Great Escape=no tanks/weights-What's the best option

[under water]

Hi,
I will be flying to CA at the end of the month and plan to dive Catalina on Jan 31st. The Great Escape is going there on the 31st and that seems like a good trip.
A couple of questions for those of you who are local divers.

• GE does not provide tanks & weights. What is the best way to manage the "Get a tank & weights at a store puzzle"? I guess I can get the tank & weights the day before, and work out something where the store picks them up at the boat. Since I am driving up to Santa Maria right after the trip, I don't really want to hang around overnight just to return a tank to a store on a Sunday.
• Do any of the stores in Long Beach have a solution for this?

• Also.. I'm doing this trip as a single. My dive buddy is staying home. Should I assume that getting a decent buddy on the boat is not too much of a problem?
• Anyone else going on that trip?

Any alternate recommendations for diving Catalina on Sat 31st Jan?

Thanks!!

 

[kelpmermaid]

Hmmm... if the trip is a shop charter, you could try the shop involved. If it isn't, SportChalet might be your best bet. There are reasons people are less than thrilled with them, but they may keep longer hours that would work for you. When does the trip get back?

 

[under water]

Hmmm... if the trip is a shop charter, you could try the shop involved. If it isn't, SportChalet might be your best bet. There are reasons people are less than thrilled with them, but they may keep longer hours that would work for you. When does the trip get back?

Thanks.. Good question. The person I spoke to on the phone at Great Escape didn't have much info, so I'll send an email off to the captain to get more info, like when the trip returns.

I did find Pacific Wildernesss Online.. Welcome to Pacific Wilderness Online! which appears to have a store in San Pedro and are open until 6 on Saturday. They carry steel 95's and are only 7 miles away. Reasonable rental prices. Seems like best option so far.

 

[kelpmermaid]

That's a nice shop, and a straight shot across the Vincent Thomas bridge. I think the SC's are open until 8:30 or 9 pm -- I know I've been at the one in Marina del Rey for a late fill in the past. Just check everything before you leave the store.

 

[drrragon]

A possible idea - if no other boats are going out that day, you could take the ferry over to Avalon, dive Casino point and rent a tank there, even weights. Get air fills, no waiting cuz they switch the tanks when you return your used tank. you could get in two or three dives, then you could get back into town on a later ferry.

Just check the ferry schedules, and check that the dive shop will have their stand open that day at Avalon.

I see that you would need a buddy. I wouldn't be able to make it that day but maybe some people here would be up for it.

Another possibility - The Sundiver is a boat that supplies weights and tanks. They might have room on their charter that day. Their number is 800-555-9446 or 562-594-6968.

 

[dwaters]

Wish I was free to dive on the 31st.. but here is some thoughts:
1) CatalinaExpress over to the dive park and rent there... see the Catalina "sticky" for more info... let us know if you're going and I'm sure someone here will dive then
2) Here is a link to other boats: California Dive Boats : The Official Page Saw others w/tanks
3) Dive the Spectre out of Ventura CalBoat Diving and you will be 1 hour closer to Santa Maria... and it's one of my top 5 So.Cal. boats
Enjoy!

 

[diverrex]

I did find Pacific Wildernesss Online.. Welcome to Pacific Wilderness Online! which appears to have a store in San Pedro and are open until 6 on Saturday. They carry steel 95's and are only 7 miles away. Reasonable rental prices. Seems like best option so far.

The Great Escape is a nice boat, but it often does not get back until around 6PM, and even when it gets in earlier I would not count on getting unloaded and to Pacific Wilderness by 6PM.

The dive park is a nice option but if I only had one day to dive Catalina I'd prefer three nice dive spots from a boat.

 

[under water]

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I talked to Tim, the captain, and he has an alum tank that I can use, so the logistics have just improved significantly.
I thought about the Ferry thing, but it was the need for a buddy on this trip that moved me to the boat option.
I dove 2 days on the Spectre last year and yes, it was great and something I would do in a heartbeat again, but I did want to check out the Catalina sites this time.
If you are going to be on this trip.. let me know ..
Thanks!

 

[CaliforniaDivingNews]

If you are looking for options to Catalina or any other dive site, you can use our dive trip finder which lists upcoming boat trips and their destinations: California Diving News - Dive Trips - Directory.

You can also find searchable database of dive stores here: http://www.cadivingnews.com/divestores.html

Happy diving!
CDN

Hi,
I will be flying to CA at the end of the month and plan to dive Catalina on Jan 31st. The Great Escape is going there on the 31st and that seems like a good trip.
A couple of questions for those of you who are local divers.

• GE does not provide tanks & weights. What is the best way to manage the "Get a tank & weights at a store puzzle"? I guess I can get the tank & weights the day before, and work out something where the store picks them up at the boat. Since I am driving up to Santa Maria right after the trip, I don't really want to hang around overnight just to return a tank to a store on a Sunday.
• Do any of the stores in Long Beach have a solution for this?

• Also.. I'm doing this trip as a single. My dive buddy is staying home. Should I assume that getting a decent buddy on the boat is not too much of a problem?
• Anyone else going on that trip?

Any alternate recommendations for diving Catalina on Sat 31st Jan?

Thanks!!

 

[JMdiver]

Your best bet for a tank & weights is SC cause they're open to 9 PM on Sat.

John