Liveaboard San Clemente Channel Islands

[sffrenchman]

Hello SoCal divers

I am going on a 3-day liveaboard (Truth) to San Clemente and other channel islands in June. I regularly dive in Monterey (backyard) but I have never dived SoCal before. What can be expected in terms of water temperature, visibility etc...Any must dive sites?

Thanks

 

[fnfalman]

I haven't been to San Clemente this time of the year yet, so my guess would be probably like everywhere else in SoCal - mid 50s. Like bathwater for you NorCal guys. Hehe.

As far as great dive sites go, it all depends on the weather and water conditions. On the northern tip, very well known site is Nine Fathoms - fairly deep and has the purple hydrocoral. On the southern tip, there's Pyramid Cove. That joint is gorgeous. Good kelps, nice underwater terrain. The first time I went to San Clemente (heck, the one and only time thus far) was late September 09. The viz was like 80-ft plus. Yes, 80-ft plus. You're down at 90-ft depth, looked up and saw the boat. However, I'm told that the occurrence was not normal.

Anyway, on a typical good day, viz is around 40-ft, by June the water temp should be up around 57-58F, possibly with the surface temp of around 60-something if there's a lot of sun heating the first layer up.

 

[sffrenchman]

Thanks for the information.

mid 50s. Like bathwater for you NorCal guys. Hehe.

With El Nino, we have had tropical water temperatures here lately (~55)

 

[robint]

Aaahhhh......... Pyramid Cove. One of my Favorite Dive sites on the planet!!!