Casino Point Dive Park

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Kathleen Sea Hare

Registered
Messages
40
Reaction score
15
Location
California!
# of dives
50 - 99
Hello!
I’m a newbie diver and taking a tour with the local dive shop. This spot I’ve read everywhere looks amazing so I’m excited! Does anyone have any tips of what to expect with where they may tour me? I read this is where locals get certified so should be a good dive right?

I’m going to try to research the types of fish of area because a recent trip I think it would have been better to know the names & identify prior to diving. Does anyone know if you see bat rays often? Are there rocks to look or a wall, should I bring my dive light?

Also I experienced my 1st strong current at Sharks Cove in North Shore HI last weekend and we were around 40 or so feet.. I did okay but it was tough to get out of! Does anyone have any experience of what the park area may be like, pending conditions are good this weekend? Thanks for any info if you know area! :)
 
Been diving there many times. It's always a great dive.

I personally haven't seen any Ray's, but that doesn't mean you won't.

I have found since I started bringing a dive light, I use it constantly. Always a good thing to have a long.
 
Don't miss the ferry! I did my open water at Casio Point in 1990. I got lost and missed the ferry. Fortunately they had a helicopter service to Catalina. After emptying my tank they were happy to fly me over in time for my class! True Story. :)
 
Casino Point can have some great diving. As a new diver do know if you go straight out from the stairs it can get deep pretty fast. Your best bet is to go right at the bottom of the stairs and stay close to shore if you don't want to get deep. I've seen bat rays there, but what Casino Point is most famous for is Black Sea Bass. The water at least by California standards is relatively clear but even a small light can help for looking under ledges for lobsters and for macro life. From time to time there can be strong currents. Go slow and you will be OK. Enjoy.

It is a ways from the ferry over to the point. Do have wheels on your gear bags or pay for your gear to be moved. It will be worth it.
 
The Park is great and if there is any significant current it’s pretty easy to dodge. Entry is down stairs and railing and is easy too, except at extremely low tides. Usually quite calm on this side of Island. If you have u/w light bring it and look in dark grottos, crevices for October, morays, lobsters etc..
It’s almost always fair to good viz. Almost never indictable. On rare occasions a Santa Ana wind blows waves in from mainland and that side of the island gets beat up.

Going to be 60-65F at depth so full wetsuit, booties, likely hood, gloves. That means weights increase. Again, a snorkel first is good acclimation.

You may also see giant sea bass, maybe around 70-80 ft near Sue Jac. That area seems to be where you have more animal encounters of size.

Maybe snorkel in kelp a bit to acclimate and learn how to de tangle or snap. Adjust gear so you don’t have dangles or unnecessary protruding stuff that would catch.

Yes, Park is a slog from ferry. You can rent weights/tanks at Park which is what I do. I still brought a dolly/ wheeled cart for rest of gear. Absent a lot of gear it’s a nice walk.

There are pay showers part way back to Avalon downtown. I like to eat at the Lobster Trap.

Too bad about Shark Cove. That and three tables nice North Shore spots conditions allowing.
 
You'll probably see a ton of Garibaldi, Sheephead, and Blue Banded Goby, all of which are colorful and easy to identify. Opaleye are pretty common and distinctive too. Decent odds on giant sea bass, lobsters, and leopard sharks. You might see a bat ray or sea lion if you're lucky. You'll probably see dolphins from the boat on the way over but not underwater. There's a map by the stairs with the various points of interest including some small wrecks and the Jacques Cousteau memorial. The stair entry can be a little tricky at low tide and when there's a lot of surge but generally it's a really easy dive. I've logged temperatures as low as 53 at depth in the last month, so dress warm.
 
If you're taking the Catalina Express over to the island, check the company's website for baggage restrictions.
There's a spottily enforced 50 pound weight limit on bags.
Some divers get around the restrictions by wearing their weight belts, and even their BCDs or BP/Ws, when they board to lighten their bags. Any gear you don't have, or don't want to carry can be rented on the island, although at rather high prices.

Also, get in the boarding line early for your return voyage. The boat fills up fast and seating choices become limited.
Think about upgrading to "Commodore Lounge" for the return trip and getting a guaranteed seat and priority boarding, among other minor perks.

Currents are seldom a problem in the dive park. Avalon is on the lee side of the island, and sheltered from most of the ocean's stronger influences. The one exception is when the off-shore winds from the east kick up, but that's probably not going to happen this time of year.

Yes, take a light!
Peeking between the rocks you'll see lobsters, cleaner shrimp, eels, and all sorts of invertebrates.
As for sighting bigger fish, one just never knows what will swim by. Rays are frequently seen, swimming or digging into the sand with their snouts looking for something to eat. But the real star attractions are the Giant Black Sea Bass. Often seen wandering through the kelp forrest, these guys are very big and slow moving, and incredibly tolerant of divers.

Finally, bring a heavy dose of patience.
In the summer the dive park can get crowded and chaotic, especially since they started renting snorkel gear to non-diving tourists.

With the summer crowds and the hot weather everything takes twice as long as you think it will.

Have a great trip.

K
 
Decent odds on giant sea bass, lobsters, and leopard sharks.

In my 50 years of diving Catalina, I've only seen leopard sharks twice in the dive park. There are other sites where they are much more common though.

And as for the "black sea bass" and "Giant black sea bass," they are spectacular... but should be called "fairly large polka-dotted wreckfish" since they don't belong to the sea bass family.
 
If you're taking the Catalina Express over to the island, check the company's website for baggage restrictions.
There's a spottily enforced 50 pound weight limit on bags.
Some divers get around the restrictions by wearing their weight belts, and even their BCDs or BP/Ws, when they board to lighten their bags. Any gear you don't have, or don't want to carry can be rented on the island, although at rather high prices.

Also, get in the boarding line early for your return voyage. The boat fills up fast and seating choices become limited.
Think about upgrading to "Commodore Lounge" for the return trip and getting a guaranteed seat and priority boarding, among other minor perks.

Currents are seldom a problem in the dive park. Avalon is on the lee side of the island, and sheltered from most of the ocean's stronger influences. The one exception is when the off-shore winds from the east kick up, but that's probably not going to happen this time of year.

Yes, take a light!
Peeking between the rocks you'll see lobsters, cleaner shrimp, eels, and all sorts of invertebrates.
As for sighting bigger fish, one just never knows what will swim by. Rays are frequently seen, swimming or digging into the sand with their snouts looking for something to eat. But the real star attractions are the Giant Black Sea Bass. Often seen wandering through the kelp forrest, these guys are very big and slow moving, and incredibly tolerant of divers.

Finally, bring a heavy dose of patience.
In the summer the dive park can get crowded and chaotic, especially since they started renting snorkel gear to non-diving tourists.

With the summer crowds and the hot weather everything takes twice as long as you think it will.

Have a great trip.

K

Hey Dr Bill awesome thanks so much for theses tips!! Really helpful! I’m so excited :)
 

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