Santa Monica

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Murphy in NC

Contributor
Messages
208
Reaction score
72
Location
North Carolina
# of dives
50 - 99
A friend has invited me to Santa Monica area

I am used to warm water diving; Cayman, Belize, Curuaco

Can anyone provide insight into the Santa Monica area diving; I can travel a bit not limited to Santa Monica but will be staying there.

Also any dive ops would be appreciated

Diving with seals would be amazing

Thanks
 
Are you willing to get up really early, drive to Ventura, and spend the day on a boat at the Channel Islands? That's probably your best bet for sea lions. Or are you looking for local shore dives you can do in the morning before joining your host for brunch?
 
It's obviously cold - this time of year probably a full 5-7mm wetsuit - in winter many dive dry. You can rent wetsuits at a nearby shop. Those would include In2Deep Diving or Eco Divers. Or Malibu Divers on the way to Ventura but they may not be open that early. You may want to rent what you need the night before.

I don't think there's a diveboat in Santa Monica any longer but there's 4 good choices in Ventura about 90 mins north.It's not such a big deal along the coast there but traffic, not distance is a factor. If your friend lives there, they'll know.

Explorer Diving Aventures - Home Page
https://www.peaceboat.com/Default.asp
Welcome to the Raptor Dive Charters Website located in Ventura Harbor, California
The Spectre Dive Boat | Diving Santa Cruz Islands on Spectre Dive Boat

They're going to dive the Channel Islands - for Sea Lions you want Anacapa. Fast, Fun Action at Anacapa’s Sea Lion Beach - California Diving News

I think they all go out there but Spectre advertises it on their homepage. All should have a trip calendar also.

Typically the DM stays on the boat. So if you're by yourself - all will have rental guide options. Also they provide different levels of gear since many in SoCal bring their own.

hth, I haven't been out there in a while so verify everything I posted with the shops/boats.

Santa Monica is nice. Some years ago they converted a street downtown into a pedestrian mall and there's some good restaurants, shops etc. There's also Santa Monica Pier
 
There's not much diving in Santa Monica proper. The Star of Scotland wreck is too far out to do as a shore dive. Your best options are to rent gear from In 2 Deep Diving in Santa Monica and either: book one of their charters, go shore diving in either Malibu or Vet's Park (Redondo Beach), go to Catalina and dive Casino Point, or do one of the charters out of Ventura (Peace, Spectre, Raptor)

Water temperature is mid to almost upper 60s right now

Carrie at In 2 Deep is very customer service oriented and will set up everything for you if you tell her what you're looking for
 
Are you willing to get up really early, drive to Ventura, and spend the day on a boat at the Channel Islands? That's probably your best bet for sea lions. Or are you looking for local shore dives you can do in the morning before joining your host for brunch?

I am up for best bet and no problem waking up, if I can get up close and dive with them.

Uhmmm I have never had any fear of creatures in the water and love seeing sharks but I have to ask, sea lions = big great whites, any concerns?
 
It's obviously cold - this time of year probably a full 5-7mm wetsuit - in winter many dive dry. You can rent wetsuits at a nearby shop. Those would include In2Deep Diving or Eco Divers. Or Malibu Divers on the way to Ventura but they may not be open that early. You may want to rent what you need the night before.

I don't think there's a diveboat in Santa Monica any longer but there's 4 good choices in Ventura about 90 mins north.It's not such a big deal along the coast there but traffic, not distance is a factor. If your friend lives there, they'll know.

Explorer Diving Aventures - Home Page
https://www.peaceboat.com/Default.asp
Welcome to the Raptor Dive Charters Website located in Ventura Harbor, California
The Spectre Dive Boat | Diving Santa Cruz Islands on Spectre Dive Boat

They're going to dive the Channel Islands - for Sea Lions you want Anacapa. Fast, Fun Action at Anacapa’s Sea Lion Beach - California Diving News

I think they all go out there but Spectre advertises it on their homepage. All should have a trip calendar also.

Typically the DM stays on the boat. So if you're by yourself - all will have rental guide options. Also they provide different levels of gear since many in SoCal bring their own.

hth, I haven't been out there in a while so verify everything I posted with the shops/boats.

Santa Monica is nice. Some years ago they converted a street downtown into a pedestrian mall and there's some good restaurants, shops etc. There's also Santa Monica Pier

Awesome info, Thank you, i will post dive report
 
Nah, you have more to fear from the great white assholes on the 101 than any critters you'll encounter in the water. Maybe leave your snorkel behind; I've heard the sea lions see it as a stick to play fetch with and you can lose your mask that way. But they're mostly just goofy, not aggressive.

I've done a few of these chartered day boats to Catalina and Anacapa through Eco Dive Center. If you've got a whole day to spare and want to make sure you get in some diving, that's probably the way to go. Shore diving conditions have been pretty hit or miss this year; I was supposed to be diving in Laguna right now but the surf is up and the viz is down and I probably should've just gone to Catalina.
Southern California's Boat Diving Schedule - Online Reservations

Book in advance; they do sell out.
 
+ 1 for the Spectre.
Great day boat for just basic dives.
Sometimes they have a few OW groups on board but that’s OK. It’s just pure fun, and it’s fun to watch them have fun.
I’m about ready for another trip down there myself.
If the hour and a half drive is too much for you they let you sleep on the boat the night before for free. The bunks are great and the boat is clean.
I have a 7 hour drive so coming from LA is a cakewalk. It’s a big boat too and I think they take up to 35 divers. But interestingly, I never get the feeling that it’s a cattle boat. Probably because it’s mostly locals and they know the drill. Plus the boat is REALLY big.
 
if I can get up close and dive with them.
you mean like this? title: Anacapa Playtime

 
Maybe leave your snorkel behind; I've heard the sea lions see it as a stick to play fetch with and you can lose your mask that way.
happened to my friend in Mexico. We thought it was pretty hysterical to watch him fight to keep his mask. Next dive the snorkel was in his bag. They take some interest in shiny things, I had one admire itself in my housing port for about 30 secs. b4 it blew bubbles and took off - I was filming at the time.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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