We want to dive Catalina - Help!

[cheepguy]

My wife and I want to dive at Catalina on July 22nd and 23rd.
We have no interest in a boat dive. But would need a one night hotel stay, air fills, and transportation all around.

We want to bring our own steel 72's, would that be a problem?

We only have 7MM Bare arctic hooded one-piece fullsuits, we usualy go to Monteray, are they too warm this time of year for Catalina?

I know, a lot of questions. We do not have a clue and reading the recent posts about Catalina makes us want to go.

Any advice would really help.
Steve

 

[RichLockyer]

The Catalina Express can get you to Avalon, departing out of San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport, or Dana Point.
You can get to Two Harbors only from San Pedro.
The boat ride will run you in the ballpark of $30 each R/T plus parking ($10/day?)
Figure between $60 and $120 for a decent hotel in Avalon, or you can get a cabin at Two Harbors for around $30 or so... this is a stripped cabin with only a mattress and electric oil heater. Pay showers. The problem at Two Harbors is the good diving is either by boat, or you can rent a kayak if you feel like the cruise to Cherry Cove/Lion Head (really cool shallow dive).

Avalon has the underwater park out by the casino with a good variety of scenery... nice kelp reef, not unlike what you have locally, and there's a few wrecks down around 50-80ft. If you can get permission from the harbormaster and boat traffic is light, you can hit the Valiant, which is outside of the dive park about 4 or 5 moorings out.
You can get fills at the dive park this time of year, but you have to schlep everything into town to get nitrox (for $16 or $18, and the trailer will not fill a nitrox-banded tank with air).

The Catalina Express is not as diver-friendly as it used to be. You are allowed ONE checked bag, plus one tank per diver.
Divers must WEAR their weight belts while onboard. I don't remember if they allow a carry-on in addition to the checked bag and tank or not. It's always nice to have a non-diver along for the ride to provide additional suitcase space.
Personally, when I take the express I've already loaded my dive gear and 3 tanks on my buddy's boat... he meets me at the dock and takes me back (he'll spend the week).

Good move on planning the 22/23... the dive park is a popular training area, and weekends are a real zoo with open water classes kicking up the bottom

Hook up with Dr. Bill on the board here and he can show you the ropes. He lives in Avalon.


Oh... temperatures. Tough call on that one. I dive a drysuit any time it's too cold for my 3mil tropical suit. I used to dive in a 5mil fullsuit with a 5mil hooded vest and was never cold, nor was I ever too hot. Surface temps in the summer can get up as high as 70, but we're just coming off of our "June Gloom" time and temps are just beginning to climb into the high 90s out here in Chino/Pomona. Seems to me that at 100ft, it's never been warmer than 60, so I'd say you would probably be safe with the 7mil suits. It certainly won't be shorty weather.
According to the chart here (based on an average from 1992-2001)
http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnfeb03/EZdivingCatTemp.html
You should be looking at surface temps around 68, 15ft temps around 66, 60ft temps around 63, and 100ft temps around 58

 

[RonDawg]

We only have 7MM Bare arctic hooded one-piece fullsuits, we usualy go to Monteray, are they too warm this time of year for Catalina?

To answer your question about the wetsuits, I dove Catalina yesterday (Sunday) using a Bare 7mm fullsuit with a 3 mm hood, and I would say NO it's not going to be too warm. Even with surface temps around 68 or so, I was perfectly comfortable and not the slightest overheated; I only felt that way on the boat while waiting my turn to do the giant stride entry.

 

[xSandman3]

I agree, the Catalina Express is not overly diver friendly lately. I don't know if it's because of the busy season or not, but the last two times we have gone to Avalon, we have been treated like we're a pain to have on board. As far as weight belts, I throw all my weights into my dive bag. I use integrated weights, but if I used a belt, I'd just rent one in Avalon. Try and leave from Catalina Landing in downtown Long Beach. They seem to always use the big jet boats from that terminal, which have ample gear storage either up front or in the back.
As far as wetsuits, I dove there Saturday with a 7mm one piece and a 5mm hood, and was very comfortable.
Have fun...great diving in Catalina.

 

[RichLockyer]

I agree, the Catalina Express is not overly diver friendly lately. I don't know if it's because of the busy season or not

It's been like that since 2001 at least.
I think there was one other operator available that offered a little competition that went out of business in 2000.
Another operator was supposed to open in 2003 or 2004, but I have not heard of a confirmation, so I assume the "boat didn't float"

 

[caveseeker7]

Two, three years ago it was really bad.

That's why have been refusing to take part in the Clean-Up the last couple of years. Divers provide plenty of $$$ for both the ferry company as well as Catalina and it's businesses. From transport to fills to food and whatever else we purchase. So instead at the time of the clean-up I send a letter to the Conservancy listing the grief since last time, the approximate amount of doe I spend and asking them to put some pressure on the ferry guys before asking me to clean their junk and pay for it, too. (And don't give me any of the "It's for the chamber" lecture, I give them money directly and get the deduction, and usually take part in Chamber Day). I guess I'm not the only one, as things have improved quite a bit.

This year I've been there twice from Long Beach and had no problems at all.
All dive gear (tanks, bags and weights) went to the back of the boat. No need to "carry" the weight while onboard. That included CCRs and sling tanks for bailout (so we're talking two tanks on the RBs and seperate 40cu.ft tank), dive bags, weight bags or harnesses, and one carry on per person.
We had to load and unload ourselves (which I prefer anyway), but that's it. Not one bad word or look.

As for fare, last trip was $43 round, parking was $10, but I remember some sign saying it will increas to $12 as of this month.

 

[alaity47]

Good luck finding a hotel that will give you a room for one night only... this time of year it seems like they all have 2-night minimums! Let me know if you do find one.

Our favorite thing to do is spend a whole weekend in Catalina. Friday night out, Sunday afternoon back; 2 nights in a hotel; Saturday boat dive followed by a night dive, Sunday Casino Point. Always a fun weekend!

 

[saintsfan]

I'm going that weekend also,the 22nd thru the 24th,we are looking into the atwater hotel,theres not a lot of rooms available already at a lot of the hotels.like someone else stated I think there is a 2 night minimum.theres a scuba trailer located right at casino pt for air fills,though i'm not sure of the weekday hours,probably all day in summer.I was there for the get together last weekend and conditions were pretty good.Like richlockyer said Dr.Bill will probably be there for some pointers.

 

[ChrisM]

Another operator was supposed to open in 2003 or 2004, but I have not heard of a confirmation, so I assume the "boat didn't float"

There is a ferry from Marina del Rey, can't remember the name but saw it pulling in a couple weeks ago. I believe it's over $50 fare plus parking, so.........

 

[funlvn66]

I dove at Casino point on Saturday and wore a 7mm suit and it was perfect. Vis was excellent and as far as the Catalina express....I had no problems and checked my gear w/ integrated weights and the crew was helpful and friendly. Fair was 43.50 r/t and if you're diving Casino point make shure you have your gear trucked from the boat to the point for the 8$ r/t its worth it. It's a stakebed toyota or chevy truck. Enjoy!