closest dive operator to Corona del Mar

[sportxlh]

I will be attending a class reunion in Corona del Mar in late August and was thinking about getting a dive trip in one morning or afternoon. What is the closest dive boat/dive operator to Corona del Mar?

In reading through threads in this forum, it appears that a 7MM wetsuit is the minimum protection. Am I correct?

What sort of conditions are typical in August (if there is a typical August conditon for Southern California): viz, marine conditions, water temp. etc.

Are there any good websites that can give me a feel for what to expect in the area.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

By the way, I did try searching this forum, but did not come up with much except beach dive sites after about an hour of reading threads....

 

[DiveNav]

I will be attending a class reunion in Corona del Mar in late August and was thinking about getting a dive trip in one morning or afternoon. What is the closest dive boat/dive operator to Corona del Mar?....

Beach Cites Scuba has the closest dive shop to Corona del Mar and now they have a boat that leaves from Dana Point (but is limited to dive sites close to shore).

Another alternative is to take the Catalina Express and go dive the Avalon Underwater Park.

And finally, You can hop on one of the many SoCal dive boats that dive several sites in Catalina .... where You can dive in our beautiful kelp forests.

.....In reading through threads in this forum, it appears that a 7MM wetsuit is the minimum protection. Am I correct?....

Yes indeed.
Dry suit recommended if you do 3 dives from a boat.

.....What sort of conditions are typical in August (if there is a typical August conditon for Southern California): viz, marine conditions, water temp. etc....

Visibility .... it depends where You go ... and which day .... anywhere from 15ft (close to mainland) up to 50ft (Catalina).

....Are there any good websites that can give me a feel for what to expect in the area.....

With our scuba dive simulator You can check out (virtually dive) several dive sites in SoCal. Each virtual dive site has a very accurate 3D map and typical marine life of the area.

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[fnfalman]

Depending on where you dive, the water could be as warm as low 60-Fs, which means that it's like bathtub water when you wear 7mm wetsuit.

 

[Rainer]

the water could be as warm as low 60-Fs, which means that it's like bathtub water when you wear 7mm wetsuit.

Yeah, a bathtub full of cold water...

 

[FrankPro1]

Yeah, a bathtub full of cold water...

Seriously though.... Everyone has different tolerances to the cold. I can dive comfortably all day in mid 50's water, while my main dive buddy gets cold during his first dive in 60 degree temps. 7mm is standard for SoCal diving. If your not already a dry suit diver, I would recommend a hooded vest for underneath a 1 piece 7mm suit or if your renting, pick up a farmer john style suit.

 

[sportxlh]

thanks everyone for the info: I am not a drysuit diver but do have a 7MM which I use occasionally when Florida waters cool down to 69 degrees: that only happens for a few weeks/days each winter (I am sure most of you would be diving in a 3MM shortie or nekkid at 69 degrees!). I look forward to diving in a completely new environment.

 

[bertramguy]

Sun DIver out of Alamitos bay in Long Beach has awsome trips mid week to the island. Beach Cities is the closest dive shop and dive boat to CDM but the Riviera I think only runs on Weekends, by the way it's a really nice boat.