Your post from the introduction thread
"Hello
New to the forum. I am a UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), citizen.
I dive extensively in the UK, Scapa Flow (Orkney), Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, England, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and have dived a lot of Northern Europe, Normandy, South of France, and Norway.
Regularly dive in Malta, at least once or twice a year. Have dived in the Red Sea over the years, originally learning to dive in Israel.
This years main trip was to Iceland (in August) to dive Silfra, and Pingvallavatn.
Trying to decide what to do next year and thinking about Southern California. I regularly travel out to Placentia California (going there at the end of September before travelling down to Mexico) for work.
I dive with my partner a lot, although I'm love wreck diving and deeper diving, my partner is more interested in underwater photography so prefers shallower dives.
We would normally go live aboard (if in the Red Sea) am happy to be shore based. Whilst we will certainly bring our own dry suits, it may be better to use local dive kit (ours are all DIN fittings).
Looking for interesting sites, Boat Dives, Photogenic Dives. We are happy in the water (our dive times in Iceland where around the hour in 4 degree C water - 39F).
More than happy at 30m (100 feet). Trimix qualified, open circuit and closed circuit, although plan to be open circuit if we do visit California.
So recommendations on Dive boats, Dive operators, and places to dive.
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You are not too far from "Seas The day SCUBA."
6320 Santa Ana Canyon Road
Anaheim Hills California
92807
lascubacenter.com
The store owner is Casey Connell. He is great to work with, and can set you up with all the rental gear you need to go diving. Very knowledgeable guy too - been diving for more than 40 years. They actually have a few boat dives coming up in the next few months. On September 26th they're doing a 3 dive trip to the back side of Catalina Island. These will be amazing dives. Great vis and the water temp has been high 60's lately, so should be really great. I think December 5th - if that falls in your schedule for December - they are doing a boat trip to Santa Barbara channel islands, which will be some awesome diving.
Might want to drop in on this shop, have a chat. He indicated on his web page that he has been diving 30 years so I would suspect that he has some advice as to where and when to dive well as some stories of OC diving adventures.
In the fall approximately September to November that area known as the Santa Ana canyon experiences warm desert air called Santa Ana winds which are similar to the mistrals of Africa. The weather can be very dry, hot and often accompanied by strong wind.
This off shore wind generally flattens out the swell and reduces the height of the surf creating idea diving conditions.
Please bear in mind Lobster will possibly be in full swing during your visit. The boats fill or have already filled their charters might be a tad difficult to obtain a spot
Hope this is of some assistance
SDM
LA CO UW Instr
NAUI Instr 27
PADI UW instr etc etc