What would you choose if ...

[SeaHound]

I have a friend who is coming from overseas to stay in USA for a month. He has the option of coming to the West Coast and diving in Hawaii or coming in from East Coast and diving in Florida. Though I am no stranger to Florida diving, I have never done any dives in the West Coast so I cant really compare. He doesn't come to USA often and realistically, this will be the first and last time he will come.

If, in your lifetime you could do just one dive destination in USA, would it be Florida or Hawaii?

 

[robint]

What month? That makes a difference to me....
What type of diving has he done before? What would he like to see in particular?

If he is a very experienced diver, used to cold water and lower vis conditions, I would dive the Channel Islands in Calif. The diving there is amazing and diverse but not for everybody. It can be overwhelming for newbies. Water in 50s-60s in winter, upper 60s-70s in summer depending on site.
If he is a very experienced diver and wants to see sharks and wrecks, I would go dive in NC. Summer is best vis and conditions.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see wrecks, I would go to Florida.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see turtles and possibly mantas, I would go to Kona, Hawaii.

 

[DCBC]

If, in your lifetime you could do just one dive destination in USA, would it be Florida or Hawaii?

If overseas means Europe, I'd have him go to Florida, unless the extra expense (substantial) isn't a consideration. I can't help but think that if he may only do this once, and the fact that there's more to a trip than diving (ok, there's a bit more involved than diving), he may enjoy seeing the mainland of the U.S. and the variety it offers. As noted, there's quite a bit of variety in the diving available without driving too far. He might even want to include a visit to see you and dive Nova Scotia! He could then use the rest of his time to thaw out in the Keys...

 

[TSandM]

I have never dived salt water in Florida, but I would agree that the Channel Islands are better diving than Hawaii. But it IS cold water diving.

 

[herman]

What month? That makes a difference to me....
What type of diving has he done before? What would he like to see in particular?

If he is a very experienced diver, used to cold water and lower vis conditions, I would dive the Channel Islands in Calif. The diving there is amazing and diverse but not for everybody. It can be overwhelming for newbies. Water in 50s-60s in winter, upper 60s-70s in summer depending on site.
If he is a very experienced diver and wants to see sharks and wrecks, I would go dive in NC. Summer is best vis and conditions.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see wrecks, I would go to Florida.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see turtles and possibly mantas, I would go to Kona, Hawaii.

I have never dove the west coast but having dove both NC and Fla, I totally agree with robint's assesment. Maybe some time at a couple of places, NC and Fla for example. The sand tigers are well worth coming to see.

 

[SeaHound]

What month? That makes a difference to me....
What type of diving has he done before? What would he like to see in particular?

If he is a very experienced diver, used to cold water and lower vis conditions, I would dive the Channel Islands in Calif. The diving there is amazing and diverse but not for everybody. It can be overwhelming for newbies. Water in 50s-60s in winter, upper 60s-70s in summer depending on site.
If he is a very experienced diver and wants to see sharks and wrecks, I would go dive in NC. Summer is best vis and conditions.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see wrecks, I would go to Florida.
If he is a newer diver and wants to see turtles and possibly mantas, I would go to Kona, Hawaii.

This makes a lot of sense.

He a fairly experienced diver from Pakistan. Besides the coast of Karachi and Balochistan, he has been diving in United Arab Emirates. He can come anytime since it would be more of a pleasure trek than a business trip so the time of the trip will depend upon our mutual choice of dive destination (not the other way around )

Diving in Pakistan is strong current low viz. 40 feet on a good day. I was thinking I should take him somewhere where there will be close to a 100 ft viz

 

[robint]

This makes a lot of sense.

He a fairly experienced diver from Pakistan. Besides the coast of Karachi and Balochistan, he has been diving in United Arab Emirates. He can come anytime since it would be more of a pleasure trek than a business trip so the time of the trip will depend upon our mutual choice of dive destination (not the other way around )

Diving in Pakistan is strong current low viz. 40 feet on a good day. I was thinking I should take him somewhere where there will be close to a 100 ft viz

If he is coming in summer months, I would think about Calif or NC. Both of those would let him dive in completely different environments than what he is used to diving.

NC in June-Aug - dive the WWII wrecks and see sand tiger sharks!

Calif in Aug-Sept: Stay on Catalina for a week, shore and boat dive each day, then go over to mainland and get on one of the liveaboard boats and do a multi-day trip to places like Santa Barbara island to dive with sea lions.

Florida is also a good choice as long as you wouldn't be spending the whole time in one area, Keys would get boring as well as the coastal SE area for more than a week or two. Maybe a week in Keys diving all the wrecks, then a week in West Palm Beach/Boynton area drift diving the reefs. Another week in Boca/FLL area diving those deep wrecks. There is also the liveaboard out of Key Largo that does the Dry Tortugas trips which he might enjoy - 4 dives a day in clear water with lots of fish!
http://www.spreeexpeditions.com/Default.asp

Just a thought.

 

[SeaHound]

I am personally very interested in diving Catalina so I wanted to know ...

Isn't winter a better time to dive the Cataline Kelp forests? I heard the viz is so much better. No? If that is the case, what kind of exposure protection would we be needing? I am not dry suit certified.

Thanks for all the information. This is all very helpful.

 

[robint]

I am personally very interested in diving Catalina so I wanted to know ...

Isn't winter a better time to dive the Cataline Kelp forests? I heard the viz is so much better. No? If that is the case, what kind of exposure protection would we be needing? I am not dry suit certified.

Thanks for all the information. This is all very helpful.

since I haven't been out in winter, I can only go by what people have told me and what I have seen in reports - worst time to go is april-june as there is usually a plankton bloom and green water with 10' vis some days. Winters, Nov-March have cold water, like 50s and low 60s, so you would definitely need 7mm wetsuits with hoods and gloves, hooded vest too if you can get one. But the good thing about that time of year is that the vis is great usually. Catalina isn't cheap but it isn't too bad in winter and in middle of week, but then the boats probably aren't running during week. If you go to Catalina, be sure to do at least a day or two of boat dives. You can do those from Long Beach boats on day or overnight trips if you don't want to stay at hotel on Catalina.
Catalina Scuba Luv: Scuba Dive, Snorkel, Snuba Dive Catalina Island California
Catalina Island Scuba Diving and Snorkeling from Catalina Divers Supply on Catalina Island in Avalon CA
Both of these dive ops are in Avalon, the main city on Catalina, and they have dive/hotel packages.
The California Forum here on SB has lots of good info, too. I am sure if you decide to dive out there you will be able to meet up with several regulars. We have met quite a few divers in Calif thru SB.

If you decide to do the boat thing out of Long Beach:
Dive California Scuba Live a Board Dive Boat
Bottom Scratcher Charter Dive Boat - Scuba Diving Southern California
California Liveaboard Scuba Diving - Dive Boat Sand Dollar

If you decide to try a boat out of Ventura or Santa Barbara:
Truth Aquatics - Your Gateway to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands
Peace Dive Boat
Diving Scuba Vacation, Channel Islands, California

You can't go wrong with any of these.

robin

 

[SeaHound]

Thanks so much for such detailed information Robint. This pretty much nails one trip for me. I am convinced that if it was ONE dive that would define USA it should be Catalina. Wrecks, reef and wild life can be found anywhere in the world but I do not know of any other country where one can find an underwater kelp forest

Thanks once again for your help.