California dreamin' ... 2007 style

[HBDiveGirl]

I'm planning to stay as close to the diving as I possibly can ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

If you're taking the Catalina Express to Avalon, the best departure terminal is the San Pedro terminal. This is closest to LAX airport.

The Long Beach Catalina Express terminal is a royal PITA to park at, load gear at, and get out of the parking structure afterwards.
The San Pedro terminal makes all this easy... Very easy.

(Don't be afraid of LAX. Glycerin is just a nervous and jumpy character until he gets his dive gear on... then he sorts out extremely well. )

LAX is also closer to the Ventura boats, The Peace, Spectre, Raptor, etc.

If you are going to Wreck Alley, Sandy Eggo is your spot.

Farnsworth Banks is a lovely dive site on the "other side" of Catalina. I notice Kevin mentioned that the SeaDivers have a trip planned there while you're here. It's about 3 1/2 hours on most dive boats, so they usually depart at 6AM instead of the usual 7AM. If conditions allow, they'll do one or two dives at Farnsworth Banks, (65 to 130fsw+) The rest of the day's dives are usually at shallower spots around Catalina. If conditions are too rough for Farnsworth, it turns into a Day of Diving Around Catalina. It's all good.

PM anytime with specific questions, Bob. Some people love wrecks and corynactis and metridiums. Some love giant kelp and pretty fish and octopuses and sunshine. None of us are objective or passionless. We've got opinions, and BIG ones!!

You have so much to choose from while you're here. And there is a small army of eager beach divers standing by... ready to take you out from Malibu to La Jolla.
Just whistle!

Have you selected particular boats and dates yet?

~~~~
Claudette

 

[Glycerin]

Glycerin is just a nervous and jumpy character until he gets his dive gear on... then he sorts out extremely well. )

:multi: :biggrimja :gulp18: :multi: :demented: :f:

Its happening again


Need to dive soon!!!!!!!!

 

[HBDiveGirl]

I personally do everything I can to avoid LAX. When I fly to Sea-Tac I use John Wayne. You can also try Burbank if your staying in LA.

Josh

Professor G!! Of course you use The Duke: You LIVE IN OCAL!!

LAX is really not a big deal to fly in and out of.

I live 20 minutes from it, and flying into LAX and staying near the coast for your whole trip is quite easy.

The drive from Burbank to the coast? I grew up in Burbank. It's too far from the ocean. (IMNSO)

Bob, a lot depends on what boats you make reservations on, and then where you decide to stay.

~C~

 

[LAJim]

OK - The real question is what are you doing for ground transportation? If you are going to rent a car and you don't mind that its mostly parked some place where you are not then Burbank might be a a really good option. Its much easier to wrangle and check gear at Bob Hope Burbank than LAX. Burbank to San Pedro - 134 to the 110 S. Pretty easy except morning and part of PM rush hours. Burbank to or from Ventura - easy shot to the 101 N.

Not sure that the SuperShuttle plus dive gear would work - so you might be stuck with a cab.

DiveGirl carries a gun - I've seen her locked and loaded- she's not to be trusted.

Jim

 

[HBDiveGirl]

:multi: :biggrimja :gulp18: :multi: :demented: :f:

Its happening again


Need to dive soon!!!!!!!!

Easy big fella.... EEEEasy....

Deep abdominal breathing.

We'll board the boat tomorrow night.

You're going to be OK.... breathe.... you'll be underwater by 10AM Saturday morning. Just hold on....


'Dette

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

If you're taking the Catalina Express to Avalon, the best departure terminal is the San Pedro terminal. This is closest to LAX airport.

The Long Beach Catalina Express terminal is a royal PITA to park at, load gear at, and get out of the parking structure afterwards.
The San Pedro terminal makes all this easy... Very easy.

(Don't be afraid of LAX. Glycerin is just a nervous and jumpy character until he gets his dive gear on... then he sorts out extremely well. )

LAX is also closer to the Ventura boats, The Peace, Spectre, Raptor, etc.

If you are going to Wreck Alley, Sandy Eggo is your spot.

Farnsworth Banks is a lovely dive site on the "other side" of Catalina. I notice Kevin mentioned that the SeaDivers have a trip planned there while you're here. It's about 3 1/2 hours on most dive boats, so they usually depart at 6AM instead of the usual 7AM. If conditions allow, they'll do one or two dives at Farnsworth Banks, (65 to 130fsw+) The rest of the day's dives are usually at shallower spots around Catalina. If conditions are too rough for Farnsworth, it turns into a Day of Diving Around Catalina. It's all good.

PM anytime with specific questions, Bob. Some people love wrecks and corynactis and metridiums. Some love giant kelp and pretty fish and octopuses and sunshine. None of us are objective or passionless. We've got opinions, and BIG ones!!

You have so much to choose from while you're here. And there is a small army of eager beach divers standing by... ready to take you out from Malibu to La Jolla.
Just whistle!

Have you selected particular boats and dates yet?

~~~~
Claudette

Awesome info Claudette ... it's all helping me form a picture of what we want to do.

I do know that Peace won't accommodate our schedule ... so that's off the table. I'm currently exchanging e-mails with ScubaLuv about a couple of days of diving on the King Neptune, and accommodations on Catalina. But there's still Friday ... I haven't yet determined where, what or when.

I have yet to look at flights ... but I'm thinking a red-eye flight down after work on Thursday evening, and probably checking into a local (mainland) hotel for the evening. Perhaps a shore dive or three on Friday, then crossing to Catalina Friday afternoon or evening. Saturday and Sunday with ScubaLuv ... or one day of boat diving and one day of shore diving on the island ... and depending on Tuesday's flight schedule, perhaps pushing another morning dive or two into Monday's itinerary.

I'm currently working on details for three separate dive trips ... this one, an April trip to British Columbia, and next year's big trip (3 weeks) to Indonesia ... so it's difficult to keep it all straight in my head.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed at this point. The only thing that's firm are the dates (coming down Thursday evening, May 31 and returning home sometime on Tuesday June 05). The rest is negotiable up to the point where I start putting down deposits.

Would love to hook up with as many of y'all as possible ... if that means eschewing a day of boat diving, that's also something I'd happily consider. As long as it's someplace where Cheng can take lots of pictures, she'll be happy (that's her priority) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well, it's official ... booked the flight this afternoon. We'll be heading into LAX, arriving Thursday evening (May 31).

- Need to make hotel reservations for Thursday night (suggestions welcomed).
- Need a dive plan for Friday (suggestions welcomed).

Then heading over to Catalina ... working with Scuba Luv for 2 nights accommodations at the Atwater, and a boat dive on Saturday.

- Need a dive plan for Sunday ... there's a possibility for a second day of boat diving, but I haven't made that decision yet. Figured I'd check in with y'all and get some ideas first.

- Would like to squeeze in a dive or two on Monday morning somewhere ... our Tuesday flight doesn't leave till 11:30, so there's time. Suggestions welcomed.

Probably spend Monday afternoon sightseeing ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Robert Phillips]

I can show you around my favorite dive spot on Sunday or Monday. Lots of stuff for Cheng to take pictures of. I'm shure we could get a whole bunch of others to join us too.

 

[riguerin]

I can show you around my favorite dive spot on Sunday or Monday. Lots of stuff for Cheng to take pictures of. I'm shure we could get a whole bunch of others to join us too.

Hey, I'm pretty sure that your favorite spot is one of my favorite spots

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Good! I kept those days open hoping it'd give me a chance to hook up with some of y'all ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)