Diving at Catalina in April

[all4scuba05]

Will be on a Carnival Ship arriving in port at 8am. Actually, near port. Have to take a tender to shore.(Avalon) Wife doesn't dive so I'm on my own as for diving. Trying to avoid diving with the cruise herd. They'll be diving at Casino Point's Avalon Park. Is this park dive worth it? What are my options for diving on a Tuesday between 10 and let's say maybe 4pm. Prefer boat dives unless of course shoredive will be great as well. (any kelp at that time? or just plankton?)

 

[60FT NDR]

The only shore diving on Catalina is the Dive Park (Casino Point). As part of April is still the change over from winter to normal schedule, there may not be any fills out at the point. You may have to get multiple tanks from the Catalina Divers Supply on the Green pier or at Scuba Luvand tote them out to the park in a wheel barrow.
As far as boat diving. Both shops have a boat but reservations are possibly required. The King Neptune through Scuba Luv is probably the best bet, but you will have to check with the departure and arrival of the boats so that you don't miss your ship. I don't think that the shops put any sort of guarantee on the time to return.
The dive park is not a disappointment at all! That's where most of us "mainlanders" go to dive when the weather is bad over here. Ruth

 

[drbill]

Our boat (King Neptune) usually goes out at 9:00 and does 3 dives, not returning in time to catch the cruise ship. However they also do two tank dives and have left at 10:00 AM for cruise ship passengers and returned in time to reboard.

The park is a pretty good shore dive though. I've logged about 1,200 dives there alone. Varying depths (0 to ~100 ft), bottom types (sand, gravel, rocky reef), kelp forests, etc.

PM me if you wish.

 

[all4scuba05]

Thankyou...very helpful

 

[xSandman3]

There generally aren't many cruise ship divers in the park, but there may be a bazillion snorkelers clogging the stairs if the weather is nice enough. Just hafta walk over them and cuss at them until they get out of your way.

 

[drbill]

Tell the snorkelers nicely but firmly that clogging up the stairs is against the rules of the park. They aren't supposed to just stand or sit on them, or sunbathe. They stairs are for entering and exiting the water only. Point them to the rules if you have to. If that doesn't work, use your knife and cut their hoses. Oh, wait... snorkelers don't have hoses.

 

[all4scuba05]

I'll just enter the water and a minute later come up and tell them "you guys be careful, I just saw a great white shark circling" Then I dive.