Best dive for 13 yr old nephew

[altitudemike]

My nephew just recieved his o/w card. He is 13 & got certified in a mountain lake. (very cold ) We are going to California in October & I want to take him to a great dive spot. I have been to Catalina Island diving & loved it. Is there any better spots to go for kelp forests. I want to keep the dive above or around 40 ft. This will be his first time to even see the ocean. He is so pumped to go. I want to show him why I love diving so much. Any suggestions as to where to go & possible dive boats?

 

[scubadobadoo]

I would personally stick to Catalina if you want to make sure you can CONTROL the situation. From a boat, you could get any kind of conditions or any location, good or bad. Now, if you can get on a newbie type boat then this might be ideal. Have fun and congrats to him! You might want to post this in the SO Cal forum. Very helpful and active gang! You will have several SoCal people offering to take you on appropriate dive tours in a day or so!

 

[altitudemike]

If we take a boat I would just charter it for the day for the 2 of us. I am hoping to find new beautiful dive spots for the kid. I am going to take him to Casino point in Avalon for his first dive but would like to really show him how beautiful California is underwater as well.

 

[altitudemike]

I can't believe no one is willing to cough up any info on the west coast. Come on people I'm only looking for a little info, not your secret favorite spots.

 

[kidspot]

I think you should bring him to the "true" west coast ... Maui

Congratulate your nephew for us!

Sry - I don't know "your" west coast dive spots

 

[altitudemike]

I want to take him to Catalina or Monteray bay if its good for young newbie's

 

[ItsBruce]

It is hard to beat Catalina. I haven't been there since ... er ... Wednesday. That is especially true of Casino Point. I just did a dives at "Sea Fan Grotto" and "Rock Quarry." There was plenty to see above 40 feet.

If you want to dive from shore, there is Leo Carillo, which has some good scenery and is not a terribly difficult entry.

 

[Yikes]

Monterey is definitely good for noobs. Vis at Breakwater has been quite good recently (20 to 40 ft) but prepared for the temperatures and make sure you have the right suit. The shore dive at Breakwater allows you to easily keep your depth under 40 feet and there is quite a bit to see for a new diver.