San Clemente Island

[robint]

I was out at San Clemente last Saturday on the Great Escape. We ended up hitting Swiss Cheese, 5 Fathoms & Booster Rocket Reef on the backside. All three of these spots are amazing as I have found with almost all the spots at San Clemente. I LOVE THIS ISLAND! It is definitley my favorite out of all the Channel Islands. The underwater topograhy is just amazing. All that being said......the viz was for crap. The first two spots were only about 10-12ft and about 5ft at Booster Rocket Reef which by the way is about the biggest Kelp Bed I have ever seen. Even with the bad viz I still enjoyed my dives. I believe water temps ran around 54 degrees. I am sure if you end up diving the frontside vis will be much better. I would say you should definitely go and experience San Clemente Island.

eeek, 54 degrees? We were out last year in Aug and temps up at Anacapa & Santa Cruz were 62-66 every dive! Am I gonna freeze my patootie off if I dive in a 7/5 wetsuit at San Clemente & Catalina next month? We dive regularly here in 62 degree water and I am okay but I have never done 50s.

robint

 

[limeyx]

eeek, 54 degrees? We were out last year in Aug and temps up at Anacapa & Santa Cruz were 62-66 every dive! Am I gonna freeze my patootie off if I dive in a 7/5 wetsuit at San Clemente & Catalina next month? We dive regularly here in 62 degree water and I am okay but I have never done 50s.

robint

It's been cold this year. I have had 52-55 below about 70 feet of depth on most dives this year.

We were on San Miguel this weekend and it was 52-54 at every depth, even 30 feet.

Some crazy guys were diving in wetsuits too! Way too cold for that.

 

[robint]

I was under the impression that San Miguel is always in the 50s whether summer or winter..right?

I hope that San Clemente and Catalina are a bit warmer! Otherwise I will have to bring out a drysuit that is a bit too big on me. Uggghhh.

robint

 

[Diver Lori]

I'm heading that way Friday and my drysuit & 400G is already packed. I was hoping to get away with the lighter underwear, but thankfully I read this thread. If not I would have been freezing my bejeebers off on Saturday!

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

Please post and let us know how it is Lori!! I need to know how cold I'll be in my 7mm

 

[merxlin]

SB island was 60+ down to 55 ft today, 64 surface. Viz 50+ and sunshine after 9am or so. The sea lions say "Hi dorks".

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

SB island was 60+ today, 64 surface.

So how was it otherwise???

 

[robint]

SB island was 60+ down to 55 ft today, 64 surface. Viz 50+ and sunshine after 9am or so. The sea lions say "Hi dorks".

that sounds good to me, I can do 60 in a wetsuit! I just need a towel and lots of warm liquids during my SI.

robint

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

SB island was 60+ down to 55 ft today, 64 surface. Viz 50+ and sunshine after 9am or so. The sea lions say "Hi dorks".

Maybe they were just talking to you Merxlin???

You were the closest one...

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Jenn, I think I may have dove off the SunDiver once, but I really don't remember much about that boat. I do remember my trip to San Clemente Island though. I recall it being a couple of amazing dives. I was still had very few dives (relatively speaking) under my belt, but it was awesome. You're going to have a great time.