Channel Islands trip planning

[Delhi Diver]

As someone who has done mostly Caribbean (and some northeastern quarry) diving, I want to try my hand at Pacific kelp diving with sea lions at so on.

I was considering a weeklong trip to the various Channel Islands in late January or early February 2007, or perhaps an extended weekend trip (~three days of diving). What would be a good weeklong itinerary? I'd like to try both the northern and southern Channel islands. How different is the diving there respectively?

If I only did three days of diving, what would you recommend? Is a liveaboard the best option and if so can you recommend one?

I have a 6.5mm semi-dry suit. I assume that will be enough for the temperatures?

Thank you.

 

[albane]

hope this helps

http://www.truthaquatics.com/aboutus.htm

http://www.scubaluv.com/

http://www.psaltyadventures.com/

http://www.secondstage.net/

http://californiadiveboats.com/

i like the salty 5, the sea bass, second stage, all the truth aquatic boats,lois ann, the great escape,

the king neptune will show you a good time

have fun
al

 

[LAJim]

I have a 6.5mm semi-dry suit. I assume that will be enough for the temperatures?

I would layer up with a 5/3 hooded vest or some other additional wetsuit component. That time of the year you can find 48 F off of Anacapa.

Jim

 

[Codyjp]

dito on the hooded vest! Make sure to plan well in advance to ensure there are boats available on the weekdays. Also consider a day or 2 of diving at Avalon's casino point. I am sure Dr. Bill will chime in with some catalina Info. This would be a good way to dive if you can't get a dive boat set up for the weekdays.

have fun!

 

[CompuDude]

You left the best boats off the list! The Peace: www.peaceboat.com and the Magician www.magicianscuba.com

Magician can take you to Catalina (the southern channel islands) and the Peace is your best bet for the Northern Channel islands. Check their schedule, and if you're lucky there will be a 2-day trip somewhere in your time window that you can worm your way onto. Best way to experience the Northern Channel Islands by far!

6.5 will work but you won't be warm, and may be VERY cold, depending on both you and the conditions. Layer up, as recommended above, or consider diving dry (rentals work, too) if you're certified for it.

 

[travelmadness]

That time of the year you can find 48 F off of Anacapa.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Delhi Diver]

Thanks for the recommendations!

If I had to choose between the northern and southern islands, what are the factors I should consider? I would like to experience bigger animals/fish (you know, the whole Pacific thing) but am open to any and all variables that you might suggest.

 

[Makin Raider]

I'd agree with CompuDude on his recommendation for a 2 or 3 Day trip on the Peace. You'll never have better food on a dive boat nor a better crew. The big fish are in the game reserves especially around Anacapa and the rookery there has grown quite large. Hope you have a great visit out here.

 

[drbill]

The Peace and the Truth Aquatics boats are my favs if you do the liveaboard option. Your greatest liklihood to dive with sea lions is probably Santa Bartbara Island or the outer islands (San Nic and San Miguel). It is rare that I have extended encounters with them off Catalina.

Of course here on Catalina you have the option of fairly good shore diving at the Casino Point dive park, or possibly even fantastic boat diving at my favorite site, Farnsworth Bank (scheduling and weather permitting).

 

[scottfiji]

late jan, early feb - wow, that is probably the worst time to go on a multi-day trip. it will be cold, maybe rainy. very few boats will be doing multi-day trips, I checked a few and dates are quite limited.

best bets are the peace, truth, conception. I didn't find any multi-day trips going to the southern islands. they are all going to the northern islands.

getting to san miguel, san clemente, san nick does not happen often, especially in winter, due to weather/wind.

so assume, for southern islands, you will go to catalina & santa barbara. lots of sea lions at santa barbara. check with the boat to see if they thing they will go there though.

for northern channel islands, assume it will be anacapa, santa cruz.

by "big" fish and animals, I'm not sure what you mean. except for black sea bass, which you wont see in jan/feb (summer/fall is the time), I can only think of seals, sea lions and bat rays as big.

bat rays are common in all the channel islands.

I prefer anacapa /santa cruz, they tend to have more invertebrate growth, rockfish, nudibranchs. but that's because I'm a photographer. sea lions and harbour seals are also common at anacapa/santa cruz.

but lots of divers love catalina, I'm sure other people will give their opinions.

let us know if you have more questions.

I think the water in jan/feb is too cold for a wetsuit on a multi-day. maybe for a 1-day trip it would be ok, if you add another layer. brrrr

scott