Hi everyone
Spending a day in LA next month and really want to dive the kelp forests with the sea bass and sealions and also the oil rigs off shore.
I just want to reiterate that giant black seabasses are pretty much gone for the season, and oil rig diving is for divers whose skills are to the point where they don't have to think about maintaining buoyancy - everything is on automatic by then. Like others said, they are out in blue water and on a good, calm day, it's no different than diving in a cove. It's just that the day may be diveable but not good & calm, or currents unexpectedly coming through. Those times are when a diver has to handle his or herself instead of relying on somebody else's skills.
As far as sea lions go, chances are you will see them out and about. If you were to want to play with sea lions, then you will need to visit one of the rookeries. Adult sea lions will fly by and buzz you but they won't play with you. The pups are the ones that like to play with divers.
Santa Barbara Island has a large rookery, but the destination is not guaranteed because it's very far out and some boats can't make it if wind and wave are high. Anacapa Island also has a large rookery, but it's also on the windward side and dive boats can't make the destination unless wind and water conditions allow them to.
Essentially if you specifically want to go dive with sea lion pups, I doubt that any charter can guarantee it to happen.
My diving level is currently beginner (only Open Water PADI certification dives) but before diving LA will have spent 2 weeks diving Mexico so my confidence and experience will have increased. I am typically a fast learner.
When you strap on 7mm neoprene wetsuit and a ton of lead, you will have an adjustment/learning curve.
By then some boats may already halted their operation and shut down for annual maintenance. Just be warned that you won't have a lot of choices just because of the boat maintenance issue.
Casino Point Dive Park in Catalina Island will always be available and will give you plenty of kelp diving enjoyment. Not to mention that by mid-December, with hardly any divers and swimmers in the water, some of the cool animals would start to traverse through that area. The only times I've ever seen electric Pacific torpedo rays were at Casino Point during December and January.
Let me know which day you plan on doing diving and I can help hunt up some options, and may even join you if the schedule works out. I'll be your local guide free of charge.
