No one needs a trip report about Catalina, but I thought it might be useful to provide a few details for people who might be considering going for the first time. I've been wanting to dive Catalina for about 10 years now and this past November I finally made it happen.
We were able to get an early (5:30am) direct flight from BWI->LAX. We arrived in LA around 10am. I knew with bags and transport time there was no way we'd make the 11am ferry, so I had booked us on the 2pm one instead. After getting all our gear, we took an Uber to the Long Beach ferry terminal, got some lunch and waited for 2pm. We were able to speak to some locals and get some recommendations. I get seasick, but the ~1-hr ferry ride was nice and calm. I elected to sit on the upper deck, outside, which helped. Definitely worth the small upcharge. Disembarking the ferry around 3:15pm, we had a decision to make: relax, or try and get in one dive? We decided to grab everything and rush to Catalina Diver Supply (CDS) on Catalina Ave. CDS was very accommodating, and even though they were closing at 4pm and there was no one at the dive park (it was a Thursday and empty) the employee said he would meet us there to let us grab tanks & weights. So we checked in, then hurried to our hotel (La Paloma Las Flores), checked in there, dumped our luggage, threw our gear into some hand carts the hotel had, and walked quickly down to the dive park. The employee from CDS met us around 4:15pm (even though they close at 4pm), gave us some tanks & weights, and instructions for returning them when we were done, as no one would be there. Sunset was at 4:45pm, so this was more of a dusk dive. We didn't bring many good lights, and neither of us had ever dived there before, so we kept it kind of short. But it was still a great taste of things to come.
The second day the morning was blown out, but we had two great afternoon dives at Casino Point. The third day we did 2 am boat dives with CDS, which were lovely, and then another afternoon dive at Casino Point. The fourth day we got in 2 am Casino Point dives. The fifth day we left on the 11am ferry, Uber back to LAX, and got back to Baltimore around 1am. Back at work the next day.
The water temperature ranged between 63-67°F. I was expecting it to be a tad colder. I dove a 5mm, sometimes with hood and gloves, and sometimes without. CDS was really good to work with. They helped us out quite a bit that first day. We did a lot of walking, which was nice, but if you're planning a trip, factor in those times. La Paloma is about half a mile from Casino Point, which can feel pretty long hauling gear up the hill. Overall, La Paloma was great though. Just don't expect to be able to stand up in the shower if you're 6'5" like me
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I was amazed by the safety at Casino Point. We're so used to being paranoid about leaving things on shore when shore diving. Everyone said don't worry about it, and we didn't, and it was fine. I left my shirt down there one evening. Not only did someone ask me about it in the bar that night, it was hanging up waiting for me when I got there the next morning! That's unreal. The Dive Park itself was basically deserted on the weekdays, but completely mobbed on the weekends. Still no problems finding a spot and getting tanks & weights. Things were expensive, but there seemed to be ways to economize - like The Locker Room sports bar!
There was plenty of sargassum, especially in the shallows, but it still seemed like there was a good amount of kelp. Then again, I have no reference. I expected to see more small stuff, like Nudibranchs, but that could just be my lack of experience there. It was a really interesting contrast to Monterey/Point Lobos, the only other California place I've dived. Monterey had much more abundance of life, but was 10-15 deg. colder and much worse viz. The kelp was so beautiful, and to be surrounded by Catalina gobies, Blacksmith, Garibaldi, and Kelp Bass was a very different feeling than the invertebrate-heavy Monterey I experienced.
It was hard to decide between shooting macro or wide angle, so I did a little of both. Full gallery here
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmp6KS59
If people with more experience would like to help with some of the IDs, please feel free.
We were able to get an early (5:30am) direct flight from BWI->LAX. We arrived in LA around 10am. I knew with bags and transport time there was no way we'd make the 11am ferry, so I had booked us on the 2pm one instead. After getting all our gear, we took an Uber to the Long Beach ferry terminal, got some lunch and waited for 2pm. We were able to speak to some locals and get some recommendations. I get seasick, but the ~1-hr ferry ride was nice and calm. I elected to sit on the upper deck, outside, which helped. Definitely worth the small upcharge. Disembarking the ferry around 3:15pm, we had a decision to make: relax, or try and get in one dive? We decided to grab everything and rush to Catalina Diver Supply (CDS) on Catalina Ave. CDS was very accommodating, and even though they were closing at 4pm and there was no one at the dive park (it was a Thursday and empty) the employee said he would meet us there to let us grab tanks & weights. So we checked in, then hurried to our hotel (La Paloma Las Flores), checked in there, dumped our luggage, threw our gear into some hand carts the hotel had, and walked quickly down to the dive park. The employee from CDS met us around 4:15pm (even though they close at 4pm), gave us some tanks & weights, and instructions for returning them when we were done, as no one would be there. Sunset was at 4:45pm, so this was more of a dusk dive. We didn't bring many good lights, and neither of us had ever dived there before, so we kept it kind of short. But it was still a great taste of things to come.
The second day the morning was blown out, but we had two great afternoon dives at Casino Point. The third day we did 2 am boat dives with CDS, which were lovely, and then another afternoon dive at Casino Point. The fourth day we got in 2 am Casino Point dives. The fifth day we left on the 11am ferry, Uber back to LAX, and got back to Baltimore around 1am. Back at work the next day.
The water temperature ranged between 63-67°F. I was expecting it to be a tad colder. I dove a 5mm, sometimes with hood and gloves, and sometimes without. CDS was really good to work with. They helped us out quite a bit that first day. We did a lot of walking, which was nice, but if you're planning a trip, factor in those times. La Paloma is about half a mile from Casino Point, which can feel pretty long hauling gear up the hill. Overall, La Paloma was great though. Just don't expect to be able to stand up in the shower if you're 6'5" like me
. I was amazed by the safety at Casino Point. We're so used to being paranoid about leaving things on shore when shore diving. Everyone said don't worry about it, and we didn't, and it was fine. I left my shirt down there one evening. Not only did someone ask me about it in the bar that night, it was hanging up waiting for me when I got there the next morning! That's unreal. The Dive Park itself was basically deserted on the weekdays, but completely mobbed on the weekends. Still no problems finding a spot and getting tanks & weights. Things were expensive, but there seemed to be ways to economize - like The Locker Room sports bar!
There was plenty of sargassum, especially in the shallows, but it still seemed like there was a good amount of kelp. Then again, I have no reference. I expected to see more small stuff, like Nudibranchs, but that could just be my lack of experience there. It was a really interesting contrast to Monterey/Point Lobos, the only other California place I've dived. Monterey had much more abundance of life, but was 10-15 deg. colder and much worse viz. The kelp was so beautiful, and to be surrounded by Catalina gobies, Blacksmith, Garibaldi, and Kelp Bass was a very different feeling than the invertebrate-heavy Monterey I experienced.
It was hard to decide between shooting macro or wide angle, so I did a little of both. Full gallery here
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmp6KS59
If people with more experience would like to help with some of the IDs, please feel free.
