new San Diego area kelp diver...

[vetdiver]

Hi, all -

I have been offered a nice job in San Diego, so it looks like my husband and I will be moving out there early next year. A few questions - can anyone point me to some links covering shore diving sites? Also, one of the people I interviewed with took me down to La Jolla Shores for some swimming/freediving, and I saw some Zodiacs going out from the beach - can someone give me info on those, as well? Are there people diving year-round (we dive dry)? How dependent on good weather are you - or is bad weather much of a factor (charters get cancelled here because of conditions...and most places do not run charters in the winter).

Any other general info would be very helpful, as well - I have one contact there, but I am otherwise on my own with a relocation service! Scary.

Thanks a bunch! Allison

 

[wetrat]

Hey Allison!

We're looking forward to you and your hubby's arrival in San Diego!! We have an extremely active dive community here, and dive year 'round nearly every weekend. Local dive operators go out to Wreck Alley, the Pt. Loma Kelp Beds and the Coronado Islands year-round. They very rarely cancel, mostly only if they can't fill the boat. The best site for San Diego shore diving is Divebums. Another good one with a lot of local divers is Scubapost.

The Diveanimals are the club that have a couple small boats for shore diving. It's a very reasonable way to get to some fantastic spots like Scripps Canyon, which is somewhat difficult to dive from shore. Can't think of a better way to get involved in the diving scene than joining the Diveanimals.

If you have any other questions let me know. And when you get out here PM me and we'll dive.

John

 

[riguerin]

How dependent on good weather are you - or is bad weather much of a factor (charters get cancelled here because of conditions...and most places do not run charters in the winter).

Hey, it's San Diego ... the weather is a perfect sunny 70 F all year round

Looks like John(wetrat) gave you some excellent advice on the SD diving scene. The only thing that I'll add is that there is also some decent shore diving about 40-50 minutes north in Orange County. Here's a link to some Laguna Beach dive sites. You can also catch the Catalina Express at Dana Point (near the SD/OC county line) and head over to Avalon for some great shore diving at the UW Park off Casino Point.

Congrats on the new job. Good luck on the move.

p.s. John is a big strong guy. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help move any heavy furniture ;-)

 

[vetdiver]

p.s. John is a big strong guy. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help move any heavy furniture ;-)

Now this may be the most valuable advice I get from Scubaboard EVER.

Don't worry, John...they are moving all my stuff. All I have to do is shell out a bunch of cash for a place to put it!!!!

Thanks for the tips. We cannot wait - will have to distract ourselves with lots of diving in frigid New England in the meantime...

See ya'll in January!!!

 

[riguerin]

Good luck with the house hunting ... be preparred for sticker shock

Which brings me back to the moving thing. John is a real nice guy with an affable demeanor. He's got lots of friends in the SD diving community who are used to lugging heavy gear around ... especially the ones who are diving doubles. I really think there's an opportunity here to save on moving expenses. You'll be able to use the $$ for the new house

 

[wetrat]

Hey Allison, Rick's right about the Laguna sites. Lots of great diving in Laguna, especially during the winter!!

Rick's a DM too and when somebody new moves to the area, he always takes them on a tour of Reef Point and hauls all their gear up and down the cliff for them. Then he buys them lunch at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, and lets them rinse their gear and shower at his house before the drive home. You couldn't hook up with a more generous guy!!!

John

 

[vetdiver]

Wow, Californians are so nice...and so GENEROUS!!! Rick, I am so glad I won't have to haul my steel tanks up and down the cliff...I am just a wee little girl, you know, don't like to carry my own gear ...I was planning to double up my PSTs soon, hope that's OK...

...Oh, and coming from outside of Boston, at least I am less easily shocked than someone who would move to SoCal from, say, Arkansas. It is definitely more expensive out there, but at least I am used to dealing with tiny little houses attached to a gigantic pricetag with many 0's.

That said, we are clearly not looking for a house in La Jolla. Maybe 10-15 miles away.

 

[Roughwaterjohn]

That said, we are clearly not looking for a house in La Jolla. Maybe 10-15 miles away.

West or East?

John A.

 

[vetdiver]

I like houses that float. That way, I can roll into the water and dive before breakfast.