March/April vis and temps for Catalina

[robint]

HI,
We have a group or two looking at coming out to dive Catalina - possibly during week of March 10th-16th and also weekend of April 13th-15th.
We have only been out to Calif in Aug or Sept each year so this will be our first trip off-season. How is the vis in March and April? Is the kelp coming back? (when we were out in Aug last year the kelp was pretty beaten up and sparse). How about temps? Most people will have drysuits but some with be in wetsuits most likely. Most of the group have never been to Calif so this will be their first time!
thanks!

robint

 

[drbill]

Hard to predict since it will be so weather dependent. This can be a period of storms on the island causing ocean conditions and visibility to vary significantly on a day-to-day basis.

Water temps this winter have been abnormally warm, perhaps due to the extremely warm temps the past summer. I have yet to record a temp lower than 54 F (and that was at extreme depth) and it has mostly been in the 57-60 F range at normal diving depths. This is 3-6 degrees warmer than at comparable depths and the same sites last winter. Vis has also been good (typical for winter), up to 80 ft at some sites and 60 ft in the dive park.

Plankton blooms begin in spring when nutrients reach the upper water layers. This should start in April. Vis can drop to the 10-15 ft range, but it can also be twice that or better.

So, very hard to predict given the wierd weather the past 9-10 months.

I dive a 7mm year-round, but then I have no nervous system. Dry suit divers should be fine any time of year.

 

[robint]

thanks Dr Bill,
I had heard that spring was the plankton bloom time and vis could be low. I have been promising fabulous diving and I really want the "new" calif divers to have a great time - if vis is bad they may never return. Do you think that since it has been warmer than normal that the plankton bloom will be early this year? March instead of April? I know its hard to predict, but you are the Catalina expert!!!
Has the kelp started to come back better than it was in Aug/Sept? We were at Anacapa and Santa Cruz last year and the kelp ranged from awful to non-existent. The year before the kelp in the same area was lush and gorgeous. Everyone told us it was because the water was too warm last year.
I can't wait to get back out there. I love the diving and all the crazy critters! I'll be shooting video again.

robint

 

[Archangel]

R:

We welcome you to back to Southern California. The viz has been amazing in the past month,and as our local celebrity Dr. Bill has written, it is a crap shoot to predict viz even two weeks out.

A way to hedge your bets, is to take one of the our 'top gun' diveboat Captains. He can steer you to amazing vis, pristine spots with tons of life.

YOU cant go wrong chartering the experience of Ray of the Sundiver or Eric of the Peace. Ping me and I would be happy to help you.

Take care,

Tevis

 

[robint]

I think the "group" wants to shore dive at Casino Pt. primarily and maybe a day of boat diving. We'll see though. A couple of the divers are from sunny Fla originally and have never done cold water or kelp. The whole experience should be very "enlightening" for them.
(BTW: I have been out with the Peace twice and they are top-notched but I haven't tried any of the SoCal dive boats yet.)


robint

 

[Archangel]

As you get closer to your 'group' arrival date, lets get in touch. I will arrange a group of So Cal divers to meet up with your folks and we will make it a party over at Casino Point ( I am sure we can talk Dr. Bill into making an appearance).

There are some amazing boats out here. The Peace is the standard. The Sundiver and Capt Ray Arntz has a plethora of undiscovered divesites that only experience can bring. The Raptor is a new operation out of Ventura and are eager to please.

We would be glad to offer any assistance you may need to make your visit a memorable one. . . divers helping divers.

Take care,

Tevis

 

[Rickster]

Hi Robin!

It is good to hear from you again. Let me know when you are going to be out here, and maybe I can join you.

Your avitar has to be from the Blue Hole. I miss diving there.

Rick

 

[robint]

Rickster,
actually, my avitar is from the Nekton Cay Sal trip we did last June. I haven't been over to the BH in 6 months. I need to get over there soon to try out some new gear though before we head over to Calif again.
Tevis,
thanks! I will let you all know when they decide on a date - right now they are leaning towards April. My daughter and I might just run over for 2 days of diving during her spring break (college freshman) in March. She's never been out to Calif(usually just me and the hubby) and she is dying to see the fishies and kelp of my videos/photos.

robint

 

[Archangel]

Robin:

That will be great! Please keep us in the loop, I will grab Rick and Teresa and a gentle welcoming committee of regulars and we will make it a sort of 'home coming/welcome back' ROBINT dive in March over at Casino Point.

Always an opportunity to make a new, old friend,

Tevis

 

[drbill]

The kelp is indeed making its expected comeback now that water temperatures have cooled to more usual levels. The invasive alga Sargassum filicinum, which arrived here last year, has become so thick at some dive sites that it is probably preventing kelp recovery. However, it is dying out so I expect the kelp to continue its recovery.

Plankton blooms are often affected by very unpredictable events... a storm or wind that causes a local (or regional) upwelling of colder, nutrient rich water for example. That combined with the more "reliable" increase in daylength in the spring ---> poor vis. I've seen vis go from 30' to "white" (green?) out in 5 minutes, but that was due to currents.

So, the bottom line is that time frame is a tough one to give a specific prediction for.

Tevis and Rick... I hear a party coming on!