Catalina weekends in Aug

[robint]

So how insane is Catalina on the weekends in Aug? My hubby can do a 4-day weekend off(drive Fri, dive Sat & Sun, drive Mon) but I don't want to do this if it will be unpleasant diving conditions. Tons of students and tourists? Would it be better to wait until Sept or Oct? We would want to do a day of shore diving and a day of boat diving? Dr. Bill? Any opinions? Are the hotels all booked up already? I know they have a 2 nt minimum this time of year....

robint

 

[xSandman3]

Saturdays are really busy. If you bring tanks, expect 1-2 hours for a fill. I was there Friday two weeks ago, and we had maybe ten divers in the park all day. I would say dive the park on Sunday, take a boat on Saturday.

 

[kelpmermaid]

Just MHO, but I think our best diving is in Sept/early Oct, and it's less nuts then. The 2 day minimum is pretty standard year round (doesn't hurt to ask, though), but look for a hotel rate drop in late Sept.

 

[Mo2vation]

However, August is the best month to see the GSB. They're all over the place right now - which is on time, but a little early. I mean, we were there last weekend - Friday, Sat and Sunday.

I did 13 dives in and around the dive park that weekend, and I saw 1 to 8 GSB on I think 10 of the 13 dives. They're all over right now, and will likely be there in August.

They're the only reason, IMO, to dive the park in July or August.

---
Ken

 

[somewhereinla]

Gsb???

 

[Leejnd]

Giant Sea Bass.

 

[ICY ICE]

I'll be in Catalina this weekend (July, 28/29). All hotels are pretty much sold out..I had to pull too much $$$ for a place to stay. But it's all worth it!

I'll be with a OW class and looking for GSB's to photo/video.

Email me " ICE-at-valleyscuba.com" if you'll be there this weekend

 

[ChrisM]

I wouldn't go in August. Diving much better in the fall anyway (GSBs notwithstanding - doesn't help if you have to wait 2 hours for a fill as mentioned and can't get in the water.)

 

[ICY ICE]

I wouldn't go in August. Diving much better in the fall anyway (GSBs notwithstanding - doesn't help if you have to wait 2 hours for a fill as mentioned and can't get in the water.)

I'm taking my tank and renting one also...only way to do it durring summer.

 

[drbill]

GSB's can be seen in our waters into October and sometimes November. In fact they can be seen year round, but with far less frequency during the period from Nov to late April or May. Visitors are less numerous in the fall with the exception of the JazzTrax weekends in October.

Boat diving Sat and dive park Sunday is often a good suggestion.

I've heard our boat counts (= visitors) are down 20% over last year so who knows. Third weekend in a month is often check out weekend for dive classes so they frequently are the most busy weekends at the dive park.