Catalina dive companies

[lbussell]

I also have some interest in staying at and diving from Two Harbors. It looks like Catalina West End Divers is the one outfit there. From what I can see it looks very natural and less touristic than Avalon. I have no idea about comparing the two underwater worlds!

 

[Leejnd]

Personally, if I'm staying on Catalina, I don't feel the need for a boat. I can get many more dives in, for way less money, right from the stairs at Casino Point. You can do as many dives as your NDL allows. Fills are easy - there's a fill station just a few steps from the stairs. And the dive park is truly an awesome representation of the best of SoCal diving - gorgeous kelp forests, abundant sea life (since divers generally don't hunt there, the marine life is plentiful) and even a couple wrecks within easy reach.

Of course this is assuming you have a dive buddy with you...if you don't, then that puts a different spin on things. You could always hire a private DM, if you're not into solo diving.

Also, I think it's important to ask if you've done SoCal diving before. Have you? If not, there are some important things to note:

1. This is cold water diving. If you're diving wet, you will want a full 7-mil suit, hood, gloves. Drysuits are common around here.
2. If you're used to tropical diving, you may find that the visibility is way less than you're used to. It can get very murky around here. I'm perfectly happy with 10-15 ft of vis, and it's often better than that - but it's often worse too. Just be prepared.
3. If you do go on a boat, dive boats out here don't operate like dive boats in other popular dive locations. Here, you are on your own. You are expected to handle your own gear, bring your own buddy, plan your own dive, execute your dive on your own and get yourself back to the boat. SoCal dive boats don't dive in DM-led groups - in fact the DM usually doesn't even get in the water, except in an emergency. This can be startling to people who are used to resort-style diving.
4. If you haven't dived kelp before, it's worth reading up on it. Just google "kelp diving" - there are some excellent resources that you should read. Too often, divers from out-of-town have no idea what to expect, and there have been some sad incidents that could have been avoided had the diver done his/her homework on the unique characteristics of kelp diving.

These are reminders that I always like to bring to the attention of out-of-towners. Just some food for thought to make your trip out here better!

 

[Teamcasa]

SCUBA Luv is "my" shop, but both Catalina Divers Supply and Dive Catalina (Ron Moore) can give you a good experience. Scuba Luv's King Neptune offers the advantages of 3 tank dives, a more spacious boat and fills on board. CDS's boat often goes out for two tank dives if you prefer a shorter day and is under new management by my friend Carl Mayhugh. Dive Catalina offers a smaller, more intimate boat and the knowledge of long-time Catalina instructor Ron Moore.

Dr. Bill is spot on with this. I've been on both King Neptune and CDS's boats and both have their advantages and drawbacks but I never fail to have terrific dives when we go. I have dived with Ron but not on his new boat. He does indeed know the best places and always delivers memorable dives.

Mostly, I dive the park and will do so many more times as it is a fabulous place to spend the day diving.

 

[Mr.X]

If you're an avid diver and are spending a few days of diving it makes a lot of sense to get out on a boat. While the Casino can be beautiful...it's a high traffic area and at time affected by the action of the throngs of divers that frequent the area. A boat can get you out to places that are fantastic and less-traveled like: Bird Rock, Ship Rock, Blue Caverns, Italian Gardens etc. These areas can be lush with kelp and wildlife that actually behaves like they are wild.

I haven't been in Catalina for a few year and the boat we always chartered was the King Neptune as it had a compressor and wide deck. It's older, slow, but it was comfortable.

X

 

[tincan715]

My son and I had a couple of great dives with Scuba Luv recently.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I also have some interest in staying at and diving from Two Harbors. It looks like Catalina West End Divers is the one outfit there. From what I can see it looks very natural and less touristic than Avalon. I have no idea about comparing the two underwater worlds!

Two Harbors is a lot of fun! It's a very different experience from staying in Avalon and diving Casino Point.
One of our San Diego dive clubs does a trip twice a year to Two Harbors. While there, we do several shore dives that go "around the corner" to the north of harbor area. We've seen angel sharks, morays, bat rays, nudibranchs, etc. in that area. For boat dives, we go through the Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center (only dive op at Two Harbors). It's a short ride out to Bird Rock, Ship Rock, Sea Fan Grotto, Twin Rocks, Middle Reef and other spectacular dive sites. Our club negotiates a deal with the Center for unlimited shore diving, kayak rentals, and reduced rates on boat dives. We've done a few hikes into the hills behind the schoolhouse and seen several buffalo, too. It's a fantastic weekend.

Avalon is certainly more touristy. There is an impressive number of shops, bars, restaurants, etc. You can do happy hours at any number of places in town. If you have time, I recommend checking out the Wrigley Botanical Garden which is walkable from the downtown area.

I guess what I'm trying to say is you really should do two trips -- one to Avalon, one to Two Harbors. I really like Casino Point shore diving, but I'd prefer to do a couple dives at Bird Rock or Ship Rock any day. Fortunately, if you choose to do boat dives out of Avalon, you can request that the boat take you to Bird Rock or Ship Rock.

 

[fnfalman]

Ship Rock is awesome but decidedly an advanced dive. Bird Rock is a lot easier and the kelps could be quite thick depending on what time of the year. I did my Rescue checkout dive at Bird Rock. I also had a BC malfunction (corrugated hose unscrewed and popped off from wing) at Bird Rock. Met a really hot babe and dated her for a bit while on a trip to Bird Rock with the Great Escape boat.

 

[lbussell]

Thanks, LeeAnne. I'm from So. Cal. and dove the Channel Islands last year. I am working on becoming dry suit certified and hope to try that out on this trip. Thanks for your detailed response.

 

[drbill]

I also have some interest in staying at and diving from Two Harbors. It looks like Catalina West End Divers is the one outfit there. From what I can see it looks very natural and less touristic than Avalon. I have no idea about comparing the two underwater worlds!

I may be wrong, but I thought the Island Company stopped operating the West End dive operation. Please check in advance to see if that is correct or not. By the time word gets to Avalon all the way from Two Harbors it could be decades!

 

[drbill]

If you're an avid diver and are spending a few days of diving it makes a lot of sense to get out on a boat. While the Casino can be beautiful...it's a high traffic area and at time affected by the action of the throngs of divers that frequent the area. A boat can get you out to places that are fantastic and less-traveled like: Bird Rock, Ship Rock, Blue Caverns, Italian Gardens etc. These areas can be lush with kelp and wildlife that actually behaves like they are wild.

I haven't been in Catalina for a few year and the boat we always chartered was the King Neptune as it had a compressor and wide deck. It's older, slow, but it was comfortable.

X

Casino Point is lots of fun with decent diving and lots of folks to socialize with (my specialty!), but Mr.X is right in that there is better diving to be had at other Catalina sites by boat.