Diving in SanDiego May 6th & 7th

[JJP161]

I know it's short notice and I apologize but any info would be greatly appreciated. We will be in SanDiego for a conference and have time to dive on May 6th & 7th. We are both novice divers and have never done any shore dives can anyone give us an idea of where to go and what to expect, also any dive shop recommendations would be great. If we can fit it in into the scedule we may try a charter to Cornodas Islands. Thanks again.

Joe

 

[ChrisM]

I know it's short notice and I apologize but any info would be greatly appreciated. We will be in SanDiego for a conference and have time to dive on May 6th & 7th. We are both novice divers and have never done any shore dives can anyone give us an idea of where to go and what to expect, also any dive shop recommendations would be great. If we can fit it in into the scedule we may try a charter to Cornodas Islands. Thanks again.

Joe

Hi Joe - I'm just gonna be a devil's advocate here, since you are a novice diver, have never beach dived, and I am assuming you've never dived in kelp or cold water (i.e., below 65 degrees) - I apologize if my assumptions are incorrect.

Frankly, the surf zone is no place for a novice diver without any knowledgable divers, especially if it's the first time wearing 7 mils of rubber and 25-30 # of lead. You need to know where to enter and exit, how to read the surf, how to do the entry properly, etc etc. Same goes for diving in kelp. It's the best diving in the world, IMHO, but it ain't the Caribbean.

I would suggest trying to either hook up with someone local or going on a boat that will supply a DM in the water. Not only will your dive be safer,you will enjoy it much more.

I had a friend come out a couple years back, he took a boat to the San Diego kelp beds, at 40 dives and no kelp dives, he was the most experienced on the boat (!?). He got an 11 minute cluster**** dive on the first one, sat out the second dive. Yesterday we went to Casino Point and I showed him the ropes. He had a MUCH better time.

This isn't to steer you away from California diving. To the contrary. it's to make clear that cold water diving is as different from warm water diving as snow skiing is to water skiing.

Good luck

Chris

 

[debdiver]

There is little to NO kelp out at the Coronados. Most dive masters will give you a through briefing about kelp if you TELL them you have never dove kelp. They should offer, but just case they don't.... ASK.

Also, most dive shops will offer an "area" orientation if you are up to a shore dive. Be careful though, because I do think the surf is up at the moment.

http://cdip.ucsd.edu/models/socal_now.shtml

 

[JJP161]

Hi Chris,
Thank-you for your fast response and yes your assumptions are correct when it comes to where to enter and exit, how to read the surf, how to do the entry properly, and the kelp. As for coldwater I'm used to diving here in Ohio. Water temps range from 50-65 degrees and as low as 42 degrees when you hit the thermoclines of course this is freshwater and I realize it is much different than saltwater. I have also done some wreck diving in North Carolina and I am used to diving with a 6.5 mil, hood, gloves, and 30lbs though. So I was just hoping to find something that was very calm under good conditions and forgiving in our lack of knowledge if at all possible even if there wasn't much to see just so we are familiar with the area and maybe be able to enjoy it more on another trip. But at the same time we do want to have fun and not get in over our heads so if nothing meets this criteria we'll just have to wait till next time. Thanks again Chris.

Joe

 

[hkgjh54ghy]

http://www.gottadive.com/ here you go bro, they have a boat that goes out to the Kelp beds.............nice dive.

 

[ChrisA]

I know it's short notice and I apologize but any info would be greatly appreciated. We will be in SanDiego for a conference and have time to dive on May 6th & 7th. We are both novice divers and have never done any shore dives can anyone give us an idea of where to go and what to expect, also any dive shop recommendations would be great. If we can fit it in into the scedule we may try a charter to Cornodas Islands. Thanks again.

Joe

Like everyone says. It will go smoother if you get get someone to introduce you to the area. But take a look here.

http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/shores.shtml

and click the "scuba" link.

One thing that is easy to do is to leave the scuba on shore
and go out in a 7mm suit and no weights. You will float like
a cork and it will take effort to get even 3 feet under. Most
people do there first shore entries this way. _much_ easier
without a tank and 25 pounds of weight.

Most likely by next weekend the surf will be back to normal
but the last while it's been big, people have been cancelling
dives. I heard rumor about 6 and 9 foot waves at one beach 2
weeks ago. I'd beleve it because I was out sailing then and we had
some big stuff out there. There was a big storm in the So.
Pacific and the train of swells hit So. Cal a week or so later.

But the "norm" is little knee high stuff.

I live 100 miles north of SD and can't help much more

Some good links on this site
http://www.sandeaters.org/
Try the "calif. BBS", "dive sites" and "surf forcast" links.

Have fun.

 

[Roughwaterjohn]

Hi Joe,

I shore dive San Diego 2-3 times a week, and even with tide charts, you never know what you're going to get until you get there.

I agree with others comments, hook up with a DM from a local dive shop, such as;
Aqua Tech (619) 237-1800 or
Ocean Enterprises (858) 565-6054

Also, as mentioned GottaDive.com is an excellent source for boat dives to the Coronados or kelp.

That said, the safest place to Shore dive is usually La Jolla Shores, it's where most dive classes conduct their open water training. I still would not go there without a DM or local diver familiar with the area and conditions. It is an open sand area, dropping down into a deep canyon with walls and outcroppings. Plenty of small life for the knowledgable to find, but for someone not familiar (usually moving too fast) it unfortunately will look like bare sand or canyon walls with nothing there to see. :11:

Here's a couple of photo links to photos I took Sunday in the canyon, so there is life there!

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/photogalleries.php?s=5468

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/photogalleries.php?s=5469

Other good spots include a shallow reef south of the Marine Room in 20-30 fsw, or La Jolla Cove, with beautiful reef structure and kelp. The Cove is a steep shore break, so depending on conditions, a DM may not take you there. The Marine Room has the same entry conditions as La Jolla Shores, but the shallow reefs can create problems if the swells are large or close together. Express your diving desires to the DM you hook up with, and I'm sure they can take you someplace you'll truly enjoy.

If you know about what time of the day you'll be doing a shore dive, I can give you the tide conditions, and make a recomendation based on that info. It won't be perfect, but it'll at least tell you where to avoid.

John A.

 

[tonyc]

If you can get there and have a full day open I would suggest.... going up to Dana Point or Long beach and taking the ferry to Catalina Island to dive the casino point dive park. Low stress diving, easy entries via stairs and a lot to see in a relatively small area. It's a pretty well protected cove, lots of marine life. That would be what I would do! Dive shop is not far away and they rent carts to get your stuff to the park and back.

I think OEexpress will take you on a guided dive for like 60.00 in the san diego area and they are located really close to La Jolla shores. http://www.oeexpress.com/
My wife and I have been out to a Jolla shores to dive, but not knowing where to go we mostly saw sand bottom and not a whole lot of life. Definitely have to be careful with the tides and watch your air to avoid a long surface swim.

La Jolla cove would be cool too, but everytime I've been the conditions sucked. Both La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove have lifeguards in the area.

Check out these links:
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalS/index.htm

http://www.pacificwilderness.com/

http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=La+Jolla,+Scripps+Pier,+California

http://www.catalinacruises.com/

If you want more info about a day trip to catalina island, PM me.

Tony.

 

[ShakaZulu]

Oh, almost forgot, the Lobster Shack at Los Coronados sits just past the northern tip of North Island on the eastern side, in a very small cove. There used to be several shacks just onshore, apparently used by lobster fisherman. This is a good anchorage, although you'll likely be vying for a good spot with the local commercial dive boats. Underwater you will find a boulder-field of large boulders down to about 40 or 50 feet, then sand. Look for a small school of triggerfish and moray eels in the crevices between the boulders. Also check for the occasional elephant seal up on the rocks.

At about 60', down in the sand towards the southern end of the little covelet, is the wreck of an approx. 40 foot cabin cruiser. Several years ago the owners of this boat had it on autopilot at night and failed to see the island. Now we have a good wreck dive site!

The Lobster Shack is at N 32 26.541, W 117 17.734

 

[JJP161]

Thank-you all for your replies and info as it is very much appreciated. We are scheduled to dive with http://www.gottadive.com/ for the Coronados on Friday. When I scheduled I explained to them in detail our skills and experience, and they were very, very helpful and we are definitely looking foward to diving with them. We may also try to find a shore dive for Thursday but only if we can find a DM from a local shop to take us. Again thank-you all and I'll let you know how it goes. If nothing else I can't wait to be in San Diego again as I absolutely love it there. Here in Ohio this past week we actually made it up to the 60's one day and still managed snow flurries later that night.

Joe