Catalina Dive Park first timer

[crestgel]

We are new divers, certified a few months ago. We are planning to do our first Catalina dive in June. I would like to stay on the island for 2 days diving in the dive park there. we need to rent a few things:

Wetsuit
Tanks
Fins
Dive computer
Gloves

Any suggestions and/or recommendations is be appreciated.

 

[Mo2vation]

We are new divers, certified a few months ago. We are planning to do our first Catalina dive in June. I would like to stay on the island for 2 days diving in the dive park there. we need to rent a few things:

Wetsuit
Tanks
Fins
Dive computer
Gloves

Any suggestions and/or recommendations is be appreciated.

Make your reservations NOW. Consider a package with Cat Scuba Luv. If you must, stay at the Hermosa, and maybe you'll get the "I survived the Hermosa" T-Shirt (thanks DrB... that never does get old!)

The (R)Atwater is my one of my fav's - cheap and very diver friendly. There are a lot of places... be sure to stay cheap. They're all tiny rooms and you're just there to flop anyway. The Zane Gray is beautiful and funky, but not diver friendly. The Seaport Villiage Inn is about the closest hotel to the Dive Park, and they offer free pick up and drop off your gear to and from the park (if you're bringing your own stuff) for free (tip the driver.) Its a pretty dive friendly place - not the cheapest, but my fav place to stay.

About diving the park - 2 days in the park is a lot, especially if you're staying on the island.. that's probably 4 dives a day. My recommendations:

1) Mix in a night dive. If you've done your night dive training, its a way cool place to night dive, as its mellow, reasonably protected and kinda hard to get lost (that big round thing all lit up is easy to see from underwater...)

2) Don't get disouraged if you see a zillion people there on Sat or Sunday. Weekends are pretty packed in the AM... I've been there in the height of summer with hundreds of people there, and once you're in the park you're unlikely to see anyone... its one of the great mysteries of the place.

3) Enjoy more than the park - Avalon is a pretty neat place. Go to breakfast at the waffle place. Get lunch at the Dockside Cafe. Relax - stretch 4 dives into a full day. My fav dinner is at Armstrongs (wood broiled fish.. yummers) or go to Antonio's and get the only veggie pizza in the world with carrots on it! Bring a marker, and staple a buck to the rafters... our DIR/F buck is still there! Get a goofy hat and sit on the window ledge of Luau Larry's - got get an espresso at Galaghers... lots to do.

4) You can rent all your dive stuff there, if you wish. I always bring my own stuff... But if you're starting out, its all good to rent there. Call Cat Scuba Luv or Catalina Divers Supply. They're the two shops in Avalon.

Don't forget the park is a great place to drill - you should dedicate one dive to going to the left of the stairs (to the sandy area - about 30') and you and your buddy practice hovering, holding depth, practice getting horizontal and do a few OOA drills and go thru some of the stuff you learned in OW. Its a cool place for it, its usually not crowded there and its shallow and kelp free - a great place to hone your skills.

The major attractions in the park include the Sue Jac (sank 1980 - about 60 - 95') the Kismet / Glass Bottom Boat (about 55 - 60') the old swim Platform (about 55') and my fav spot, big casino reef (to the right of the stairs...) Wave at the big Moray Eel there at about 47'. There's been a GBS around the Sue Jac the last few days...

Go to www.catalina.com and check things out. You better book soon for June. I'll be there Monday, was there last weekend, I'll likely be there a couple of more times in June.

I could go on and on. I love that place.

K

 

[alaity47]

I'd highly recommend booking one day on the King Neptune (Catalina Scuba Luv's boat) if you're there for the whole weekend. Casino Point is fabulous, but it's nice to do something different one day. We're big fans of the King Neptune - it's one of our favorite boats in the area, even though it's relatively small. Tanks and weights on board, and you can rent gear from Cat. Scuba Luv (smack in the middle of town).

We usually go out on a Friday, do a boat dive on Saturday, and then as many dives at the park as we're in the mood for on Sunday before heading home. On our June trip this year, we plan to mix it up and do our first Casino Point night dive - can't wait!

I also recommend the Atwater - one thing I like about them is there's a big luggage storage area on the first floor (locked) where you can leave your gear, instead of hauling it up stairs (no hotels in Avalon have elevators, it seems). We generally go for the significantly cheaper non-a/c rooms, since - like Mo2vation says - you don't spend that much time in them anyway!

Have a great time, and let us know what you think of the place!

 

[Ancient Mariner]

We are new divers, certified a few months ago. We are planning to do our first Catalina dive in June. I would like to stay on the island for 2 days diving in the dive park there. we need to rent a few things:

Wetsuit
Tanks
Fins
Dive computer
Gloves

Any suggestions and/or recommendations is be appreciated.

My daughter and I were in Avalon for two days this week and dove with Catalina Divers Supply on the Scuba Cat. We found the crew to be very knowlegible and helpful. We dove Italian Gardens on one dive, and came eye-to-eye with the Giant Black Sea Bass---- a thrill, especially considering that they considered endangered not so long ago. I recommend it if you have the time.

 

[Ben_ca]

Sounds great... I'll try to get out there in August... I guess I should start planning now. If you guys don't mind... How much did you spend for a weekend? What should I budget? Is it worth it hauling tanks to the island?

Ben

 

[Mo2vation]

Sounds great... I'll try to get out there in August... I guess I should start planning now. If you guys don't mind... How much did you spend for a weekend? What should I budget? Is it worth it hauling tanks to the island?

Ben

Budget is an interesting question, as this is a "resort town" and it demends on your objectives. Coming out for a romantic weekend is very different than coming out do dive like a muthah. Lets address the latter.

Boat over: $43.50 round trip. Unless you're coming from Marina Del Rey, as that ferry is more. A commuter book is $165 for 10 one-way trips... do the math. If you plan on coming over a lot (like many of us) its the only way to go. PLUS you get two free Commodore Lounge upgrades... no biggie excepth when the boat is full and those are the only seats still available!

Parking: At the Long Beach is another $9 PER DAY, unless you find a spot on the dirt lot, then its free.

Transportation: You can schlep your geat to the park - that's free. Or you can get a cab... that's about $11 ONE Way per party (up to 4 in a party, I believe)... so get friendly with someone else before you get in. What we do is go to the Sherpas (the luggage transport people)... its like $8.00 each ($7 each 4 or more) ROUND TRIP to pile your gear into a stakeside truck. They've under new ownership, and its not the same place... it totally rules and is the best way to go. This way you walk over to the park (free of gear) and best of all you can hang in town without pulling your rig around. They're on the Mole, so you just roll over and get your stuff before your boat leaves...

Gear: I always bring my own stuff. Everything, including my cylinder. They only rent 72's (and maybe a couple of Al80's) at the park. You can pick up EAN cylinders in town, but why? I dive the E8-130 waterheater, and I want the mad gas supply - so I always bring my own. Remember, if you have an O2 clean cylinder, they will not fill it at the park. I mean, if there is any green on your tank (green knob, tank band, O2 VIP, etc.) you will not be able to get a fill. Fills are hot fills up to 3200 (3500 if you ask nicely and they aren't too busy) and cost $5.00. Rental gear is available - tanks, weights, etc, etc.

Grub: Lots of places to eat on your Lunch SI and at dinner if you're hanging. My favs (close to the park):

* Dockside Cafe - closest grub to the park. My usual lunch SI stop. I usually get a banana, then a Grilled chicken sandwich with tomato and ortega chili... yummers. Figure $7.00 - $9.00

* Coney Island - dogs and stuff. Garden burger rocks.

* Antonios (in town) - they serve pizza and other bar-type-Peanut-shells-on-the-floor-type grub. Their veggie pizza has carrots... Freaks.

* Armstrongs (in town) - Misquite Broiled Fish... My usual dinner place. Love it. Some $$$ and usually reserved for special occasions.

Others will chime in their fav places, I'm sure.

Dive Day Budget So far:

$52.50 to get there (boat over, plus parking)
$ 8.00 for gear Xport
$10.00 for two fills
$ 9.00 for lunch
$ 5.00 in tips (for fill station and gear transport)
$ 1.50 for 2 X locker in and out


So you're in for about $86.00 for a three dive day (knock off $20 if you use a commuter book and park on the dirt), not counting any rental gear (tanks, weights, etc.) snack grub, an Ice Cream at Olafs, or after dive drinks at El Galleon. Its not uncommon to spend $100 for a three dive day in the park.

You could grab a shore dive boat for about that and dive three different sites on the island (not just in the park) and see a lot more of the place. Diving the park always makes poor econimic sense to me. The attraction is that it's such a mellow hang. Completely unhurried (if you go over on the 8:30 AM and come back on the 5:30 PM... you could do 4 dives if you eat fast.) Its very mellow diving, and a great place to get away and practice your skills.


The only thing funnier is when I see people go to Catalina for a day (spending their $53 to get there) then spend another $90 to get on the King Neptune... when you can get a shore boat and save the $50. Whatever. If you're staying over for a couple of days, getting on the King makes sense for one day. But if you only have a day, don't do it.

Lodging is tiny on the island - think 1 to 2 star motor lodge rooms with better paint. Cozy, quaint, charming? Sure. Roomy? No way. You'll spend between $50 - $300+ a night, depending on where you stay. Remember to ask for AAA discounts (some give it) and look for packages (some places have packages that include lodging, the boat over and back, and gear transport.)

Anyway - these are some of my tips from a guy who goes there quite often. Its one my fav places on earth.

PM me if I can provide any additional info.

Ken

 

[kelpmermaid]

As I mentioned in a previous thread on this topic, check the tide charts for Avalon when planning your shore dives at the park. You might want to plan around any extremely low tides. The rocks at the base of the stairs are very slippery when exposed, and it can be hard on the smaller members of your party to exit. This isn't frequent, but it's worth checking.

Have a great time!

 

[B.C.Mike]

We are new divers, certified a few months ago. We are planning to do our first Catalina dive in June. I would like to stay on the island for 2 days diving in the dive park there. we need to rent a few things:

Wetsuit
Tanks
Fins
Dive computer
Gloves

Any suggestions and/or recommendations is be appreciated.

Hey, My daughter and I went there a few years ago. I snorkeled off a dive boat and talked to the divers. Everyone said the boat diving was not as good as the park infront of the casino building ( which is actually a movie theatre).
I saw bat rays in 25-30ft of water to the south of the town(opposite side of town from the casino) where people snorkel.
Also are favorite resteraunt to eat at was Armstrongs. Huge shrimp salad!!!

 

[crestgel]

Thank you all for helping especially Mo2vation for taking the time to help out.

Mo2vation, when is the next time you will be out there? want to go with some newbies?

 

[UndrWatrDan]

I will be on Catalina on June 15th. Going to be there only one day but in Calif for a week and there are 3 of us that are divers. Not wanting to carry our gear, can you rent all gear there on the island? Do I need to make a reservation for a shore dive? What are the water temps like? Is this dry suit water? Thanks in advance for your help.

Danny
www.divingrebels.org