Looking for So Cal buddy..pre Turkey Day

[Drewpy]

Making my way down to Irvine on Tue 11/23 for Turkey Day with family.
Was considering dragging my gear along, if I can find someone to dive with at Catalina on Wed 11/24.
How far is the Scuba park from the ferry? Never been..
Anyone interested...?

Thanks-Drew

 

[Mo2vation]

Making my way down to Irvine on Tue 11/23 for Turkey Day with family.
Was considering dragging my gear along, if I can find someone to dive with at Catalina on Wed 11/24.
How far is the Scuba park from the ferry? Never been..
Anyone interested...?

Thanks-Drew

When you get to Avalon, you land at what's called "The Mole" and its about as far from the dive park as you can get in Avalon - which is about a 15 minute walk.

I recommend getting a cab. Or better yet, get the baggage service to schlep your stuff to the dive park, and you take a nice walk. The best part of this way, is you pay them for round trip, and if you wanna go into town after your dive for some libations, you're not schlepping your gear. They store it for you until your boat leaves. Very good way to go.

Enjoy.

Ken

 

[pasley]

No reason to go to Catalina for diving. There is lots of great diving right here on the mainland. Laguna Beach is near by and offers several excellent spots and would save you a bit of doe ray me.

 

[OCdiving Deb]

No reason to go to Catalina for diving. There is lots of great diving right here on the mainland. Laguna Beach is near by and offers several excellent spots and would save you a bit of doe ray me.

Both Catalina and Local shore diving are good options, depending on the conditions that day. If you choose local shore diving, you'll find many happy tag-a-longs!

We still haven't answered his question about who wants to go to Avalon.

Drewpy, do bring your gear. You don't have choices without it!

 

[desert camel]

When you get to Avalon, you land at what's called "The Mole" and its about as far from the dive park as you can get in Avalon - which is about a 15 minute walk.

I recommend getting a cab. Or better yet, get the baggage service to schlep your stuff to the dive park, and you take a nice walk. The best part of this way, is you pay them for round trip, and if you wanna go into town after your dive for some libations, you're not schlepping your gear. They store it for you until your boat leaves. Very good way to go.

Enjoy.

Ken

How much do they charge for the service? And is it only available for one day trip?

 

[kelpmermaid]

How much do they charge for the service? And is it only available for one day trip?

I think it's 6-8 bucks or so. I've never left my gear for more than a few hours, so I don't know about multiple days.

One thought: does anyone know what hours the fill station at Casino Point is keeping during the week? You might have to head back into town for fills...

 

[Drewpy]

Thanks all for the info! Looks like the ferry ride is around 40 bucks or so?
I have never been out there and kind a wanted to check it out,my non diving GF would probably hang out in town or watch my bubbles?
Its not set in stone-anybody doing a Laguna dive that day..??
Ill plan on bringing my gear and see what happens? Not a big deal, since Im driving down!
Dr Bill-you diving that day?(wed)
All I will need is a tank? Available in town..? Fills at the park..or in town?
Thanks again everyone!

 

[kelpmermaid]

Thanks all for the info! Looks like the ferry ride is around 40 bucks or so?
I have never been out there and kind a wanted to check it out,my non diving GF would probably hang out in town or watch my bubbles?
Its not set in stone-anybody doing a Laguna dive that day..??
Ill plan on bringing my gear and see what happens? Not a big deal, since Im driving down!
Dr Bill-you diving that day?(wed)
All I will need is a tank? Available in town..? Fills at the park..or in town?
Thanks again everyone!

You might want to contact Catalina Divers Supply to confirm their schedule at the park that day:

http://www.catalinadiverssupply.com/

And the link for Catalina Express is:

www.catalinaexpress.com

I have a commuter book, so I'm not sure what R/T tickets are costing these days.

 

[Mo2vation]

Thanks all for the info! Looks like the ferry ride is around 40 bucks or so?
I have never been out there and kind a wanted to check it out,my non diving GF would probably hang out in town or watch my bubbles?
Its not set in stone-anybody doing a Laguna dive that day..??
Ill plan on bringing my gear and see what happens? Not a big deal, since Im driving down!
Dr Bill-you diving that day?(wed)
All I will need is a tank? Available in town..? Fills at the park..or in town?
Thanks again everyone!

Do not be fooled. Putting the cost aside to get to, you know, an Island - the diving is not remotely comparable.

Again, removing costs from the equasion, its night and day. The atmosphere, the entries and exits, the clarity of the water, the conditions of the dive, the abundance of life and other things to see, the actual time enjoying the dive - the two (OCal shore dive and Cat Dive Park) are not even in the same league. The only thing they share is the salty pacific. After that, forget about it.

Measure the true costs (parking, lunch, fills, rental gear, transportation), then measure the entire day's experience (getting there, stress, exertion, time in water v out of warer, atmosphere, post dive hang, etc.) and bounce that against the quality of the diving. You'll quickly see that Catalina costs more, but is a much, much better value and will deliver more fun. Especially if you're a visitor. What's not cool about going to an island for a day?

You can't even put the two on the same page.

Ken

 

[socaldiver]

The cost for the baggage to be hauled is $8 r/t.

The wife and I might be able to go, however, we won't know what our work schedule will be until the Sat before. We have been wanting to go so maybe so.