In town for a week, what to do?

[Hollieag02]

We are staying in redondo beach for 2 days and then out to thousand oaks. Would love suggestions of what to do! Diving, food, nightlife...

Only diving days for us this trip will be Wednesday, Sunday, Monday early.
Thanks!

 

[geoff w]

Easiest diving options from Redondo or TO are Catalina or Channel Islands, get a six pack, or shore dive Vets Park and/or Palos Verdes from Redondo and Malibu from TO. A little more details as to timing and what you like to do would have been helpful, and whether you're bringing gear with you. Conditions are really nice now

 

[Hollieag02]

Thank you!
We weren't planning a "dive trip," but would like to get in the water if we can. Wedding festivities thurs - sat. For us land-locked Texans, anything in the water would be great. Of course would love to see some kelp, and any healthy life underwater!

We only brought mask fins snorkel and a 5mil shortie - which I don't think will be enough for my cold-natured self!

Called a couple local dive shops and they offer boat trips to the islands on Sunday. I've heard you can also just hop the ferry over to Catalinas and rent gear there. Is the equipment any good? Any DMs or locals hanging around who could give us a tour? Or a group we could join?

Dive shop said vis is great and water temps are "warm for Cali" ?

 

[geoff w]

Catalina is easy to do for the day, any day. 5mm shortie won't cut it for much of a dive. Figure mid to upper 50s for water temperature. Lots of other activities, like tours and a zip line, as well as decent restaurants. But it's summer, so plenty of tourists will be visiting Avalon

The Catalina Express leaves from Long Beach, which is a little over an hour drive very early Sunday morning if you get the early boat from Thousand Oaks. Not much kelp in the park, but you will probably meet the famous Dr Bill. If you want kelp, you're probably better off with some of the northern Channel Islands or a shore dive in Malibu. With all the hurricane and tropical storm action south of us, there's been more surf than typical, so lots of days have been undiveable from shore, which isn't usually a problem for the marine park at Casino Point in Catalina or dive boats out of Ventura to one of the Channel Islands. Catalina or dive boats are usually a whole day affair, a morning shore dive leaves you the late morning and rest of the day for other activities. Anacapa is the closest Channel Island, and trip cost corresponds somewhat to distance traveled. Local dive boats are up to 4 dives for the day; you bring all your own gear and dives are not guided unless you hire a DM. Some of the dive trips book up well in advance, others don't, depending on the dive shop that chartered the boat

 

[keithbt]

Thank you!
We weren't planning a "dive trip," but would like to get in the water if we can. Wedding festivities thurs - sat. For us land-locked Texans, anything in the water would be great. Of course would love to see some kelp, and any healthy life underwater!

We only brought mask fins snorkel and a 5mil shortie - which I don't think will be enough for my cold-natured self!



Called a couple local dive shops and they offer boat trips to the islands on Sunday. I've heard you can also just hop the ferry over to Catalinas and rent gear there. Is the equipment any good? Any DMs or locals hanging around who could give us a tour? Or a group we could join?

Dive shop said vis is great and water temps are "warm for Cali" ?

We dive every weekend and every Wednesday night. Here is the link. He posts Friday morning for the weekend and the following Wednesday.
https://www.facebook.com/PacificWildernessScuba:D

 

[diversteve]

Long Beach is just a couple miles south - Aquarium of the Pacific is worth a look.
Nice area for dinner/drinks waterfront. Things To Do In Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

This is kind of an old link and I'm not sure what the Kelp is like there - it's mostly missing off Catalina if that's your objective in going there but check with the poster above since I think this is the same shop - Old MarineLand

Santa Monica is a real nice area to visit also once you move to Thousand Oaks. Years ago they blocked off one of the streets downtown near the pier so you've got everything from hot dog carts to Spago in the area plus all sorts of shops. And the pier is the one with the roller coaster and ferris wheel. Santa Monica Pier
If you're art people, the Getty is off the 405 before you get to Santa Monica from Thousand Oaks. Daytime hours only - it's free.

The Channel Island dive boats moor in Ventura or Santa Barbara a little farther west. California Dive Boats : The Official Page

 

[IrnBear]

Do a dive boat.... You will not regret it...

 

[keithbt]

I'm going to dive Shaws Cove Saturday night at 8pm...all are welcome to come.