Dive Boat Operator Advise

[herbdb]

My son is flying out to Orange County on business Friday April 1st. He wants me to come along and dive with him on Sat and Sun. We are having a hard time finding a dive operator with enough people booked on their boats to guarantee a trip.

Ideally, we would do two dives Saturday morning then 1 or 2 dives Saturday night, followed by two dives on Sunday. I would catch a redeye back to the east coast Monday night and leave him to work. Retirement has its perks.

Any advise?

 

[fnfalman]

There's always Casino Point dive park at Avalon, Catalina Island. You can do day dives, then rent some tanks overnight to do some night dives. Then repeat on Sunday. The dive park is not huge, but it'd take several dives to map out all the cool areas.

 

[dwaters]

+1 on what 'fnfalman" said. This is what I would do...spend the day @ Avalon and get 2-4 dives in. Then jump on the G.E. on Sunday for two dives ... see Great Escape Southern California Scuba Dive Boat Calendar
For more charters check out this link for most California boats: California Dive Boats : The Official Page
For more info on the dive park option check out our "sticky": http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/231885-updated-great-catalina-island-info-sticky-thread.html.
Hope you enjoy your time in our rich waters.

 

[herbdb]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[merxlin]

Just be aware most boats do not do 2 tank dives. Most are 3 tank and all day affairs (7am to 6pom or so).

 

[scjoe]

Check with one of the local dive clubs, Laguna Sea Dwellers. I think they are going out on the Sundiver Express on Saturday. It is closer to Orange County than the Great Escape and is about twice as fast as the bigger boats like the GE. The downside is it doesn't have a fully enclosed eating area or a bunk room like the bigger boats and if the swells are up it can be a bumpier ride.

 

[JMdiver]

You can book on the Spectre up in Ventura it goes to Anacapa & Santa Cruz every Sat & Sun & usually has enough people booked to go out. You can do 4 dives each day, air & food are included they BBQ Tri Tip, Chicken & burgers for lunch. They have a hot tub also. I'll be on it the 3rd with some friends come join us.

John