Recommendations for a first SoCal dive

[nereas]

My son and I will be traveling to Orange County in November to check out a school he is considering attending next year. While over there I was hoping we might get a dive in on the weekend.

We are somewhat newbies and all of our dives have been in warm water locations (Caribbean and Sea of Cortez) so I would like our first cold water dives to be somewhat easy.

Are there any good dive locations (as in local beach) or boat charters that you would recommend we should try first? Also, we have 7 mil wetsuits but not 7 mil hoods. Will a 5 mil work or should we purchase 7 mils?

Thanks,

'bob

A 7mm suit should be fine.

You will need a hood, gloves, and boots too.

The waters are not really cold, but not warm either.

For a fun day trip on a boat I recommend the SunDiver.

For a fantastic wreck trip I recommend the Lois Ann.

For beach diving, I would not dive in Santa Barbara. Too much oil in the waters there.

Go to San Diego, to La Jolla, at La Jolla cove, and dive there, if you want to beach dive.

Just the recommendations from an expatriot.

 

[nereas]

Go to Catalina. Contact Scuba LUV or Catalina Divers Supply, then take the Catalina Express to Avalon and have a great day diving. Your 5mm hoods should be fine for a few dives depending on your tollerance for 58 deg water (Surface 65-67).

You can dive in the park for free, just gear rental and air or take a local charter with one of the above ops.

This is probably the best of So Calif USA.

 

[CompuDude]

Considering the OP has no real cold water experience, I think the easiest conditions and and guaranteed decent vis are top priorities. A boat trip is a good option, but the Catalina dive park is probably less expensive, especially for two, and offers "one stop shopping" in terms of gear rentals, easy conditions, and other topside activities for the visitor, including restaurants, and the sights of Avalon itself.

There are certainly easy beach dive sites on the mainland, but nothing this side can guarantee good conditions, vis, etc. like Catalina can.

 

[Rudebob]

Thanks for all the helpful replys and good information. I should mention that I grew up in Orange County so navigating the area for dive locations will not be a problem. Also, we own our own equipment, including tanks, so if we decide to shore dive I was planning to bring it all with us (we are driving over from Phoenix).

The idea of going to Catalina is definately of interest. However, having never done this type of trip on my own, putting all the logistics together is a little intimidating (parking, ferry, gear shuttle, tanks rentals, etc.). I am sure it is no big deal but at this point I think finding a half or 3/4 day type boat trip may be the way to go. The cost may not be that much more and it would be worth it to me to have to forgo the hassle of the trip planning. Are there any good charters who go to Catalina for day trips that you would recommend?

'bob

 

[CompuDude]

Thanks for all the helpful replys and good information. I should mention that I grew up in Orange County so navigating the area for dive locations will not be a problem. Also, we own our own equipment, including tanks, so if we decide to shore dive I was planning to bring it all with us (we are driving over from Phoenix).

The idea of going to Catalina is definately of interest. However, having never done this type of trip on my own, putting all the logistics together is a little intimidating (parking, ferry, gear shuttle, tanks rentals, etc.). I am sure it is no big deal but at this point I think finding a half or 3/4 day type boat trip may be the way to go. The cost may not be that much more and it would be worth it to me to have to forgo the hassle of the trip planning. Are there any good charters who go to Catalina for day trips that you would recommend?

'bob

I'm partial to the Magician for Catalina, or the Peace (out of Ventura) for the Northern Channel Islands. There are other good boats, as well (such as the Sea Bass), but these consistently rank among the best, IMO.

 

[dpbishop]

The best dive boat isn't any good if it's not going where you want to go when you want to go there. Here is a list of almost all of the dive boats operating in SoCal. There are links to each boat's web site where you can check the schedules. California Dive Boats : The Official Page

Pick a boat and do a search in the SoCal forum and you'll get reviews & reports.

 

[merxlin]

Here is the schedule for the Sundiver: Schedule Great crew and boat, but may have students on board. If there are and they are doing classes, most sites will have an area for them, and a way to get in a more advanced dive if you want. You dive your own profile. They provide steel 85 tanks and weights. Free parking, and leaves from South Long Beach. Price is usually about $125 or so (may change depending on location and the shop arranging the charter) for 3 dives, breakfast and lunch, snacks, drinks. Just an alternative to the Express and Dive park. Most of the days in Nov are chartered, but you can just usually just call the shop and join in. I've done that several times.

 

[scjoe]

The Sundiver is in Alamitos Bay which is closer to Orange County than the other boats. The Island Time which is right next to the Sundiver does half day trips. In a half-day trip you will get one less dive in and be pretty much exposed to the weather all day. The Island Time does not have a galley. The ride tends to be loud and bumpy.

 

[Teamcasa]

The Great Escape, is a terrific boat and crew and have an open day November 10.
I guarantee you will have a great dive with them. Really good food as well!

 

[scottfiji]

I would go with the sundiver, out of long beach, or the magician, out of san pedro, for a full-day trip to catalina (3 dives).... this option is also easier than taking the ferry to the dive park, imho

scott