A chance to get a couple of dives in around LA

[koozemani]

I am apparently going to be in Ontario for work and was contemplating trying to get a couple of dives in.

Dates are 8/12-8/16. I would probably stretch that by a day or so to accommodate diving. I'll be driving in, so no issues with flying. I can probably squeeze one day in for diving on either end of the listed dates.

These would be my first CA dives, so not looking for anything challenging, just something new. I'm SSI AOW, with just shy of 50 dives. My last 10 were in May in the Keys. I'll be traveling solo, but not a solo diver.

Any suggestions??

Dive ops to consider
conditions (water temp, etc)
recommended sites

Thanks in advance,

 

[blue steal]

Do you need to rent all your gears?
Those dates are Sunday-Thursday so open boat charters not so much.
Are you wanting to shore dive? Laguna Beach is popular.
Catalina express to Avalon and dive the park is a good option.
For boat dives, Sundiver Express goes out on Sunday, (2 dives) and the Magician goes out on Wednesday,(3 dives).
Water temp at Catalina on Friday was 66 at 30 feet, VIS pretty good.
I'm sure others will chime in some recommendations.

Edit: Just checked and magician is not going out WED 8/15, but the Sundiver Express (Long Beach area) has a 3-tank dive WED 8/15

 

[koozemani]

Nope, I would probably bring my own gear. The only days I would be available would either by Sunday the 12th or Thursday the 16th. But between the two, Sunday the 12th would be easier.

 

[blue steal]

You might check out some of the boats in Ventura, Peace or spectre, or down in San Diego.
I see the Sundiver Express going out for a 2-tank dive SUN 8-12, once at 0630, then another trip at 1300, but you would need to contact ECO Dive center for the afternoon trip and LA Dive & Ride for the morning trip as they have chartered the boat.
There are a few other boats in the LA area, but I'm not familiar with them.
Again, Catalina Express is an option, you can rent tanks there to save carrying it. I think it is $13 for a tank.

 

[fnfalman]

It's a shame that I'm out of town on the 12th of August, or else I would play the local tour guide.

From Ontario (real close to where I'm at), it's about an hour drive to Long Beach or San Pedro. It's about 2-hrs drive to Ventura.

For 12th August, you have a few dive boat options:

The Spectre boat out of Ventura Marina Village, chartered through the boat itself.
CALBOAT DIVING CALENDAR


Sundiver Express out of Los Alamitos (aka Long Beach) but you'd have to pick the morning or afternoon trip and schedule with the respective shops that chartered out the trip Sundiver Express - Trip Schedule

The Cee Ray out of Long Beach has a trip going out on Sunday, but it's chartered by Sport Chalet so you'll have to call Sport Chalet.
Schedule » CeeRayDiveBoat.com


This is the link to even more dive boats in SoCal that you can call up California Dive Boats : The Official Page

Of course you can catch the Catalina Express to go to Avalon on Catalina Island and dive at the well known and famed Casino Point Dive Park.
Catalina Express // Daily Trips To Catalina Island Book your round trip ticket for the ferry. When you get to Avalon, you can take a taxi or a porter service to bring your gears to the dive park. Dive, rinse, repeat, then take a ride back to the dock and go back to mainland.

 

[koozemani]

Thanks for the responses!!

 

[muzikbiz22]

+1 for Sundiver Express.