How tough is Catalina?

[SnakeRiverPirate]

I will be on a cruise in 10 days that will make a stop in Catalina. Since that would seem to be my best chance to get a dive in I am wanting to strap some tanks on. However, I have only dove in lakes in Idaho, Utah and Nevada so far. I have my basic open water, but the reports of fatalities at Catalina and a GW shark attack have me thinking of doing a minimally strenous dive. For instance, dinking around Lover's cove.

What do ya'll think?

 

[thermobryan]

Just go to the Dive Park in Avalon. It's pretty easy, lots of Open Water classes go there for certification dives.

 

[SnakeRiverPirate]

That's what I had initially thought, but the fatalities have me a bit (and my nonswimmer/diver wife highly) spooked.

 

[thermobryan]

Sharks are the least of your worries in the dive park. If you're concerned, just hire a divemaster from a local dive shop or go on a boat trip for the day. Catalina is a great place to dive, and no offense to Idaho, will be worth it for sure.

 

[muddiver]

You can not dive Lover's Cove. It is a legal restriction.

You can rent a tank and weights at the Casino Point SCUBA Park and dive right off the shore to approx. 70' within the park.

Or rent at Catalina Diver's Supply on the main pier and dive the park.

Or sign up with one of the dive boats out of Avalon harbor, like Catalina SCUBA luv.

It's really not that tough, just be prepared to wear a thick wet suit and a lot of weight compaired to fresh water.

 

[alaity47]

I think the number of fatalities is mainly due to the large number of divers that go through there every weekend. It's a hugely popular site - and if you're used to cold water, it's not a difficult dive.

If you haven't dived in kelp before, though, it might be worth hooking up with a divemaster, or at least an experienced local buddy.

 

[SnakeRiverPirate]

I need to check the itinerary. I think that I'll only have a few hours there, so a day trip is out. Is Lover's cove snorkel only? Also how are water temps? I have a 7mm suit but if I could just bring half of it that would be a lot better luggage wise.

 

[Teamcasa]

I agree with the others, dive the Casino dive park and remember to bring a camera on the dive, it is the best Great White Shark replant known to man.

Really, it is a great and very safe (from sharks) dive if you only have a few hours to spend on the island.

 

[drrragon]

To be safe from the sharks just make sure that you buddy up with someone who swims a lot slower than you.

 

[fisheater]

Dr.Bill, expert on all things watery and on or near Catalina (as he's a marine biologist who has been living and diving there for the last 38 years), has only seen ONE Great White there and it was hightailing it out the way.

Don't worry about sharks there. As it is it, the "attack" the media are talking about was NOT an attack. A shark (if it was a shark, let alone a great white) bumped someone off of a kayak. No biting = no attack. Besides, a kayak on the surface looks a whole lot more like shark food (seals and sea lions) than a bubble blowing diving at depth. Review the records, minuscule number of shark attacks on divers ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD as compared with the small number of attacks on surfers, snorkelers and swimmers.

As for the Casino Dive Park deaths, from what I've been able to garner from the reports, they are mainly caused by poor medical conditions of the divers. There are no reported deaths, that I'm aware of, from marine life or other inherent dangers of the dive site.

That said, if you've not dove in the ocean, especially around kelp, hire a DM/Instructor/Guide to lead the dive. You'll relax, have more fun and learn more. There are two dive ops on the island, Scuba Luv and Catalina Divers Supply. Both teach and lead dives at the Park so often, that each has its own "other instructors keep the heck off of" instructors' rings there.

Have fun and get a dive in!