Pacific Ocean diving primer/Sou Calf.

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DougK

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I will be in Southern California the first full week of Sept. As someone that lives in the Mid-Atlantic states and dives Floridia and the Carribean, what will I find the Pacific like?

I have often heard the Pacific is cold compaired with the Atlantic. What would temps be in the Channel Islands area this time of year? What type of expousre suits are standard fare? What is visibility like -- and I realize this changes by daily conditions.
Anyone know why the pacific is som much colder and is this year round or at certain times of the year?

Can an OW person dive kelp without special training/cert.?

What would be the best places to see sea lions/seals? ****Can you give answers to this question for both below water and above water sightseeing?

Thanks
 
Southern California is actually quite large. Where in Socal will you be?
 
Bring/rent at least a 7mm suit, water will be a little chilly and its like that year round. The Kelp isnt too bad, just take it slow.
 
DougK:
I have often heard the Pacific is cold compaired with the Atlantic. What would temps be in the Channel Islands area this time of year? What type of expousre suits are standard fare? What is visibility like -- and I realize this changes by daily conditions.
Anyone know why the pacific is som much colder and is this year round or at certain times of the year?

Can an OW person dive kelp without special training/cert.?

What would be the best places to see sea lions/seals? ****Can you give answers to this question for both below water and above water sightseeing?

Thanks
Temps are generally in the high 50's to mid 60's. 7mm wetsuits or drysuits are standard, with hoods, boots and gloves, of course. Vis will depend on the day and location.
The Pacific (the eastern side, anyway) is cold because the water comes from the north. The western pacific is warm like the eastern seaboard of the US because the water comes from the south.
Kelp requires no extra training other than being aware of how to extract yourself. If you try and turn around in it, it's like a fork in spaghetti. Just relax and back up, snap the stalks if you need to.
 
So Cal is a very big place so being a tad more specific will get you better answers.
For the Los Angeles area your answers are:
DougK:
I will be in Southern California the first full week of Sept. As someone that lives in the Mid-Atlantic states and dives Florida and the Caribbean, what will I find the Pacific like?...
Intriguing, inviting, and addictive. Lots to see depending on the day and luck. Some days the ocean will be like glass with 30-50 foot visibility (rare days), but most of the time you should get 10-15 with 15-25 being a common occurrence. Red tide has been tough on us this year and has lingered longer than normal.

DougK:
I have often heard the Pacific is cold compared with the Atlantic. What would temps be in the Channel Islands area this time of year? What type of exposure suits are standard fare? What is visibility like...
7mm with hoods gloves and boots are the normal here and many wear dry suits. Winter temps are 52-56F and summer time is 52-62F with 54-56 being about normal.
DougK:
Anyone know why the pacific is so much colder and is this year round or at certain times of the year?...
Water and weather move in a clockwise direction. That means on the east coast the water is coming up from the warm waters of Gulf of Mexico and Flordia and slowly cooling as it moves along the Atlantic coast then heads over past Iceland to England where it is the Cold North Atlantic. On the west coast it is coming from the Bering Straight and Alaska down to us and is colder, but warming up. So the going north in CA will get you colder water.

DougK:
Can an OW person dive kelp without special training/cert.?...
Yes, but you should dive with someone who has. Just do not panic. Kelp will break if you take both hands and try to break a pencil in half. It is incredibly strong if you are trying to pull it along its length. A good cutting tool for the fishing line and perhaps kelp is recommended. Streamline yourself to avoid entanglements and if you get stuck, DO NOT TURN AROUND to see what it is, you will wrap yourself in the kelp if you do. Let your buddy help. For Kelp, Malibu and Palos Verde are the place to go.

DougK:
What would be the best places to see sea lions/seals? ****Can you give answers to this question for both below water and above water sightseeing?...
Sea lions, well they are just about anyplace. Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach has Seal Rock where they usually are and will often come out to play during you dive. But you can find them all up and down the coast where the beach is not covered with people. Unfortunatly, Crescent Bay does not have kelp.
 
Q) I will be in Southern California the first full week of Sept. As someone that lives in the Mid-Atlantic states and dives Floridia and the Carribean, what will I find the Pacific like?

A) Alot colder, but overall a very enjoyable diving experiance.

Q) I have often heard the Pacific is cold compaired with the Atlantic. What would temps be in the Channel Islands area this time of year?

A) Water current water temperature is hovering right around 60*F at Catalina Island. You should plan on pretty much the same when you are here.

Q) What type of exposure suits are standard fare?

A) Most people use Drysuits or a 7mm Wetsuit. Hoods, Booties & Gloves are a necessity.

Q) What is visibility like -- and I realize this changes by daily conditions.

A) There are too man variables to answer this one accurately, but the general answer would be 30'-60' at Catalina Island and about 10' at the local beaches.

Q) Anyone know why the pacific is som much colder and is this year round or at certain times of the year?

A) The colder water is a year round occurnce, and has to do with the currents in the Pacific. The current runs in a clockwise motion, which pulls all of the cold water out of the Gulf of Alaska and pushes it down the coast. If you look at this map of current water surface temperatures, it is pretty obvious what is happening.

Q) Can an OW person dive kelp without special training/cert.?

A) Yes & No. Are you required to have special training and/or certs, No. But, In some locations, the kelp can be so thick that it becomes a virtual overhead environment. So dive according to your own training and experiance.

Q) What would be the best places to see sea lions/seals? ****Can you give answers to this question for both below water and above water sightseeing?

A) Below water, Seal Rock in Laguna Beach. But be forewarned, that it is Illegal to harm and/or harass a California Sea Lion. Also be aware that the juviniles like to steal snorkels (with masks attached), so be prepared just in case. Above water I would suggest La Jolla Beach in San Diego.
 

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