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

[Zeke XA3]

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.

Nope, having never driven i wont get annoyed by not being able to get around driving. You cant miss what you never had simple as. I will be using a dive shop to go diving so all this talk of shore diving with locals isnt really what i need but i will check out the dive ops on_two_wheels listed

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.

Ill check them out now, cant really wait till i get there as i will be pushed for time with only a week and prefer to have everything planned out.

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!!

Well not to blow my own trumpet but I know a bit about diving and water temperatures. I did most of my training in the English Channel before working in sunny climes so i will be using shops thickest rental suit plus my 5mm hooded vest underneath, 5mm boots and 5m gloves if i really need to!

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

Thanks for the link, again im not necessarilylooki ng for shore diving just an op to go with, wether they take me on boat or shore i dont mind as long as i go do some kelp!

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.

I have a 5mm hooded vest that fits really well so with a rental 7mm that might keep me going for two dives!

Cheers all youve given me plenty to think about and plenty ops to check out.