Northern Channel Islands out of Ventura

[robint]

yes, I had already found that and we are considering it! It matches up perfectly with our plans, and we have 4-6 people planning to come out (2 of us have done Calif kelp diving, the others would all be newbies to Calif.)

robint

 

[Eduardo]

Don't mean to hijack and my questions seem to be relevant. Any data available on the WWW with average monthly water temps for the Channel Islands or Catalina?

I grew up in Ventura and would love to get back this spring to see the family and get a few dives in before a planned trip to the Caribbean in June.

My dives thus far have been in 78-80 degrees in Hawaii & San Carlos. Would a 3mm full suit with hood and addtional 2mm shorty work for the Channel Islands in the March-May time frame?

Thanks!

 

[LAJim]

For Catalina temp.

http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnfeb03/EZdivingCatTemp.html

Count on Anacapa being 2 to 4 F colder.

Jim

 

[LAJim]

To answer your question about 3 mm full suit in the Channel Islands in March - May:

Not a chance. I dove Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Catalina in April 2006 wet - 7 mm full plus 5/3 hooded vest. Multiple dives and multiple days were very rough.

Rent a 7 and layer up. If you move here buy a drysuit.

 

[SwimsWithSharks]

To answer your question about 3 mm full suit in the Channel Islands in March - May:

Not a chance. I dove Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Catalina in April 2006 wet - 7 mm full plus 5/3 hooded vest. Multiple dives and multiple days were very rough.

Rent a 7 and layer up. If you move here buy a drysuit.

As Jim said, not a chance. I can do a 7/5 full for a day or two late in the year. Generally, I use my 2 piece 7 mil. My most recent May temps for Anacapa were 52-54 Oceanic degrees.

I am partial to the Peace but then they were my home shop for awhile and I still do most of my gear purchases through them so I am not completely unbiased. I like the fact that they have nitrox on board. The other boats mentioned do a fine job as well. To the north (Santa Barbara), the Truth Aquatics boats also do a fine job.

 

[Eduardo]

Thanks. I'm warm blooded but the 7 mm sounds good!

 

[LAJim]

All SoCal divers are warm blooded. Cold-blooded people have different hobbies in LA - skiing for example. The human body has neutral heat flow in 91 F water. 52 F is a challenge. Plan for the challenge and you will have great diving experience.

 

[HeyJT]

I just dove Anacapa last Sunday (1/14/07). Surface temps were about 57 degrees and 55 degrees at 60fsw. I wore a full 7mil and a 5mil hooded vest. Not toasty but never "cold." The coldest I got was on deck of the Spectre; air temps were in the 50s...
Sunny but chilly!

 

[Scubagolf]

I'm a big fan of the Peace.

Ditto. Great boat and great food!

 

[JMdiver]

I dive wet 7mm all year, in the colder months I use a hood & sometimes a vest. A drysuit would be nice maybe one day.

John