LOCALS: Help needed...

[PvilleStang]

What's up guys? I'm hosting a trip during Spring Break to get a group of people out to the coast and get some diving in. I was wondering if anyone could reccommend any charter trips (3-dive/day trips) or any shops. We did a trip to Florida last year, and wasn't very impressed with the quality we got stuck with. I was hoping y'all could show us a better time. Anyways, here's the dive sites we had in mind:

Beach Dives:
Shaw's Cove
Casino Point Underwater Park (on Catalina Island)

Channel Islands:
Catalina Island (there is several sides of it - it'd be a cheap charter)
Santa Barbara Island - famous for sea lions, seals, scallops, and lobsters
San Clements Island
Anacapa Island
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Cruz Island

Most of the people that'll be with us are basic OW certified, but there are several advanced divers, and I'd be the only tech diver. If you guys could PM me or help me out in any way, it'd be greatly appreciated. And if you're in the LA area, maybe I'll come and buy y'all lunch... its the least I can do after the Rose Bowl... Thanks so much!

Kevin

 

[LAJim]

I recommend reading the dive reports posted on SoCal to get a feel for local condtions and sites. A lot of us were on the Peace out of Ventura to Anacapa on Saturday, and there are some detailed reports on that trip including some photos. Ventura has two other dive boats, the Spectre and the Explorer.

Here is one site to look at all three:
http://calboatdiving.com/

As far as Casino goes, you would take the Catalina Express to Avalon and then move your gear 500+ meters to the other side of the harbor. Its a great place to dive but moving the gear makes it a different experience from a boat dive or other beach dives. Avalon is a nice place to visit.

The Sandeaters web site is useful for beach diving locations:
http://sandeaters.org/

For up-to-date information about Shaw's cover see:
http://www.lagunaseasports.com/conditions/conditions.asp

Jim

 

[Glycerin]

I'd recommend the http://www.peaceboat.com/

I also recommend Casino Point, I was there yesterday and it really is a great dive site. It’s good for beginning to advanced divers. Moving your gear to the site isn’t to bad, I usually just get a taxi.

 

[pasley]

... Anyways, here's the dive sites we had in mind:

Beach Dives:
Shaw's Cove
Casino Point Underwater Park (on Catalina Island)

Shaws Cove, good dive, no kelp. Next door is Crescent bay and Deadmans Reef. Also excellent diving and normally a sea lion or 10 to play with.
Malibu and Palos Verde will add kelp to the diet. Always a good dive.

Malibu Easy dives would be Leo Carrillo Beach, easy entry and swim kelp, rock, sand
Escondido Creek: easy entry and swim kelp, rock, sand
Malibu Road:easy entry and swim kelp, rock, sand
Palos Verde: Malaga Cove : bit of a walk down a paved path, but easy entry, rocks and kelp.

see wwwhsandeaters.org divesite for descripitions and photos of the above dive sites.

...
Channel Islands:
Catalina Island (there is several sides of it - it'd be a cheap charter)
Santa Barbara Island - famous for sea lions, seals, scallops, and lobsters
San Clements Island
Anacapa Island
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Cruz Island

Nothing wrong with that list.

 

[Tommer]

pacific wilderness used to be located a few blocks from my work area on katella, since they moved to the new area, it doesn't seem that far but on tustin street there are full of traffic stop lights one after another, this is why i stopped going to that store during lunch break, but my experience there was positive, many times when i am there i received a free refill when they're busy with other clients, but remember, smile and be courteous with other, the result sometimes can be quiet handsome.