Santa Catalina in September

[EsUnOso]

Hi everyone. I'm visiting Los Angeles for a bit next month, but I probably won't venture too far off. I guess the most accessible dive site is near Santa Catalina, right? What's the water temperature and visibility like at around that time of year?

 

[drbill]

Hard to tell since each year is different. Last year we saw surface temperatures in the 77 F range for several weeks with visibility up to 120 ft. This year surface temperature has been bouncxing up and down, probably in part a result of winds from the south due to monsoonal storms off Baja dragging colder deep water up from our harbor mouth into the dive park. I had 67 F min temp at 95 feet one day and another diver diving the same spot the next day got 54 F. Go figure.

 

[Gachnar]

I dove Catalina a week ago and the water there was pretty cold for this time of year. According to my DC temps ranged from the mid 60s in the shallows to 52 degrees at 110ft. We noticed several sites had a significant thermocline around 60ft. The water down at San Clemente was a few degrees warmer, and Santa Cruz was a little colder.

I'd highly recommend diving Farnsworth if you get the chance (offshore pinnacle), but anywhere around San Clemente is a good option as well.

 

[fnfalman]

Typical SoCal viz is about 20-ft to 40-ft.

Typical Catalina summer water temperature is about high 50s to low 60s F.

 

[drbill]

I'd highly recommend diving Farnsworth if you get the chance (offshore pinnacle), but anywhere around San Clemente is a good option as well.

The O.P. only has 25-49 dives so Farnsworth may not be a good place for them... it is an advanced dive.

 

[lamarpaulski]

Usually the best conditions of the year...ESP Catalina. Last Fall was epic in Sept to Dec period but the ocean is always a bit unpredictable...Sept Oct though is pretty consistently good and Catalina is a consistently good place.