Diving in California near Irvine?

[WhiteSands]

Hi everyone,
Thank you for the really helpful advice. I dove Catalina for 3 days and it was beautiful!

I'm thinking of diving next Monday at either Laguna or Newport beach. May I know which is better, and if conditions are good for diving now? Would love to dive with seals if possible.

Thinking of doing 3 dives so will need air fills. May I know which dive shop is good to use?

Thanks again!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Laguna Sea Sports is the closest shop for diving Laguna Beach.
925 N. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach
949-494-3732

Your best bet for sea lions is to dive Crescent Bay. If you dive the north side of the beach you will see Seal Rock offshore. You don't have to swim all the way there. Once you near the reef they will usually be all over you.
Crescent Bay

Surf is up due to the storms of the past week, so diving may not be possible.

 

[WhiteSands]

Hi Max
Thanks for the excellent info. Crescent Bay sounds like a must do site! I was hoping so much to see seals at Catalina but they were at the edge of the park.

Have a logistics question about tanks. It seems from the link the dive shop isn't near the dive entry point. I was hoping to do 3 dives there. Do people normally bring 3 tanks there and leave it on the beach? Also, our stuff like our bags and dive bag, is it safe to just leave it on the beach?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[drbill]

Actually three dive shops on the island: SCUBA Luv, Catalina Divers Supply (CDS) and Dive Catalina. All can meet your needs although SCUBA Luv is the only one that pumps Nitrox if you dive geezer gas. CDS has the trailer/fill station right at the park which makes renting gear easy.

Whoops, just saw your follow up post (didn't read that far). Phil has offered good advice on Laguna Beach. There are a few good shore dives in that area.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The shop is two coves south. I wouldn't leave anything on the beach or else your trip home will be a little lighter. During the week, parking near the top of the stairs isn't as much of a problem as it is on weekends.

 

[WhiteSands]

Thanks. So leave all bags and tanks in the car? Got it.

 

[diverrex]

Thanks. So leave all bags and tanks in the car? Got it.

Yep, gear up completely at your car then walk down to the dive site.

 

[WhiteSands]

Ok thanks.

From looking at the sketch of the reef on this link:

Crescent Bay

you would swim towards the right side to hit seal rock, is that right?

Any tips on where the nicer sites/corals are from this beach?

Thanks!

 

[DiveNav]

If you have a PC and are a gamer you can virtually dive Crescent Bay (including 3D map of Deadman Reef) with our eDiving Scuba diving simulator

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[WhiteSands]

Wow! This is so cool!