catalina - frontside or backside?

[scottfiji]

Which is better, catalina frontside or backside? Or are they roughly equal? I am mainly interested in seeing lots of fish, rays, invertebrates, sea anemones, etc. I have a choice of a couple different boats, one is going to the backside, one to the frontside. Thanks alot!
Scott

 

[Mo2vation]

Which is better, catalina frontside or backside? Or are they roughly equal? I am mainly interested in seeing lots of fish, rays, invertebrates, sea anemones, etc. I have a choice of a couple different boats, one is going to the backside, one to the frontside. Thanks alot!
Scott

Welcome to the board.

I've been backside (which is actually the front... but that's another conversation) and its been nice and flat. Those are rare days. As your next stop is Hawaii - you can imagine how it can get rockin back there.

I regularly see all of the above from the tranquility of the front side. There are some great sites on the back, but its usually more expensive to get there (fuel, time), it adds significant time to the day, and its generally rougher.

Others will chime in, I'm sure. I've been to at least 20 - 25 spots on the front side (according to the Franko's map) and there's still a lot more for me to see.

K

 

[pipedope]

But I have several hundred dives on Catalina Is.

For general diving and looking at cool stuff the front side has plenty to keep you busy for many years of steady diving.

One of the few things on the back side worth the extra trip is the purple coral on Farnsworth Bank. It is a deep dive, plan on at least 100' and more like 120' to see the good stuff.

 

[kelpmermaid]

There are good spots on both sides. Just because the backside is the proposed destination doesn't mean that you'll actually get there. It's really weather driven.

 

[scottfiji]

everyone,
thanks for all the info so far

I'm looking at doing a 2-day trip offered by the bottom scratchers boat in february (you sleep on the boat)..they said its weather dependent. I couldn't find any 2-day trips during the next couple months going to Catalina front-side. (if anyone know's any, at a reasonable price, let me know!).

I guess I was just trying to figure out if there are a lot of good sites on the backside, since all the good sites I read about are on the front-side, except for Farnsworth Bank.

I actually have only dived casino point in Catalina. I did so 3 dives on Anacapa, so if I do this trip, I hope I'll enjoy Catalina back-side!


Scott

 

[ChrisM]

I couldn't find any 2-day trips during the next couple months going to Catalina front-side. (if anyone know's any, at a reasonable price, let me know!).

2 day frontside trips are rare. I know a couple people on that trip (Feb 7 or 8?), and was thinking about it, but the BS isn't my favorite boat,so....

I guess I was just trying to figure out if there are a lot of good sites on the backside, since all the good sites I read about are on the front-side, except for Farnsworth Bank.

That's cuz 90% of the boats go frontside. As all others have said, the frontside is as good as the backside for diving. Farnsworth Bank, which I have done once, is - IMHO only - overrated. But then again I am ust not a fan of deep dives to begin with

That said, my best day of diving yet was on the west end and backside at Eagle Rock Reef. Just one of "those" days.
Chris

 

[Mo2vation]

That said, my best day of diving yet was on the west end and backside at Eagle Rock Reef. Just one of "those" days.
Chris

I think mine was at Ship Rock. Arnaud coerced the cap't to take us to Ship Rock, and what a dive. The other two dives were also exceptional (Eagle Reef and someplace else) but that one will forever be my top Cat Is dive until something amazing knocks it off the top of the stack - Perfect viz, great sights, mad BT (starting at 94' and doing a slow ascent in a perfect circle around the rock) and just a cool hang. That was a great day.

K

 

[Arnaud]

2 days + backside + Bottom Scratcher...

Do you have a good tolerance for pain?

 

[scottfiji]

2 days + backside + Bottom Scratcher...

Do you have a good tolerance for pain?

I haven't taken a boat to catalina before (except for casino point), so I don't get the pain reference, perhaps everyone can elaborate! If I'm going to be in pain (oh, my girlfriend is coming too!), well then, we should know about it ahead of time! So please don't hold back, what pain is in store? Is the boat uncomfortable?
thanks again....

 

[Tygh]

I believe Arnaud may be referring to the Bottom Scratcher. Not the best boat in the world, it has seen better days. I cannot imagine being on that boat for two days. Also, not sure of your tolerance level for bagpipe music for two straight days.