Casino Pt. -- how crowded after Memorial Day?

[davidbaraff]

I'm thinking of diving Casino Pt. the first weekend of June --- someone told me once that after "summer" starts the weekends are very crowded to dive there.

Is that really so and just what constitutes "really crowded"?

I'm not bringing my own tanks so I guess I'd be getting them from the air-station right there. I'm planning on staying on the island so I can start diving around 8:30 or 9AM, and finish up by early afternoon.

The one other time I was there was in latish May and the weekend didn't seem very crowded to me at all.

 

[Teamcasa]

You should not have any problems. OTOH, you might want to call and reserve the tanks just for peace of mind.

 

[Mo2vation]

It hardly matters. I've been there many times when its elbow to elbow - and you get in the water and hardly see anyone in the park.

Remember - 3rd weekend is usually check out weekend for the classes, so its especially jammed on the 3rd weekends of the month. (thanks for that tip, DrB!)

Also remember classes usually clump together. So there are generally large silt pods over the sand to your left as you come down the stairs, and the uplines get crowded (meaning once you descend, MOVE or you'll get bombed by some over-weighted new diver) - but once you get on the OUTSIDE of the kelp curtain or down towards the Sue Jac or up in the Sun Room by the old refrig - the place is empty.

Even when there isn't a square inch of flat dry ground to lay your tarp you can have lots of solitude in the park. Its wacky, but true.

 

[drbill]

Early in June most schools are still in session so I doubt it will be that crowded. Ken is right on the 3rd weekend being check out weekend for mainland classes so it can get a little crowded then.

Due to the economy the number of divers at the park has been lower than usual.

Ken... that's not an old refrigerator, it's an old safe. It was dropped in the park by the harbor dept. but they had no idea where it ended up because it floated with the door closed. I discovered its location shortly afterwards and filmed its demise over a few years.

 

[fnfalman]

Right now, there's restoration construction going on for the Casino, so a lot of space will not be available. Please keep that in mind.

 

[vistasbelow]

The restoration of the casino building is wrapping up and the scaffolding is coming down according to Catalina Divers supply facebook post. The divers area should be back to normal within the next couple of weeks or sooner.

 

[diverrex]

The restoration of the casino building is wrapping up and the scaffolding is coming down according to Catalina Divers supply facebook post. The divers area should be back to normal within the next couple of weeks or sooner.

The guy at the air fill told us divers won't be able to use the benchs attached to the Casino anymore once the restoration is done. I'm not really sure how that is planned to be enforced.

 

[drbill]

Yes, the newly restored Casino is gradually reappearing from behind the "tent" and it looks great. Not sure if everything on the dive park side will be down soon, but by June it should be.

True that the benches built into the Casino will not be available to divers following completion of the restoration. As for enforcement of that, who knows. Maybe they will hire some SCUBA police!

 

[vistasbelow]

Eric, the manager at Catalina Divers supply mentioned that the employees of CDS may have to be involved in enforcing that rule. Sounds like an unpleasant chore, but we do have to protect the Catalina Island icon.

 

[JMdiver]

How is using the benches ruining the icon?