Going to SoCal, should we dive with locals?

[AlmightyApkallu]

I am glad you had a great instructor but I don't think it matters what kind of instructor you had if you didn't dive in the ocean. The ocean (especially colder water like CA. coastline) is a different beast no matter what. I did most of my first 500 dives in the comfort of warm tropical waters experiencing many different conditions and challenges before I ventured out into So Cal waters. The first time I did a cold water ocean dive (granted it was in a dry suit) I felt completely out of my comfort zone. Between the temp, surge, limited viz, and kelp it was all a little bit overwhelming. I would highly recommend getting a guide or instructor to take you out. Maybe pursue an AOW card so you can become graceful creatures in addition to cautious and proficient.

I'm sure the Ocean is a different animal. This is specifically why I came here (and am beginning to regret doing so) to find the best route at not going it alone. When it comes to cold water, the lake we dive here is usually in the low to high 50's. I've been diving at 90 feet when the temp was 51 degrees in a 7mm and wasn't too bothered by it. Both me and my girlfriend learned and were certified when the water was extremely cold. We have also been diving in the summer when the visibility drops down to about 1~2 feet and were actually able to navigate to and find points of interest. Again, I know this doesn't mean we are ready to dive into the pacific but we are also not just some rich couple who got certified on some tropical vacation.

I would love to find a dive shop where I could have some one take us out and show us the ropes. I've heard of places, DM's and instructors who will do this, take you on a bit of a guided dive. It would be well worth the investment and I wouldn't have to be self conscious about us slowing anyone down. We plan on not only getting our AOW's but many other certifications as well.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

I suspect the first dive through the surf in the great big cold pacific ocean will rapidly remove the majority of your arrogance and possibly some of your equipment and hopefully you will not pay with the experience with your life. (FYI I was one of the organizers of the OC UW S&R...Searched for an recovered more bodies than I care to remember --certified on Friday, dive on Saturday dead by Saturday afternoon--Then the S&R begins)

There is an option that has not been explored : The LA County UW Instructors association annual 3 Rs aka Rocks Reefs and Rips. It is conducted at local SoCal Beaches taught by local LA Co UW instructors who were diving and instructing when your local instructors were in diapers. And there is a considerable value in the knowledge and experience In busting through the So Cal surf,

It is a 2 day 8 hour a day event generally at two or more beaches which have different surf patterns - and there is a difference in surf patterns and how one enters and exits through the surf -- or over Rocks or when in the presence of a Rip.

But you don't need this training ! You had fuzzy faced late model tube sucking bubble blowing Instructors ! who have never dove in SoCal but have vicariously prepared you and yours to bust SoCal surf

Good Luck,

It's funny that you say I'm being arrogant, I'm not sure how? I do see a bit of that coming from your post however, no offense. I'll start by stating that my "bubble blowing instructor" has not only dived but instructed in places like Iceland, Seattle, Oregon and taught people both cold water, ice water and dry suit diving techniques. I also at least tried to clearly state that I'm in no way fully prepared to take on the SoCal surf diving, or I wouldn't have made this thread. I am simply trying to figure out how to go about all of this, it's a bit confusing as we don't know any other divers. I am starting to feel like maybe I picked the wrong hobby though when I get attitudes like this.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

there is a group, South Coast Divers that dive Saturdays conditions permitting. They are very open to and then protective of newbs and ocean newbs. only drawback is they dive as group Saturday only. Google them.

I found these guys online the other day. Seems VERY tempting, they seem like nice enough folks. I'm trying to decide between either going with them or getting a guide/DM/instructor to show us the area and the ropes. The benefit of this group obviously is that each time you go you can gain more good experience without having to pay. Very tempted to go with them, I just hate showing up to stuff where it's a bunch of people who know each other and I'm the only new guy. Still might be worth it though.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

feel free to pm

I was at the Catalina Dive park, Avalon yesterday. Ferries leave from Dana Pt, Newport Beach, Long Beach and San Pedro. Catalina Flyer and Catalina Express. Plus, its a beautiful little place with cool stuff to do dry. Went ziplining there last week.

Dive Park was awesome. slight surge Viz 40-50 feet. Almost always super calm (except strong offshore Santa Ana winds...ironical because that is when Laguna is sometimes great) with very very easy entry exit as faces away from prevailing waves/winds. Dive shop with tanks, fills, weights, wetsuits, right there...really super convenient. Surf there is a rare thing. Has a nice staircase and railings right into water and a dive shop right there so no schlepping tanks weights. Small wrecks add to the scenery.

Viz is almost always much better than local shore diving. Saw a dozen giant sea bass there. Viz was good. light surge only no surf. 61f at depth. GIANT SEA BASS convention right now.

That sounds like it might be a good plan for me. Does the dive shop give or have guides/instructors to introduce you to the waters? I suppose we could always spend the night in Dana Point (used to live close to there myself) and take the Ferry from there out to the Island when we woke up, dive and then take the Ferry back, spend another night and drive back the next day. I have heard that the dive park there is very newbie friendly, which is great to get us acclimated. I would happily PM you I just hate the idea of burdening anyone.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

Going to SoCal, should we dive with locals?

Yes, going anywhere it helps to dive with locals in order to learn the area without having to find the ins and outs of the site yourself.

I have asked Scubaboard divers, that I have met in threads like these, to accompany me diving when I was in their area and have had a great dives and put a face with the name.
Aside from a good dive, I also got an education on diving in the area and reading conditions in case they were not available next time. Now I'm not you, but I dive with locals when out of my area and possible.


Any diving anywhere can get complicated.



Bob
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I may be old, but I'm not dead yet.

It does sound like fun, I just know that us being as new as we are I don't want to burden anyone or slow anyone down. I totally agree though that whatever new area you go to should definitely be with some one who's dived there before.

 

[shucksun]

I have to echo the cautions expressed by the others here, especially for your GF with only (5) dives.

Here are my recommendations:

South-coast Divers; great guys, very experienced, very dedicated to diving, probably a better fit for you after you have 4-6 ocean dives under you belt.

Do a day trip to Avalon and hire a dive guide to take you through the Casino Point Dive Park. Have lunch and shop in town after diving. A+ diving, and an excellent couples outing.

Ocean Safari Dive shop in San Gabriel. (Ask for Andy, Tom or Gabe.)Go out with them on one of their single day boat trips. Tell them your experience level and they will mate you to a Dive Master who will already be leading a group with similar experience.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

I have to echo the cautions expressed by the others here, especially for your GF with only (5) dives.

Here are my recommendations:

South-coast Divers; great guys, very experienced, very dedicated to diving, probably a better fit for you after you have 4-6 ocean dives under you belt.

Do a day trip to Avalon and hire a dive guide to take you through the Casino Point Dive Park. Have lunch and shop in town after diving. A+ diving, and an excellent couples outing.

Ocean Safari Dive shop in San Gabriel. (Ask for Andy, Tom or Gabe.)Go out with them on one of their single day boat trips. Tell them your experience level and they will mate you to a Dive Master who will already be leading a group with similar experience.

I looked up Catalina Diver Supply. It says they charge $100 per person (seems a little steep?) for a guided tour of the dive park. 2 hours, so I'm guessing it's a one tank dive in shallows and that they are including time for setup, prep and such. One good thing is it says they include the gear you need to use. I have all my own stuff but my GF does not have her own BC and Reg and we both have wetsuits but they are not 7mm's (we've been renting those) so I imagine it would save us some costs right there... I was actually looking to do the whole shabang trip for around $300-$400 if possible for my budget right now, so a boat dive might be a bit much, but when figuring in the cost of the Ferry I dunno... hmmm.

 

[drrich2]

I would love to find a dive shop where I could have some one take us out and show us the ropes. I've heard of places, DM's and instructors who will do this, take you on a bit of a guided dive. It would be well worth the investment and I wouldn't have to be self conscious about us slowing anyone down.

Sounds like a plan! It would meet your needs and bypass your 2 main objections to joining others. Shoot an e-mail to a few shops in the area you're headed to; I wonder what they charge?

Richard.

 

[Cali_diver]

I'm sure the Ocean is a different animal. This is specifically why I came here (and am beginning to regret doing so) to find the best route at not going it alone.

Don't regret coming here... there is a tremendous amount of info to learn from these divers. Especially the veteran divers. If they seem cynical just imagine how many times they have heard a new diver say how great and confident they are (not saying you said that) only to read or hear about a near miss or tragic accident. Many of us have lost friends who were great divers who had way more than 30 (or 5) dives under their belts so we understand that things can, and do go wrong. When my kids first started diving I would read them stories from the near misses and lessons learned forum so that they could learn from other's mistakes.

Just make sure that whoever you dive with understands and agrees that you want/need a guide, because most of the SoCal divers I have been in the water with are great at navigation and used to diving solo, so they tend to go in different directions. In other words if you dive with a group do not be surprised if everybody scatters.

 

[AlmightyApkallu]

Don't regret coming here... there is a tremendous amount of info to learn from these divers. Especially the veteran divers. If they seem cynical just imagine how many times they have heard a new diver say how great and confident they are (not saying you said that) only to read or hear about a near miss or tragic accident. Many of us have lost friends who were great divers who had way more than 30 (or 5) dives under their belts so we understand that things can, and do go wrong. When my kids first started diving I would read them stories from the near misses and lessons learned forum so that they could learn from other's mistakes.

Just make sure that whoever you dive with understands and agrees that you want/need a guide, because most of the SoCal divers I have been in the water with are great at navigation and used to diving solo, so they tend to go in different directions. In other words if you dive with a group do not be surprised if everybody scatters.

We are far from great and I'm definitely not overconfident, sorry if I came off that way. I was just trying to express that we're not a couple of tropical honeymooner's who got certified while chilling out in Hawaii and that our instructor was not some idiot (very experienced cool person). That being said, I want to be as safe as humanely possible being as I'm not just responsible for my well being but other's as well. I would love us to be able to go out and do our first beach dive but want to do so with some one who can kind of show us what to do, what not to do, what to expect, etc. I'm always very cautious in whatever I do, I just don't know how a lot of the diving related stuff goes and what is required/not required, when and where which is why I ask.