questions about Catalina island

[SoCalDiverX]

I'm planning a 2-day family camping/dive trip to Cat. island for July (I've been to the island couple times before getting certified. Only I dive and it'll be at Casino pt only)

1. I know they rent out lockers near the boat landing but can I rent it overnight? I'd like to leave my dive gears in the locker instead of hauling them to the campsite and then back down the next day.

2. if I ship my kayak over (using a company like Catalina Freight), is there a place to dock/stow it for the night? or can I tie it to the dinghy dock?

3. I'd image it's better to rent the tank and weights. I already have my hands full with tents/food/2 kids, etc. Do they rent out high pressure steel tanks, that's what I'm using right now.

4. any other pointers/tips will be appreciated. thx

 

[merxlin]

I would start here http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/231885-updated-great-catalina-island-info-sticky-thread.html and contact the dive shops on the island regarding tanks and weights. All will accommodate that for you. Depending on when you go, there may be a fill station open at the dive park- again, call ahead and ask. I'll let those with greater knowledge than I respond about the kayak storage. You might send a PM to DrBill as he is a resident of the island.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

1. I know they rent out lockers near the boat landing but can I rent it overnight? I'd like to leave my dive gears in the locker instead of hauling them to the campsite and then back down the next day.

The "rule" is that the lockers should be emptied at the end of each diving day. That's the "rule."
If you plan on storing anything in the lockers, I'd recommend bringing a few trash bags to protect the gear from the pools of rusty water that you might find in some of the lockers.
I'd recommend securing one of the big lockers at the beginning of your stay. Bring a lot of quarters. That's what the lockers take.

2. if I ship my kayak over (using a company like Catalina Freight), is there a place to dock/stow it for the night? or can I tie it to the dinghy dock?

I don't know the answer to this.

3. I'd image it's better to rent the tank and weights. I already have my hands full with tents/food/2 kids, etc. Do they rent out high pressure steel tanks, that's what I'm using right now.

The dive op that does fills at the Point (Catalina Diver Supply) has a bunch of red rental tanks. I believe they are all AL80s. The CDS website says that they also rent 63 cuft. tanks. On the other hand, Scuba Luv rents out steel LP95s, in addition to several other kinds. The buoyancy characteristics of the LP95 are quite similar to that of a HP100 tank, but they are a few lbs. heavier. Note that Scuba Luv is located in town. You'll have to figure out a way to schlep the tank to the Point. Maybe you can arrange for them to drop it off for you.
If I were you, I'd just rent the AL80s from CDS. You won't even have to wait for a fill in-between dives -- just drop off your empty and pick up another full one.

4. any other pointers/tips will be appreciated. thx

The campsite is quite a hike from Casino Point. Our group did the camping/diving Avalon trip...twice. I don't think we'll ever do it again. There are a couple of low-cost hotels in town that are much more convenient (some units have kitchens, hotel is close to grocery store/restaurants, locked dive gear room, etc.).

There used to be a fun, outdoor happy hour at a restaurant next to the golf course. I recall that the $1 tacos and margaritas were pretty good. From the campsite, you should walk right past it on your way to town. I think it's called the "Sandtrap."

Take your kids to Big Olaf's ice cream shop with the cow sculpture. On a hot day, it's quite a treat.

If you want to "camp/dive" on Catalina in the future, I'd consider visiting Two Harbors in the off-season. They rent out little rustic cabins (think bunkbeds) for a fairly reasonable price if you don't want to sleep in the dirt. You would also have proximity to Bird Rock and Ship Rock. The shore dive isn't bad either.

 

[fisheater]

There's also the alternative of storing your gear with the baggage service at the boat dock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SoCalDiverX]

If I were you, I'd just rent the AL80s from CDS. You won't even have to wait for a fill in-between dives -- just drop off your empty and pick up another full one.

The campsite is quite a hike from Casino Point. Our group did the camping/diving Avalon trip...twice. I don't think we'll ever do it again. There are a couple of low-cost hotels in town that are much more convenient (some units have kitchens, hotel is close to grocery store/restaurants, locked dive gear room, etc.).

OK, sound like AL is the way to go.

I'll have at least one bike with me(so going to the pt wouldn't be too bad). We'll take the taxi up to the camp. I checked with couple hotels including hermosa, it's $175/nt, 2 nights min. I figured the money I saved by camping goes towards our return trip in late Aug.

thanks for the info.

 

[drbill]

There are lockers at the dive park and I believe they were just recently serviced and painted (will wonders never cease?). Although they suggest overnight storage isn't allowed, in the past before I bought my golf cart, I'd leave my tanks there if I were diving the next day.

Depending on the overall length of your kayak you can probably tie it to the dinghy dock. Not sure what the size limit is (13 ft?). Of course you can also rent kayaks from Descanso Beach Ocean Sports near the dive park or Joe's Rent-a-Boat on the green pier or The Wet Spot out near the boat landing (Cabrillo Mole). Of course in the old days (from 1971 on at least) my students used to paddle theirs across the Channel (some making the trip under cover of darkness so they could see their GFs).

I believe SCUBA Luv has a few high pressure tanks but check with them directly (310-510-2350)

 

[webjr]

I checked with couple hotels including hermosa, it's $175/nt, 2 nights min.

Ouch... we got a great deal at Seaport Village Inn. A room for 2 for 6 nights was a little over 500. And they paid the ferry also. They also have someone shuttle gear back and forth to the dive park for you. That was booked long in advance. Not sure if that mattered though.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Ouch... we got a great deal at Seaport Village Inn. A room for 2 for 6 nights was a little over 500. And they paid the ferry also. They also have someone shuttle gear back and forth to the dive park for you. That was booked long in advance. Not sure if that mattered though.

@webjr: What time of the year did you get that Seaport Village Inn deal?
I think it would be pretty difficult to get a deal like that in the month of July.

 

[webjr]

We arrive Sunday 26th. Staying till Saturday 2nd. We booked that a Loooong time in advance.

 

[blue steal]

Ouch... we got a great deal at Seaport Village Inn. A room for 2 for 6 nights was a little over 500. And they paid the ferry also. They also have someone shuttle gear back and forth to the dive park for you. That was booked long in advance. Not sure if that mattered though.

Don't forget to give us a trip report. Would like to know more about the Seaport Village.