Good Beginning CA Diving Locations

[stekun]

Hello all!

I am a newly certified diver along with 2 of my brothers. We live in Utah, so we've only been freshwater diving so far and are looking to expand our diving horizons. We thought a road trip out to So Cal would be a nice place to start doing some diving, but have no idea where to go. Does anyone have any places they would recommend? We would ideally be looking for somewhere with some cool stuff to look at that is suitable for beginners not wanting to get into too much trouble ... yet. Preferably somewhere with air fills and rentals on-location or at least nearby (don't know if I'll have saved up for all the gear I need by the time we go). Thanks for your help!!

Steve

 

[Ben_ca]

Your best bet is Catalina

 

[headhunter]

Hi Steve,

I agree with Ben. You just described the Catalina Island Dive Park. It's almost always a phenomenal place to dive. I'll be there on the weekend of the 14th if you want to join us for some fun.

I would also recommend Laguna Beach. Diver's Cove and Shaw's Cove are generally easy dives with cool stuff to look at and Laguna Sea Sports is within walking distance to refill your tanks.

Here is a collection of links to various places to dive in SoCal that you may find helpful.

Let us know when you are coming out and maybe some of us can get together with you and show you around.

Christian

 

[pasley]

You have choices, a boat dive or a beach dive. Boat dive, food, air and transportation to cool dive sites. Beach dive, well, for starters it is a lot cheaper, but you will have to get your own food and air will not be right there except for Avalon Water Park at Catalina. Catalina for a easy beach dive cannot be beat. Laguna beach as Headhunter said is a good second choice with Laguna Sea Sports close by for air refils. Crescent Cove is an easy walk with tanks for a refil...er if you are fit that is to Laguna Sea Sports. Shaws cove is closer yet.

If you have not yet ocean dived, you need to be prepared for some differences over fresh water diving. Surge is one thing you will have to deal with. The ocean will gently move you to and froe anywhere from a few inches to 6 feet or more each way depending on the size of the swell. Keep that in mind when approaching a wall or object you don't want to crash into. The size of the fish will also amaze you. A 350-500 pound Giant Black Sea Bass will dwarf your normal lake bass, then there is the eels and octopi too. Visibility will be anywhere from the normal lake vis of 3-5 feet to 100 feet. Normal (if memory serves me right) is 10-15 feet, some days better, some days less. All in all great fun.

I would recommend teaming up with a local diver who knows the dive sites. You can get into serious trouble in some places if you are not aware of the currents, or other hazards. Beach diving is physcally demanding, and you should be able to move at normal speed up 4 flights of stairs with out stopping or being winded.

When you planning on comming out this way?

 

[Bobyjimmie]

What they all said! Catalina Kelp beds are awesome! Laguna beach diving is great as well. Take a boat dive out of Long Beach or San Pedro for roughly 110 bucks and you get 3 dives and food for the day plus they run you to three good dive sites at Catalina, or take the boat over and camp in Catalina and do some beach diving.

 

[dwaters]

Your best bet for a short time and wanting to nearly always get 25+ viz and safe dive dive is the "Casino Point"/ Catalina Dive Park. And as stated before..let us know when your'e coming.
You will have to check out your weight differance (fresh vs. salt water and maybe differant wetsuit config.) so the park is a good place to do that. Keep in mind that during the "off-season"
the rental/air fills at the park only opperate on weekends..... 1/2 mile vs. 20 yards. Hope to see ya'll soon.

 

[ianw2]

Keep in mind that we have one of the finest (if not THE finest) Dive Boat Fleets in the WORLD!

Where else can you get a three tank dive in world class dive spots, terrific food, air fills, SI snacks to beat the band, captains and crews with the experience and temperaments that we have right here in SoCal? A great day of diving runs between $95 and $130 depending upon the boat, the location and the amenities.

Ian

 

[jgeldin]

What everyone else said and...

If you're looking for an opportunity to dive with a group that likes showing new beach divers the ropes, consider meeting up with South Coast Divers for their Saturday morning beach dive. A good bunch to work out the kinks with.

 

[scjoe]

Laguna Sea Sports gives guided tours of Shaws which is something you might want to consider. You could then pick up a dive slate map of the cove from them and do a second or third dive on your own. They also have 3-D maps of the Catalina Dive Park and I believe you can do a virtual dive of the Dive Park at the store using a computer program called E-Dive.

 

[Peter_C]

This is a great website for shore diving locations. ShoreDiving.com - Your Shore Diving and Snorkeling Web Community!