So what's happening with San Clemente these days?

[robint]

Is it open for diving on a regular basis or is the Navy still closing it from time to time? I thought I read somewhere this past year they are possibly closing it permanently for diving.
Great Escape has a boat going there in Sept and we are thinking of signing up for the trip. We dove SC last year and it was awesome but I like Santa Barbara too with all the sea lions... we had signed up for SC one year and the island got closed by Navy so we ended up at SB. Just wondering if that is still happening or not.

robin

 

[drbill]

It apparently is still open for diving on an irregular basis dependent on training exercises being conducted there. I've seen several boats scheduled to dive there over the next two months.

My understanding is that the Navy either wants to, or intends to, close it completely to diving but my advice is to verify that rather than simply accept my word based on what I've heard.

 

[rsldonk]

Went on the Sand Dollar last week and spent two days diving around San Clemente. Was an extremely great trip, loved the whole time.

 

[Mo2vation]

It apparently is still open for diving on an irregular basis dependent on training exercises being conducted there. I've seen several boats scheduled to dive there over the next two months.

My understanding is that the Navy either wants to, or intends to, close it completely to diving but my advice is to verify that rather than simply accept my word based on what I've heard.

Until last year I had been there for four 4 long Labor Day trips in a row, and have probably done 4 or so dives there over the last 10 years.

If the water was 75 or 85 instead of 60 degrees most of the time, I'm sure Peter Hughes and Aggressor would have boats there. It really is that nice.

It is a wonderful island. I've seen stuff I still haven't seen at any of the other Channel Islands - and in the fall and late summer its just clear and gorgeous.

It'd be a shame to lose it altogether. I love diving there.


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Ken

 

[FrankPro1]

I was getting my tank filled yesterday and was talking to my instructor about his last few dives. He finally got around to doing a rec dive "not teaching" and it was on the Bottom Scratcher's last trip to San Clemente. He said it was the best diving he's had in the last 2 years. 60ft of vis, 6ft Blue Shark sighting, petite Asian princess at his side and wonderful mini walls lined with critters. From what he described it seemed like an incredible trip. Looks like I have one more spot added to the list.

 

[robint]

I was getting my tank filled yesterday and was talking to my instructor about his last few dives. He finally got around to doing a rec dive "not teaching" and it was on the Bottom Scratcher's last trip to San Clemente. He said it was the best diving he's had in the last 2 years. 60ft of vis, 6ft Blue Shark sighting, petite Asian princess at his side and wonderful mini walls lined with critters. From what he described it seemed like an incredible trip. Looks like I have one more spot added to the list.

yeah, San Clemente is awesome diving for sure. We are booked on the Great Escape for Labor Day weekend trip scheduled for diving there. I bet there are a few more spots left if you are interested.

 

[FrankPro1]

yeah, San Clemente is awesome diving for sure. We are booked on the Great Escape for Labor Day weekend trip scheduled for diving there. I bet there are a few more spots left if you are interested.

All 45 of my post certification dives this year have been shore dives. 3 of them at Casino Point, 1 in Laguna, 1 in Redondo beach and the rest on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Next week I'll be shore diving Santa Cruz Island, specifically Scorpion Anchorage. My first one there will be my 50th So I am absolutely in need of some boat diving action. The plan is to book two trips when my buddy and I return from Santa Cruz. One will absolutely be at Catalina and the other is up in the air. I'll have to look into that Great Escape Clemente trip, after what I've heard recently its a must dive spot.

 

[Mo2vation]

Back in 2006 I was just starting to shoot DSLR. My Ikelite / D70 rig was in the shop, so I was shooting with my wife's little Sony P&S in the clear plastic housing for this trip. Here are some shots.

This '06 Labor day was one of the best trips of my life. I was wearing a long-sleeve Tshirt under my drysuit. The water at San Clemente was about 66 degrees for the two days we were there. Perfect weather, warm clear water, the cave we found was amazing - loaded with drooping Tube-dwelling anemones. It was just one of the best trips ever.

I haven't seen these shots for ages. Wow. So much about the way I shoot has changed in the last three years.

I so want to go back there. I haven't been since Labor Day '07.

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Ken

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[drbill]

He said it was the best diving he's had in the last 2 years. 60ft of vis, 6ft Blue Shark sighting, petite Asian princess at his side and wonderful mini walls lined with critters. From what he described it seemed like an incredible trip.

Um, not to derail this thread, but where do I sign up for one of those?