Newbie diver in town for a visit

[Willie]

Hi,

I will be visiting my son in Oceanside next month for a few days. He may have to work some of the time I am there and I may try to squeeze in a dive or two.

I certified last Aug (PADI OW) and added Nitrox in Oct. I have logged 23 dives at various inland sites and another 17 in Cozumel. I have a 3/3 farmer john. I dove that wetsuit in 54 deg water for 45 mins in Jan on several occasions.

Any recommendations for beginner diving in SoCal?

Thanks,

Willie

 

[MissyP]

Hi,

I will be visiting my son in Oceanside next month for a few days. He may have to work some of the time I am there and I may try to squeeze in a dive or two.

I certified last Aug (PADI OW) and added Nitrox in Oct. I have logged 23 dives at various inland sites and another 17 in Cozumel. I have a 3/3 farmer john. I dove that wetsuit in 54 deg water for 45 mins in Jan on several occasions.

Any recommendations for beginner diving in SoCal?

Thanks,

Willie

Yikes! You must be a human heater if you can dive 54F in a 3mil..!!! Most of us here are still cold in 7mm and some still get cold even in drysuits :11:
A good introduction to SoCal waters is over at the dive park in Catalina if you can get away for the day.. If that's not possible, I'm sure you'd be fine diving Laguna or La Jolla with a dependable buddy who is familiar with the dive site.

 

[pasley]

If I can get my life in order in the near future, I plan to spend some time in April diving frequently. I would be glad to go diving if the timing works out. PM me and we can talk. I just can't commit to anything right now.

I agree with Missy, I get chilled in 54 iwth my 7mm

 

[Willie]

I agree with Missy, I get chilled in 54 iwth my 7mm

Thanks for the info. I may just have to rent something more insulating. Mine is a farmer john which gives me 6 mm on the chest and I do get cold toward the end of the dive. But not so cold that I cant bear it. Hopefully the water will be a little warmer by then. I do carry some personal insulation/buoancy as well.

I think if I can get a whole day, I will try to go out to Catalina. I would love that. Still reading through all the stuff I came up with in my search.

I noticed that Catalina Divers Supply offers 'NO EXPERIENCE introductory SCUBA DIVES'. Any opinion on that? My son is wanting to get certified, but is short on funds. I am wondering if this might be a good way to get him hooked. Maybe I can get him to do a few training dives before I come or better yet, get certified before I come. I would love to do some diving with him.

Willie

 

[veek]

Catalina is awesome, and the diving off of Casino point is great. I am sure that a couple of intro dives will get him hooked and open his eyes to what great diving we have in California.

 

[Willie]

I arrive tomorrow morning. Have a trip to the Catalina Dive Park planned one day, may have a chance to dive on another day when my son is working. Looking forward to the trip.

Willie

 

[LAJim]

Where are you going in Roatan? We're going to be at CoCo two weeks before you. I'm usually the last wetsuit diver to call the dive because of cold, but this time of the year even a 7 mm is not enough and I like my 5/3 hooded vest. T. S. Eliot said, "April is the cruellest month". The rest of the poem is whining about his superstitions in a modern world, but April is indeed cruel for wetsuit diver in SoCal.

Jim

 

[Willie]

Where are you going in Roatan? ... April is indeed cruel for wetsuit diver in SoCal.

We are staying at Fantasy Island. There is a group of 26 of us going including my twin brother. I am really looking forward to the trip.

I guess I better plan on renting a suit. Thanks for the info.

Willie

 

[Willie]

My son will be working on Sat and I am considering a boat trip with Dive Connections for that day. Anyone interested in buddying? What site would you recommend for a new diver and my first Pacific diving? I was thinking about Los Coronados Islands, but am open to any suggestions. If you are interested in going with me, PM for contact info.

Willie

 

[Diver_Jan]

I will be diving locally here in Laguna on Saturday if you want to join us. http://www.southcoastdivers.com

I too will be going to Roataan and staying at FI about the same time that Jim will be at CoCo View. I plan on doing the 'surface swim' in order to dive both resorts. It will be so much fun!!!