Temperatures recently are still below normal. Last night I had 62 F at a max depth of 55 Ft, Thurs it was 63 F at 50 ft, last weekend it was 57 F at 95 ft.
What is the best time to dive Catalina and how?
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Rainer
Contributor
My wife and I spent two days on Catalina in early June. Here's a short trip report (posted originally on divematrix: I [heart] Catalina)
---------------
I [heart] Catalina
Jen and I headed over to Catalina on Friday morning for two days of diving at the Avalon Underwater Park (Casino Point). We decided to bring the scooters this time. What a good call...
Conditions were decent. Above water weather was quite nice, 70-80s F. Water was low-60s at the surface, mid-50s at depth (warmer than here in LA). Depending on area, visibility ranged from 20-40', but was generally schmutzy (we've seen better, but it was fine).
We kept to a leisurely schedule of two daytime dives each day, plus a night dive on Friday. First dive was to the Valiant. Thanks to the excellent suggestions here (http://www.divematrix.com/showthread...ant-Directions), we found it straight away. What a great way to start off the trip! We made our way from bow to stern. A school of blacksmith soon joined us. Jen found a nice moray eel and a number of nudis. Soon we were back on the trigger and headed for the kelp beds just to the north of the park stairs. Second dive took us to the east. We hit the SueJac and then explored the east walls. HUGE schools of sardines filled the shallows. For our third dive that night, we headed back along the east walls looking for moray eels. Managed to find four more, including a free swimming one. I *hate* eels. Next, morning, we lounged around the inn, before heading down to the park to get fills. Started that morning with a dive to the north wrecks. Hit the sailboat in 85', then spent some time on the Kismet, Glass Bottom Boat, and the sailboat in 65'. Soon we were scootering with a batray (our first of four) and a sealion. Finished this dive in the kelp canopy. For our final dive, we decided just to kill the scooter batteries (which we never manged to accomplish despite a ton of trigger time). Played on the north wrecks again, and came across a new (to us) sailboat in 70'. Spent lots of time again hanging in the kelp canopy. After the dive, we packed up, stored our gear at the inn, and spent a few hours walking and eating around Avalon, before catching the ferry home.
Some thoughts:
(1) Managed to hit seven wrecks in two days. Not bad!
(2) Dives up in the kelp canopy are brilliant. For whatever reason, I'd previously always just stayed along the bottom in the park. This trip, we took a few excursions up along the kelp. Floating out mid-water at 30' in 70' water is a completely different perspective on the kelp. Different fish with different behaviors. Fun.
(3) Scooters are AMAZING at the dive park. Completely different dive experience. They both shrink and expand the park. You can cover more known sites and head out to find new sites all in the same dive. Seriously, with a scooter, the Catalina dive park (for me) matches the fun and wow of diving at Lobos. I don't get why MoCal people aren't making pilgrimages here. It's that good.
(4) Traveling with the extra gear was manageable, but about the upper limit of what I'd want to travel with. Ken, I have no idea how you bring all of what we brought *plus* your camera set up.
(5) We stayed at the Seaport Village Inn (Seaport Village Inn on Catalina Island - BEST VALUE ON CATALINA ISLAND!). Jen had stayed here for her Girls' Dive Weekend and it's a nice little place. About on par with the Lone Oak Lodge in Monterey. Diver friendly, but quite basic. It fit the bill. Very friendly staff.
(6) Had a few pretty good meals at some newer restaurants. One dinner at the Avalon Grille (Discover The New Catalina Island - Avalon Grille, Pavilion Hotel, Descanso Beach Club, Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour, Sea Trek Undersea Adventure) and a nice lunch at the M (M Restaurant - Hotel Metropole).
(7) If you can swing it, Fri/Sat is a great combo. There were only a handful of people at the park on Friday (and really not that many more on Saturday, maybe a few dozen in various classes; we hardly ever saw anyone once in the water). Also really nice to have Sunday to rest, recover, and run errands.
We had a great two days. Can't wait to go back.
Love is your favorite dive buddy...two days diving the Catalina dive park...with scooters.
I shot on two of the dives. Here's a quick video.
[vimeo]12352787[/vimeo]
---------------
I [heart] Catalina
Jen and I headed over to Catalina on Friday morning for two days of diving at the Avalon Underwater Park (Casino Point). We decided to bring the scooters this time. What a good call...
Conditions were decent. Above water weather was quite nice, 70-80s F. Water was low-60s at the surface, mid-50s at depth (warmer than here in LA). Depending on area, visibility ranged from 20-40', but was generally schmutzy (we've seen better, but it was fine).
We kept to a leisurely schedule of two daytime dives each day, plus a night dive on Friday. First dive was to the Valiant. Thanks to the excellent suggestions here (http://www.divematrix.com/showthread...ant-Directions), we found it straight away. What a great way to start off the trip! We made our way from bow to stern. A school of blacksmith soon joined us. Jen found a nice moray eel and a number of nudis. Soon we were back on the trigger and headed for the kelp beds just to the north of the park stairs. Second dive took us to the east. We hit the SueJac and then explored the east walls. HUGE schools of sardines filled the shallows. For our third dive that night, we headed back along the east walls looking for moray eels. Managed to find four more, including a free swimming one. I *hate* eels. Next, morning, we lounged around the inn, before heading down to the park to get fills. Started that morning with a dive to the north wrecks. Hit the sailboat in 85', then spent some time on the Kismet, Glass Bottom Boat, and the sailboat in 65'. Soon we were scootering with a batray (our first of four) and a sealion. Finished this dive in the kelp canopy. For our final dive, we decided just to kill the scooter batteries (which we never manged to accomplish despite a ton of trigger time). Played on the north wrecks again, and came across a new (to us) sailboat in 70'. Spent lots of time again hanging in the kelp canopy. After the dive, we packed up, stored our gear at the inn, and spent a few hours walking and eating around Avalon, before catching the ferry home.
Some thoughts:
(1) Managed to hit seven wrecks in two days. Not bad!
(2) Dives up in the kelp canopy are brilliant. For whatever reason, I'd previously always just stayed along the bottom in the park. This trip, we took a few excursions up along the kelp. Floating out mid-water at 30' in 70' water is a completely different perspective on the kelp. Different fish with different behaviors. Fun.
(3) Scooters are AMAZING at the dive park. Completely different dive experience. They both shrink and expand the park. You can cover more known sites and head out to find new sites all in the same dive. Seriously, with a scooter, the Catalina dive park (for me) matches the fun and wow of diving at Lobos. I don't get why MoCal people aren't making pilgrimages here. It's that good.
(4) Traveling with the extra gear was manageable, but about the upper limit of what I'd want to travel with. Ken, I have no idea how you bring all of what we brought *plus* your camera set up.
(5) We stayed at the Seaport Village Inn (Seaport Village Inn on Catalina Island - BEST VALUE ON CATALINA ISLAND!). Jen had stayed here for her Girls' Dive Weekend and it's a nice little place. About on par with the Lone Oak Lodge in Monterey. Diver friendly, but quite basic. It fit the bill. Very friendly staff.
(6) Had a few pretty good meals at some newer restaurants. One dinner at the Avalon Grille (Discover The New Catalina Island - Avalon Grille, Pavilion Hotel, Descanso Beach Club, Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour, Sea Trek Undersea Adventure) and a nice lunch at the M (M Restaurant - Hotel Metropole).
(7) If you can swing it, Fri/Sat is a great combo. There were only a handful of people at the park on Friday (and really not that many more on Saturday, maybe a few dozen in various classes; we hardly ever saw anyone once in the water). Also really nice to have Sunday to rest, recover, and run errands.
We had a great two days. Can't wait to go back.
Love is your favorite dive buddy...two days diving the Catalina dive park...with scooters.
I shot on two of the dives. Here's a quick video.
[vimeo]12352787[/vimeo]
Anti-Hero
Contributor
Very nice! I absolutely love diving Casino point.
skynscuba
Contributor
Nice report and video Rainer.
We are headed to Emerald Bay (other end of Catalina) for a week in September, can't wait.
We are headed to Emerald Bay (other end of Catalina) for a week in September, can't wait.
pacificgal
Rest in Peace...
Nice video, definitely looks like a dive I would love to do!
Last edited:
Peter_C
Contributor
Someday...I will be found scootering through the kelp there. Hopefully late this year.
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