In San Diego for one week and want to dive the kelp

[Zeke XA3]

Hey folks,

Im going to be in SD for about a week on the 19th April.

I am an OWSI who is about to take a 7 month break for diving to go sailing. I have always wanted to do a kelp forest dive and now i have the chance while i wait to board my boat.

So i wanted to get some info on some good local operators.

Im not sure where i will be staying in SD yet, i have to find a hostel near the main marina area and will base myself from there while waiting for my boat to get in. So any dive op would need to be able to be accessed by good public transport!

I would love to do some kelp forest diving with the possibility of seeing seals if it is the season.

What do you say folks??????

 

[on_two_wheels]

Diving kelp forest doesn't guarantee seals but is worth it anyway. Marisa, Humbolt and Lois Ann are reputable boats in San Diego. You can dive closer to a rookery for seeing seals or sea lions. If you can do San Clemente (hit & miss) or Catalina, jump at the chance. Keep us posted and you shouldn't have a problem finding divers to go with you.

http://marissadivetickets.com/

http://www.waterhorsecharters.com/

http://www.loisann.com/

 

[fisheater]

I usually stay at The Dana when I'm in San Diego.

It's a nice hotel and it's so close to the Waterhorse / Humboldt operation, that they'll let you use of of their dock carts to haul your gear back and forth between the boat and your room!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Public transportation in San Diego? We have some. It's really not that convenient, though. Better to rent a car.

There are lots of seals by the Children's Pool in La Jolla. We often see seals when we dive La Jolla Cove.

 

[Zeke XA3]

I usually stay at The Dana when I'm in San Diego.

It's a nice hotel and it's so close to the Waterhorse / Humboldt operation, that they'll let you use of of their dock carts to haul your gear back and forth between the boat and your room!

Ill be staying in backpacker style areas im afraid as about to spend 7 months sailing so need to spend as little money as possible! And i dont have that much gear to carry, once you take out tank and weights i can easily carry all my dive gear but ill take a look just in case.

Public transportation in San Diego? We have some. It's really not that convenient, though. Better to rent a car.

There are lots of seals by the Children's Pool in La Jolla. We often see seals when we dive La Jolla Cove.

Well if i could rent a car i would not have asked for public transport, im one of those few people who has never needed to learn to drive, so a bit stuck in some areas! Any dive op good to hit those two spots?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Well if i could rent a car i would not have asked for public transport, im one of those few people who has never needed to learn to drive, so a bit stuck in some areas! Any dive op good to hit those two spots?

Just my opinion, but I think you're going to get annoyed pretty quickly by not having a car in the SoCal area.

I wouldn't recommend that an out-of-towner attempt to dive the Children's Pool area. There's quite the controversy at the city government level in La Jolla regarding shared human/seal use of Children's Pool. Makes for some interesting entertainment on the weekends with the lifeguards/police having to break up altercations between "Friends of the Seals" and people who want to enjoy the beach area there.

La Jolla Cove is a fairly straightforward shore dive. I'd recommend trying to find a local to show you the area, though. Join the Divebums.com email list and ask to tag along with a local diver for a Cove dive. Alternatively, you could hire a private DM to give you a tour of the area. Some people have used Scuba Diver Girls. I've never met 'em, but they might be worth a shot.

For a good kelp diving experience, select one of the boat dive ops listed by on_two_wheels. Any site in the Point Loma kelp beds is fun.

Good luck.

 

[H2Ocean]

just ask around when you get there. or go to scubagirls facebook page ask them, they might even pick you up and bring you to some shore dives. they'll know where to find the best kelp in more than one area, for the price of an airfill. have fun its a blast.

 

[metaldector]

I did what you are asking about some years ago on the Lois Ann. I'm from Florida and use to WARM water. I don't know what you are use to but San Diego water is COLD by my standards. Even with a 7 mm I froze. We did the wreck Ruby E and I froze. The second dive was in the kelp. I lasted all of 5 minutes until hypothermia drove me out and back on the boat. If you aren't properly dressed for the COLD water it will be a waste of time but very memorable!!

 

[Ramsy]

The only shore accessible kelp dive site is La Jolla Shores. The kelp is not plentiful there though. If you really want kelp, you need to get on a boat and motor out to the Point Loma kelp beds.

There is public transportation in San Diego. The website for San Diego's public transportation is Transit.511sd.com. It has online trip planners that can tell you what bus to take and how long it will take to get there. For example, if you were staying in the main marina area and wanted to go to La Jolla Cove, here is what sdcommute.com shows for travel planning from the dive boat areas to La Jolla Cove if I were leaving about now:

FROM: 1717 QUIVIRA RD (this is the general location of all dive boats in San Diego)
TO: 1155 COAST BLVD (this where La Jolla Cove is located)

1. walk 0.2 mile NW from 1717 QUIVIRA RD to W Mission Bay Dr at Dana Landing Rd

2. At 10:14 AM take the MTS BUS route 8 Pacific Beach via Mission Beach

3. Get off the stop on Mission Bl at Felspar St at approximately 10:26 AM.

4. At 10:35 AM take the MTS BUS route 30 UTC/VA Med Ctr via Pacific Beach / La Jolla / UCSD

5. Get off the stop on Silverado St at Herschel Av at approximately 10:54 AM.

6. walk 0.4 mile N to 1155 COAST BLVD

Im not sure where i will be staying in SD yet, i have to find a hostel near the main marina area and will base myself from there while waiting for my boat to get in. So any dive op would need to be able to be accessed by good public transport!

I would love to do some kelp forest diving with the possibility of seeing seals if it is the season.

 

[Bubble_Boy]

I've used San Diego Scuba Diving,San Diego Dive Boats,Lois Ann Dive Charters Home Page,San Diego California,san diego scuba diving boats,san diego boat dives,san diego scuba diving,san diego scuba diving charters,scuba diving san diego california when I was there and it was a pleasant experience.
+1 for the cold water though... have a proper exposure suit... I have a 12mm and it was just right although the ones they were renting were 7mm and IMO it's not enough.