dive from rental boats in avalon?

[KRL1973]

I will be visiting avalon,catalina for 3 days at the end of July. It will be my first trip to the channel islands (I am in the Monterey area). I will be with my family and was thinking about renting a motorboat from Joe's rent-a-boat and going on a fun ride up to hen rock area to picnic, hang out and snorkel and perhaps even bring my gear and do a dive there.

How feasable does this plan sound?
Anyone rent boats from Joe's? -opinion?
These little motor boats aren't ideal dive platforms, but is it do-able?
Would it be better to dock or beach the boat and proceed from shore to dive?
Any suggestions?

I would also welcome suggestions on alternative places to go. Our trip isn't focussed on diving so I expect to only dive casino point a couple times and then perhaps to get a dive in from this rental boat.

thanks,
-Ken
PS: I would love to see a giant sea bass from a respectful distance while there if anyone is willing to divulge the secret spots to me in a PM

 

[DwayneJ]

They are built for fishing. Getting off and one one of these boats would be difficult. The anchors are not designed to keep the boat secure during the dive.

Just snorkel and scuba at the dive park and likely you will see giant sea bass there as well.

 

[vistasbelow]

We have been seeing some giant black sea bass on an almost daily basis already in the dive park. by the end of July they are fairly common. Finding the Black Sea Bass around the island is no secret, the best place is Italian Gardens where you are almost guaranteed to see them sometimes several at one time. I also often see them at hen rock and long point but the numbers are improving all around the island.

As far as Joes rent a boats, it is probably feasable to dive off of one but definatly not ideal and not recommended. All of the boat in dive sites around the island require you to anchor in very deep water and if you are not familiar with the sites you may not find them. Plus you will be setting yourself up for trouble if your boat pulls anchor because a small boat like that will be long gone before you can blink your eye. anyplace you can beach the boat would not be an ideal dive site unless you like long surface swims, you will see way more stuff in the dive park and it would be more safe. Stick to a dive boat like the King Neptune or Scuba Cat or just dive the dive park.