Best place to dive in Nor Cal

[Peter_C]

Another option is the Casino Point area of the Channel Islands. You take a ferry over and stay on the island. They have a dive park that is well protected from weather, and there are dive boats available to take you to more remote spots. I dang near got flung out of my bunk making the channel crossing on a liveaboard in SoCal, yet we were able to dive in decent conditions until the compressor started producing mass amounts of CO. BTW the water was sub 50 degrees.

Winter vis is typically better in California since the plankton blooms are not happening. Although the storms can really wreak havoc on our coasts. We just had 16+ foot swells slamming our coasts this week.

Point Lobos and other Monterey dive sites can be very nice. The area is touristy and gives you something to do if the weather is bad. IE: The Monterey Bay Aquarium.

 

[fdog]

I'm with Ben - if you come to NorCal, Point Lobos is the "MoCal Signature Dive(s)". (I wouldn't say necessarily cheaper than a live-aboard, though, you still gotta get a hotel room and eat!)

When Lobos is great vis, it is the dive of a lifetime; if average vis, it's only an amazing dive.






All the best, James

 

[catalina_mike]

Catalina Island.... good diving and easy access. Hotel choices and several different operators and boats. Fly into LAX take a shuttle to Catalina Express and your on the island.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

How's the diving at Pt. Lobos in July?

My wife and I are vacationing in Carmel the week of July 4th 2013. I'm researching "must do" dives.

My wife isn't a diver, so I'll only be diving a couple of days that week. I've been to Monterey once back in 2006 when I was a very new diver. I dived Breakwater and Lovers Point. I've also dived Anacapa ... that was in July 2007. I LOVE the kelp forests and am really looking forward to diving them again! Most of my diving these days is Great Lakes shipwrecks, which I love, but that's an entirely different type of diving. History and Archaeology rather than Critters.

 

[Ben_ca]

In July, Pt Lobos will have more kelp and the sand channel may or may not be obvious on the surface. Water temps will be a somewhere in the 48-50 range. Vis is usually better in the winter than summer but will probably be around 10-20 (usually a safe bet).

Some tips if you don't mind:

- Make reservations early. For bonus points put in for more spots than you need then invite a local to dive with you and show you around.

- Always check out the cove from the bluff. It'll help you build that mental picture of where you will go. Bring your compass with you also to orient yourself with the landmarks. Notice that North is going out of the cove and South brings you in.... The sand channel is your main street. Figure out where you will be in relation to that and follow it in and out.

- Chat up the other divers in the parking lot. I love hearing from other divers on how our backyard compares to theirs. Most don't mind sharing tips either or having another team join them.

- Bring a lunch. The park is fantastic and there's nothing better than a nice picnic lunch for your SI.

Hope you enjoy your dives here... let us know if you need anything else

 

[bperc]

How's the diving at Pt. Lobos in July?

In July the visibility declines due to plankton. It could be 10 ft or it could be 30+ ft. The kelp is growing like crazy too. It is still an incredible dive no matter what. You should definitely plan on going if the swells permit it.