Please tell:what's good about ca diving??

[IndigoBlue]

West Coast diving is cold, like skiing, but if you dress properly, with a good thermal suit, preferably a drysuit, then like skiing you can have fun even though cold.

Lake Tahoe and Monterey are your best bets, for easy diving. Dolphin Scuba should be able to satisfy your needs, first by providing transport to their outings, whether lake or ocean diving, second by gearing you up in a good drysuit, and finally by matching you up with a group of divers.

You should avoid the temptation to save a few pennies with a wetsuit. Wetsuits simply are not good thermal protection for Northern California. Instead, make a good investing of $750 to $1500 in a drysuit. For thermals you can wear a sweatsuit or else invest another $300 to $500 in thermals. 3mm gloves and a 5mm hood should keep you sufficiently warm.

The main beauty of Tahoe is the clear water. The main beauty of the Coast is the anemonies, sea stars, and the kelp fronds. Like skiing, you get used to the cold, and with a good drysuit don't notice it very much.

Then your trips to Hawaii, Florida, Cozumel, etc. will be special highlights to your annual vacations, and you will be a better diver when you get there.

 

[drbill]

It doesn't require me to take a long and expensive airplane trip, and find reasonable accomodations, food and a good dive operator. I just walk out my door and down to the dive park. For the price of one trip to the Caribbean, I can dive for 3-4 years here. Plenty to see... been doing it for 35 years in Calif. (plus 8 years in fresh water Midwest before that).

Dr. Bill

 

[luvspoodles]

Thank you so much for responding. I love reading everyone's opinion of California diving. I am going to print the responses and show it to my husband. I really hope that hearing what other's have to say about CA diving will help him to be more excited about it. And if that doesn't work...we'll be in Monterey in a few weeks with Dolphin Scuba doing our advanced class, and we can see for ourselves why CA diving is so good. Again, thank you so much for your responses (it has made a world of difference for me) and I will continue checking this thread.

 

[Ben_ca]

CA diving is great because all I have to do is find a buddy, load the truck and drive on down... Gas,parking, lunch and airfills then your done... then just drive home. Besides the coast there's also some fun diving in the Mountain lakes, clear water, easy access and no salt

 

[divenut2001]

One thing Brian forgot to mention about the White Shark dives at the Farallon Islands is that it's from a cage.

There are some very beautiful reefs in Monterey that explode with color. The Kelp forests are teaming with life and there's nothing like gliding thru one with the sun peaking thru. They don't call them "majestic" for nothing.

Of course the trip would not be complete without a visit from a friendly Sea Lion or two.

The Channel Islands are a real treat. This is the Ca version of "warm" water. Typically 10-15 degrees warmer than Monterey and with much better vis. San Clemente Island is considered "America's Galapagos"!) The liveboards that go out there are a real bargain. Typically a 3 day trip costs around $435 and includes meals, air fills and eh lodging.

Your choice of exposure suits is a matter of preference. You should start out wet first. If you get too cold then consider investing in a dry suit.

Taking the AOW is a good move. It will give you a chance to experience cold water again and log a few dives with an instructor. It should be a lot of fun, and it won't be as difficult as when you first tried to certify.

Have Fun))

 

[aviddiver(him)]

luvspoodles, Where were your tropical dives?
Specifically what did you most like at each tropical dive destination?
Just what are your current expectations about what would change your California beliefs?

I've dived all over the world. But my best dive ever was in less than 20ft vis on Bluefish Cove Wall at Pt.Lobos, Monterey California. Go figure? The invertebrate colors enraptured me. And this is after having done quite a bit of warm water tropical diving.

Nevertheless, tropical reef fish have been sublime. At this moment, Mandarin fishes' delicate double pectoral fins come to mind.

Carribean and Bull sharks on the east coast; Gray Reef sharks in Palau. These are amazing creatures: able to swiftly move into the current without the slightest movement of fin or tail. Simply amazing.

But why can't you imagine better just off our California coast? What's the basis of your bias?

I'll also say this: If you can dive California, you can dive just about anywhere.

Unfortunately it's colder here and therefore will initially be more expensive. Drysuits IMHO are not a panacea; they have detriments besides maybe keeping you warmer. Wetsuits possibly could keep you warm. Depends.

Want to see what's awaiting you along our California coast?
View the Channel Islands photo postings on DigitalDiver.net
http://www.digitaldiver.net/yabbse/index.php?board=6

 

[Scubaroo]

Of course the trip would not be complete without a visit from a friendly Sea Lion or two.

I can't believe it took someone 15 posts to mention sealions. Having moved away from California, they're the single biggest thing I miss during my dives now.

 

[scubasean]

I can't believe it took someone 15 posts to mention sealions. Having moved away from California

Hey Ben,

I mentioned otters in post #3....LOL

Maybe I guess wrong as to what most of them are.... :banana:

 

[aviddiver(him)]

Yes! “Sealions, otters, & bears, oh my!”

And don’t leave out those pesky nipping Harbor Seals either. Have had more than a few encounters with their nipping scaring the bejesus out’a me


ps: and what's Melbourne doing lurking about Norcal? Perhaps something definitely more compelling about California dreaming than first meets the eye?


profits maybe?

 

[sb_diver]

I love diving in CA... 2 words.. kelp forest.. can't get any better than that swimming through kelp strands w/ the sun trickling down gaps in the canopy. Plus all the cool fish and animals. If you guys ever make it down a little further south, the Channel Islands are AWESOME.

Thomas