Diving in Catalina

[Mo2vation]

Up until this summer, I schlepped tanks to dive the park. excellent consideration - because a schlep in the summer heat is just not fun.

Funny story: I've been diving the park for years (4) and been there a zillion times - doing 2 or 3 dive day trips with my wife or other friends. Sometimes, you just gotta get wet. Well, just THIS SPRING did I go over with a new buddy, and we took a cab.

I have always (and I do mean ALWAYS) walked from the mole to the park, then from the park to Armstrongs for dinner, then to the mole to come home. Towing my bag and a tank. This buddy took one look at my land train and said "Uh...NO". He promptly hailed a cab, and my schlep was over.

I've been cabbing it ever since. Sometimes, you just don't think of stuff that's right in front ogf you...

 

[ChrisM]

Cabs.... couple weeks ago I dived with a guy carrying his gear, weights, tank (!) on his BP, and drysuit (but forgot his c card!) and he wanted to walk.


Thank god for stahlsac wheels....

the baggage service is a good deal too

 

[Burner]

I was considering shore diving the park in the afternoons. Is there a better way to get a few more dives (maybe 4 per day on friday/saturday) and not staying on the island. I'm starting to feel that staying there is ridiculusly expensive as I just called a few hotels there. With the cost of the hotels, its probably worth it to just do all boat dives if we don't stay in catalina.

 

[Mo2vation]

Go in the fall. Avalon has about 2500 residences. On a summer day, it gets to 5,000 or more. Its nuts. Its a fun sort of nuts, but don't go by yourself to dive.

Stay in a flop house in LA or San Diego. In SD, you're 10 minutes from Wreck alley. In LA, you're an hour from the island - in either place you're staying for $75 a night and not $200+. Most boats won't do 4 dive days. You can surely get a 3 dive day on any of the boats, and have time to hang. If you want to just pound a 4 dive day, plan a shore dive / night dive when you get back.

With someone who knows the area.

K

 

[pasley]

I would suggest grabbing the Great Escape out of Long Beach. You can usally board after 7 or 8 p.m. and sleep on board. Wake up in the moring and go diving someplace, maybe Catalina, Clemente, or some other island. Great food, plenty of it, a bed to sleep in and you will return by 6:00 p.m. Or you could do a 2 day trip, depending upon the schedule. http://www.diveboat.com/

Ferrys to Catalina do not run all that late and as has been mentioned the Catalina based dive boats charge more than the Long Beach or San Pedro boats do, and they get you to catalina and back!

You might also try diving the main land. Malibu, Palos Verde, Laguna Beach all offer excellent shore diving opportunities.

 

[kelpmermaid]

That is a lot of diving to do in a short period of time and then fly. Local dive boats do offer 3/4 dives per day. I know this was mentioned before, but what is your hurry?

 

[Burner]

Work is sort of a killer at that time so I wanted to just go on a quick trip. There are two other people going to getting everyone able to go on the same schedule is pretty difficult. To be more conservative with the flying I think we would end up missing 2 days of work rather then one. Because of this I think our plans are going to change to drive there from San Jose. I'm thinking of leaving after work on Thursday night, diving Friday and Saturday and driving back Sunday afternoon. I assume this is much less dangerous then flying after 18 hours.
I was thinking of www.divingcharters.com as they have a 2 day liveabord during the time that I was considering. Does anyone have any experience with them?

 

[ChrisM]

IMO. flying 18 hours after 2 days of 3 tank diving is probably fine, but ya never know.

divingcharters appears to the Sand Dollar. NEver used them, but I am sure others have

THe only boats you'll get 4 dives in one day are either on the Sundiver or a boat chartered thru reefseekers dive shop in beverly hills. Reefseekers does it via strict gate times. Sundiver does it by keeping you out at Catalina 'til you're done.

I've had my two best days diving on the Sundiver and the GReat
Escape wth Reefseekers

Chris

 

[Karen Cleveland]

I am on the Sandollar at least once a month. The Sandollar is chartered by specific groups so trip specs kind of depend on the group. The food is awesome, plentiful, and included in the price. The charter group that I go with has unlimited dives....I think that is with every group though, and on the 2 day trip you can get in a night dive or two. Last trip everyone was having such a great time diving at night that we kept the back of the boat open until well after midnight! Tanks and weight are included. PM me if you want more specifics. I have had many great trips on the Sandollar! CA diving is awesome. I will be on the Aug 22-23 trip.

Karen

 

[Burner]

Thanks for everybodies help! I decided to do the sand dollar as it fits my schedule the best.