Fall/Winter Diving

[mccabejc]

What is fall/winter diving like in SoCal (logistically speaking)? Is parking in Laguna a lot better, so you can arrive there later in the morning, and not have to be there at 7:30am? Does the water get too cold for a 7mm wetsuit? Do folks tend to dive later in the day because it can get so cold in the mornings? Does the crowd at Catalina Casino die down?

 

[ChrisM]

What is fall/winter diving like in SoCal (logistically speaking)? Is parking in Laguna a lot better, so you can arrive there later in the morning, and not have to be there at 7:30am? Does the water get too cold for a 7mm wetsuit? Do folks tend to dive later in the day because it can get so cold in the mornings? Does the crowd at Catalina Casino die down?

Water is generally warmest Oct-early Dec., then starts chilling. I don't think it ever gets too cold for a single (or even a double) beach dive in So Cal in a wetsuit. Boat diving (or three dives at the Point) are a different story.

Re; parking, hey it's California, no such thing as winter. Classes go year round (bit heavier in summer), so as long as there are no storms, Laguna can still get crowded. The Point gets much less crowded, however.

Morning dive times stay the same, like it when it's glassy.

Vis is best fall/winter if you can avoid the stornms... Speaking of which, forecast is for a stronger el nino this year, more rain, higher surf

Chris

 

[saintsfan]

What is fall/winter diving like in SoCal (logistically speaking)? Is parking in Laguna a lot better, so you can arrive there later in the morning, and not have to be there at 7:30am? Does the water get too cold for a 7mm wetsuit? Do folks tend to dive later in the day because it can get so cold in the mornings? Does the crowd at Catalina Casino die down?

Its by far best time of year to dive, typically the ocean is much calmer and with that comes better vis, cold water means less plankton and algae blooms= better vis. laguna parking, I haven't had to find parking after 7:30 I get there early, but as far as I know there is always a parking issue. unless you are cold blooded a 7m suit should be fine,you could always go dry or semi dry.you can also use a hooded vest. catalina in general is a lot less crowded in the winter, better for us divers and boaters.