kelp and it has depths well past 40 feet just off the beach. The south cove is an excellent launch spot for a kayak. The use of an inflatable boat here is next to impossible unless you are Popeye and have about 10 other divers to assist in carrying the boat to the beach. If you decide to use this beach for kayak diving, I recommend a small wheeled kayak tote for ease of transport. I have only done beach dives from this location, but I have seen divers with dive kayaks and dive boards launch from the beach.

If you decide to use a kayak at this location you will be rewarded with a 3 mile stretch of seldom visited dive sites. (one mile to the North, and about two miles to the South)

The decision to dive (or not) is your responsibility. Keep diving activities within your training and comfort level. If you feel more training or experience is needed before attempting a dive, don't dive. Know personal limits, skill levels, and abilities of yourself and your dive buddy. Dive Safely and Dive Often!

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, contact me