Avalon Casino Point Dive Park - Are Snorkelers Allowed?

[LaiLaiDiver]

I was diving here last month, and was surprised to find a large number of snorkelers using the Dive Park. I'm curious what the official rules are; I was under the impression that the Dive Park was for scuba only, and Lover's Cove was for snorkeling only, but perhaps I misunderstood.

Now I have nothing at all against snorkelers (I often am one!), but it seemed to be a real safety concern, creating much more traffic on the steps, especially with young kids hanging about, right alongside scuba students with heavy tanks on their backs making entries and exits amidst the surge - I saw enough close calls to make me concerned. Anyhow, it seems like Lover's Cove is a more sensible place for the snorkelers, with its wide beach and plenty of room.

Perhaps if this is indeed a scuba only area, it should be posted as such so that the snorkelers are aware?

 

[robertarak]

I have no idea if this is the case or not, however I would LOVE to know if it is true. If it were to be posted, I would be happy to tell the snorkler where to go...so to speak. The snorklers are a real problem. They don't know it and I understand that. They are there to play in the water. Aside from putting themselves in harms away around all the divers and tanks that they seem to be annoyed are where they are snorkling, they yell and scream to shore and wave their arms like mad, use both sides of the stairs to go in and out, and seem to think they have the right of way in all cases. In light of the recent events at the dive park, the screaming and yelling really gets to me.

OH! and the mothers and father who stand on the stairs to yell back at their kids and take pictures and have conversations!!! OK, I'm done.

 

[runway1]

Can't we all just...get along?

Nobody owns the place. It's public. I dive there frequently by choice. But, if the person next to me doesn't have a tank on their back, who am I to object?

Not to mention, as a diver my choices are endless. As a snorkler, limited.

P.S. Frankly, if I want to wave and take pics of my kids, I'll do it where I damn well please. If it bugs somebody, the next PUBLIC site is just down beach.

P.S.S. I retract all harshness and substitute calm, reassuring tones....

 

[Teamcasa]

Swimming and snorkeling are permitted as well as Scuba diving. The entry and exit protocols also apply to everyone. There is no shortage of divers that are oblivious to the rules and other divers. Divers, me included sometimes get the feeling that since the dive park is our exclusive domain but it is not and as said before, it is a public place.

I try to be friendly and gently urge anyone not playing by the rules to read the signs and give way to divers where possible. I would hate to see an injury, diver or swimmer due to carelessness, bad behavior or just ignorance of the rules.

 

[muddiver]

Your confusion of the rules for Lover's Cove vs. the Dive Park are that SCUBA divers are restricted from Lover's Cove (and Avalon harbor). Snorkeling is allowed at all of the beaches along the Avalon shore front.

I think that the statement by runway1 is incorrect because the island is owned and administered by the Catalina Conservancy Company. The dive park is actually private beach that is offered as a public recreation area.

 

[orangelion03]

...could be tomorrows divers! Sure, they may not know "the rules" (what rules?), and be a tad boistrous and loud, but they are having a good time! Lots of them are doing this for the first time and are genuinely excited! Besides, dealing with rude and oblivious divers bothers me far more than snorkelers ever do =) And snorkelers are only in the water when it's relatively warm!!

Has anyone here snorkeled Lover's Cove? Was thinking of going over there with my girlfriend sometime to check it out.

 

[robertarak]

P.S. Frankly, if I want to wave and take pics of my kids, I'll do it where I damn well please. If it bugs somebody, the next PUBLIC site is just down beach.

I expect that from people that don't know better, as a diver you should know better then to yell and waive your arms franticly in the air.
As for just standing on the stairs to yell out to your kids....I would not reccommend that with a line of divers behind you, especialy if I am one of them.

 

[drbill]

Actually it is not public property... the land belongs to the Santa Catalina Island Co. They are nice enough to give us access to it.

Personally I would prefer that snorkelers NOT be allowed in the dive park. They have a tendency to sit on the stairs, block the entrance and exit unnecessarily, stay in the fairway in front of the stairs obstructing the path for divers, etc. They have a wealth of other places they can snorkel from Lover's Cove to Avalon's Beaches to Descanso Beach. Divers have only one place they can dive.

However, since they are allowed to use the facility, I will simply expect them to follow the rules.

Yes, I know... I'm a yellow meanie...

 

[LaiLaiDiver]

Well put, Dr. Bill, I agree entirely! I have snorkeled Lovers Cove recently, and it's a lovely place to snorkel, with a nice sloping beach for easy access - I'll have to remember that trick about loudly proclaiming how amazing the snorkeling is there! Oh well....

 

[drbill]

Oops, looks like I did a double post of nearly the same message so I'll erase this one.