Best west coast diving?

[SeaHound]

Hello all,

Id like to come to West coast to dive. Can anyone give their recommendations on where West coast diving is at its best? I am interested mostly in wrecks and deeper dives (70 - 130 ft) but other suggestions are also welcome since I dont know what that area has to offer.

Thanks

 

[TSandM]

Wow -- that's a hard question to answer! If you're interested in wrecks, there is Wreck Alley in San Diego, or the wrecks in Nanaimo, BC. If you like geometry and a wide variation in dive sites, you can find those things off LA, with the oil rigs and the Channel Islands and Catalina. If you like Giant Pacific Octopus and Six Gill Sharks, you can find those things (along with a great deal else) in Puget Sound. If you like color and structure, you can find them in Monterey. There is great diving up and down the west coast, but the one advantage Puget Sound has over the other sites is that we NEVER get blown out.

You can't lose; anywhere you come to, you will find good diving.

 

[robint]

agree.... San Diego has wreck alley, water is 50s so best in a drysuit.
See these websites: San Diego Scuba Diving Lois Ann and San Diego Marissa

also the oil rigs are awesome diving, but you need some local diving experience before you should attempt them. Can be easy or crazy scary. Several different boats do them, about once a month. Peace Dive Boat and Dive Sea Bass - diving co.

you can find all the dive boats in Southern Calif here: California Dive Boats : The Official Page

 

[SeaHound]

If you like Giant Pacific Octopus and Six Gill Sharks, you can find those things (along with a great deal else) in Puget Sound.

WOW! What is the probability of seeing these over 2 days of diving?

 

[SeaHound]

agree.... San Diego has wreck alley, water is 50s so best in a drysuit.
See these websites: San Diego Scuba Diving Lois Ann and San Diego Marissa

also the oil rigs are awesome diving, but you need some local diving experience before you should attempt them. Can be easy or crazy scary. Several different boats do them, about once a month. Peace Dive Boat and Dive Sea Bass - diving co.

you can find all the dive boats in Southern Calif here: California Dive Boats : The Official Page

Thanks Robint! What makes the oil rigs a scary dive?

 

[HBDiveGirl]

What makes the oil rigs a scary dive?

"Scary" depends greatly on your experience, skills, and preferred diving conditions.


Some of the conditions that can be triggers on the Oil Rigs:

1. No practical bottom for recreational divers. Depths can be 250 to 650 fsw on the L.A. oil rigs. Rock-solid buoyancy control is an essential skill.
2. Live boat. Divers stride off the stern while the boat is idling. It's like a sky-dive jump, with the dive master requiring all divers to be completely geared and waiting. When the DM says, "GO", you must go immediately and clear the water space for the diver behind you. You must move into the rigs on the surface and Return to the boat on the surface. This can be complicated by currents.
3. Current. Rigs are in "open ocean", miles from shore. Currents can be zero, or slight, or Raging!! Dives may be cancelled if the current is TOO strong. Currents may change dramatically during your dive.
4. Visibility under water. Divers are required to remain within the oil rig structure except when moving between the boat and the rig. If the visibility is poor, divers must have discpline in staying within visual of the rig structure. Visibility is usually exquisite, but not always.
5. Visibility above water. Marine fog can severely reduce visibility above water. It is important to remain within the rig, and not be blown away from the rig whilst underwater.

Oil rig diving is spectacular if you have the right skills, experience and appreciation for the given conditions.

~~~~
Claudette

 

[Thalassamania]

Pt. Lobos is usually assumed to be the classic West Coast dive spot.

 

[robint]

thanks Claudette, you nailed it.

Seahound - here is my video from diving the Grace 2 years ago:

California - diving the Oil Platform Grace, Aug 2006 on Vimeo

we had really good conditions, seas weren't too rough, vis was 40-60' at depth and better shallower. We hit a max depth of 110' and average depth of 50-60' for the 3 dives there (2 hr surface interval and divers were divided into 2 groups), and you can see many divers below us at times. Above 30' it was very surgy - like swinging us back and forth +10' so it was work not to get thrown against the pilons while doing safety stop! Getting on and off the boat was also quite a bit of work with the surface swells.
Great dive! I would do it again tomorrow.

robin

 

[FishNut]

There is great diving up and down the west coast, but the one advantage Puget Sound has over the other sites is that we NEVER get blown out.

You can't lose; anywhere you come to, you will find good diving.

Agree that there is great diving in the PNW, but there have been days in the fall and winter when they get all the run off from the rivers that make the sound seem like nothing but mud. If you want a challange come to So. Cal and do beach diving .

 

[Clammy]

Agree that there is great diving in the PNW, but there have been days in the fall and winter when they get all the run off from the rivers that make the sound seem like nothing but mud. If you want a challange come to So. Cal and do beach diving .

Beach dives out here can still be great dives if not difficult sometimes but he's only got two days, let's not tire him out after the first day!