Intro and Shore Diving Questions

[Teamcasa]

Welcome Nicole,
A great group of divers that will get all the beach dives you wish for is the Beach Crabs
Check them out >> http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/beach-crabs/ << and join in the fun.
A great safer intro to So.Cal. "beach" diving is Casino Point @ Avalon. A bunch of us will be over there on July 12th if you and hubby wish to join in. Hope to see you in the water someday soon.

Nicole, Dave is right about Catalina’s Casino Dive Park, it is a much easier introduction to diving in our local waters. You can dive at your leisure there and work on whatever skills you like without getting in anyone’s way. I really don’t want to discourage you from Marineland but it is an advanced and strenuous dive.

If your heart is set on beach diving, Laguna also has some great spots that are not as physically demanding. My wife and I are planning a Laguna dive trip on Sunday.

If you would like some information on a local dive club (in Arcadia,) PM me and I will get you the information.

Your neighbor in Monrovia,

 

[drrragon]

Have you checked with Dolphin Dive in Arcadia, on Duarte, for contacts for diving? They do a monthly boat charter out of Long Beach with the Sundiver. They also have a monthly meeting with speakers, films, and opportunities to dive.

 

[robint]

Wow, great pics and exactly why I won't try that site! I did a couple of face-plants, churning water, shore entry/exits in Bonaire that wore me out and that was with little waves! LOL You guys are ScubaGods!

If you want to dive in Calif, try boat diving first. It is waaaaaay easier and more fun for your first coldwater experience. There are boats out of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Long Beach, etc. Or go over to Catalina and shore dive as others suggested.

We will be out in Calif diving in August for a weekend... by boat!

 

[runway1]

Nicole,
Dave and Dave are right. I'm a regular shore diver and would hesitate tackling OML. A beginner might want to get a few dozen shore dives in before that one.

I agree with D&D that Catalina&#8217;s Casino Dive Park is the way to go. Awesome diving, easy entry/exit. Just a great spot for your early dives. If you then want to build shore experience, there are several clubs/buddies to hook up with. If you want regular diving, check out South Coast Divers Home Page. We dive every Saturday at Laguna Beach shores and you can get some experience. Noobs are definetely welcome. Dive safe!

 

[Teamcasa]

Haha, sounds like a plan to me....I have about the smallest ego on the earth, I don't care if I look like a complete dork, as long as I keep myself alive and doing good!

We will most definitely be in the mood for boat diving soon. This is going to be our first dives in CA and I kind of wanted to have it be just the two of us until I get a little more comfortable. I have problems equalizing and don't want to waste other peoples' time....but I noticed that the more I dive and the more comfortable I get, the easier the equalization is becoming. So in no time, I suspect I will be ready to go out with a group.

One last thing about boat diving here in SoCal. They are not typically a guided dive like resort boat diving is. You and your buddy are on your own unless you ask to be joined by others. So there is no worry about holding up a group with slow descents.

This also presents an issue if you are uncertain about diving as a new pair with no Dive Master or seasoned guide. Again, the Casino Dive park is a very simple dive if you don’t stray to far.

I hope you will get plugged in with one or more of the local clubs like Beach Crabs or South Coast Divers. Stay in touch and I’m sure we can meet and dive together soon!

 

[Teamcasa]

Have you checked with Dolphin Dive in Arcadia, on Duarte, for contacts for diving? They do a monthly boat charter out of Long Beach with the Sundiver. They also have a monthly meeting with speakers, films, and opportunities to dive.

Have you been to those meetings? My wife and I attend pretty regularly. Thier next meeting is on July 8: They be showing the film Sharkwater.

Too bad, I'll have to miss it, I'll be in Hawaii!

 

[thermobryan]

Have you been to those meetings? My wife and I attend pretty regularly. Thier next meeting is on July 8: They be showing the film Sharkwater.

Too bad, I'll have to miss it, I'll be in Hawaii!

Sharkwater is an amazing movie.

 

[ligersandtions]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! I think we are going to pass on Marineland and opt for a different dive for this weekend. Maybe somewhere in Laguna with South Coast Divers.

We had considered going to Casino Point for our first dive around here, but had no idea that it was going to cost as much as a boat dive to go there after factoring in ferry and taxi service....and with this being our first time out in the cold water and me having some issues with my ears, I don't want to take the chance of spending all that money and having an unsuccessful day. I figured with a "free" shore dive, it would give me the opportunity to go out, take my time, and get comfortable.

Also, we did our certification (well, the course work and pool time) with Dolphin Dive Center. We are getting involved with their meetings and dive trips (will be there for the Sharkwater movie meeting and are also signed up for the August 8th trip to Catalina, but I want to get out diving before then). They are leaving for Fiji soon, so they don't have any dive trips coming up for a little while.

Thanks again for all the comments! We will definitely hold off on Marineland and try it later if we feel comfortable with it, but for now we'll find something a little tamer

 

[Teamcasa]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! I think we are going to pass on Marineland and opt for a different dive for this weekend. Maybe somewhere in Laguna with South Coast Divers.

Good plan.

My wife and I like the folks at Dolphin Dive and there are other members of the club that post here as well. I hope to meet you diving or at a Dolphin meeting.

Stick around, ScubaBoard if full of useful information.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I hope I didn't scare anyone away from Marineland permantly. It takes a lot of caution to get in and out of the water there, but the rewards are usually worth it. In just the past few years we have had two divers break fingers, one break ribs, one heart attack and one drowning. The broken bones were by divers with a lot of experience diving there. I've been tossed 180 degrees twice, once landing on my tank as it hit a rock. I was scared it was going to be my head. I've also been attacked by a bull sea lion, had a commercial lobster fisherman point a rifle at me and ripped three drysuits on the rocks. The fun at Marineland never ends.