How good is Catalina?

[Teamcasa]

Dave was that me in the back corner for a moment?

Yep!

 

[TSandM]

I've done a fair amount of diving around the world, and I would put Channel Islands diving up in the half-dozen places I have been. Even the Catalina Dive Park is a place of amazing density and variety of life. And how can someone say it isn't colorful, with the Garibaldies and the Catalina gobies everywhere?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Cold water. Brrr.
Green water. Yuck.
No tropical fishies. Drat.

People should stay away from that place.

[Note to self: Self, remember to remove tongue from cheek.]

 

[under water]

I have to agree with the prevailing sentiment that Catalina and the Channel Islands are some of the most beautiful places to dive in the world. I have been to a few places in the Pacific and lots of Caribbean spots and I still think that those dives with the lush kelp forests, colorful seabed, multihued creatures and gorgonians and sea lions of California are some of my favorite dives.
Count yourself lucky to have it in your backyard!

I'll add a little video from Anacapa

 

[iztok]

I dove Key Largo, South Carolina, North Carolina, Monterey (CA), Catalina Island, Phi Phi and Similan Islands in Thailand, Mediteranian (outside Tel Aviv), Red Sea (Eilat, and just south on Egyptian side) so far.

Catalina is #1 for me on those places.
NC Wrecks are #2

 

[drbill]

Moved to Catalina back in 1969 to teach marine biology on SCUBA for one year at a private school... still here after 41 years and diving even more these days. Either I'm easily entertained or a creature of habit, but I still love it. So many dive sites, each with its unique flavor. I've dived in many other places around the world and enjoyed all of them, but this is home. Of course I'm a kelp forest ecologist so that may be a factor!