Yo Cal - So Cal... Lets Dive Again! (Sat 3/13)

[Arnaud]

But 85 topside... Who cares about the water temp? It's always cold here.

 

[pasley]

Just a real stupid question from the Midwest - what is the water temperature right now? (I might get to visit in about a month and am wondering if it is worth packing the gear)

A. It is always worth packing the gear!
B. Our water flow is principally from the Alaska region and so we are not as warm a water as the east coast. Based on my limited experience of diving since June of 2001 here is what you should expect. Sunday it was 56F (Suunto degrees) or so now. Checking my dive log I see the following: low of 52 recorded by my computer in March of 2003 and a high of 70 recorded by my dive computer in July and August wtih most dives recording in at 54-58 winter water and summer 58-66 for most of the season.
C. Come on out and dive. Today it is in the higher 80s on shore.

 

[Falcon99]

Thanks for the wonderful replies! 56 is definately a little cold for me, though. I have a hyperstretch 5 mil that I stack over a 3 mil shorty, along with the usual compliment of gloves, hood, 7 mil boots, ect... This works well for the lakes around here, but I'm not really sure if it is OK for your area.

San Clemente island was too cold for me below 40' last August. I think my computer had it in the lower 60's at the thermocline. Above that it was upper 60's/lower 70's. That was OK. (my Atmos AI temp lags horribly - it could have been colder) Whatever the case, it FELT like I was diving under ice when we hit 40-45 fsw..

Regardless, the trip I took on The Great Escape was probably one of the most memorable experiences in my life. You Southern Cal divers have a great thing going!

I MIGHT get a week business trip in late March or April, to which I can use some of the hotel points and a vacation day for a weekend of diving.

Thanks again for the dataponts!

James

A. It is always worth packing the gear!
B. Our water flow is principally from the Alaska region and so we are not as warm a water as the east coast. Based on my limited experience of diving since June of 2001 here is what you should expect. Sunday it was 56F (Suunto degrees) or so now. Checking my dive log I see the following: low of 52 recorded by my computer in March of 2003 and a high of 70 recorded by my dive computer in July and August wtih most dives recording in at 54-58 winter water and summer 58-66 for most of the season.
C. Come on out and dive. Today it is in the higher 80s on shore.

 

[pasley]

Thanks for the wonderful replies! 56 is definately a little cold for me, though. I have a hyperstretch 5 mil that I stack over a 3 mil shorty, along with the usual compliment of gloves, hood, 7 mil boots, ect... ...

Perhaps renting a 7 mil suit (what we locals normally wear) would be in order, or a dry suit (take the orientation class before you come). Even our beach dives are great with our kelp forrest, rock reefs and more. Day or night Southern California is a dive vacation location. But unfortunatly we are on the cooler side.

That thrermal cline in summer can be a real bear. I remember last summer being hot in the water as the surface was 70 and my 7 mil suit was just too much for that, but after 20 feet you just hit a wall of refreshing 64 degree water and then the 7 mil was good. But dont let that stop you. If you already have the 7 mil boots, you just need to rent the right suit.

 

[Diver_Jan]

Thanks for the wonderful replies! 56 is definately a little cold for me, though. I have a hyperstretch 5 mil that I stack over a 3 mil shorty, along with the usual compliment of gloves, hood, 7 mil boots, ect... This works well for the lakes around here, but I'm not really sure if it is OK for your area.

San Clemente island was too cold for me below 40' last August. I think my computer had it in the lower 60's at the thermocline. Above that it was upper 60's/lower 70's. That was OK. (my Atmos AI temp lags horribly - it could have been colder) Whatever the case, it FELT like I was diving under ice when we hit 40-45 fsw..

Regardless, the trip I took on The Great Escape was probably one of the most memorable experiences in my life. You Southern Cal divers have a great thing going!

I MIGHT get a week business trip in late March or April, to which I can use some of the hotel points and a vacation day for a weekend of diving.

Thanks again for the dataponts!

James

Hi James,

Don't know if the water would be too cold for you, but I would suggest for you and your wife to go over and stay at Catalina Island. I stayed at the Hermosa Hotel diving the Avalon Bay Clean Up for $55 for 2 nights!!! It's no thrills, bathroom and shower are shared, but it's very clean and reasonable. Quiet too. Diving Casino Point has some of the neatest things to see. Every time I dive there, I spot something new and different. There are a few wrecks, dive platform, a new sailboat, walls, and kelp (different varieties).

Hope you have fun!

BTE, the Great Escape is my fav boat, and San Clemente Island is my fav Island. We might have been on the same boat and didn't even know it!!! LOL I will be with them again this coming Saturday! Grins..........

 

[drbill]

I guess I returned too late. Just got in yesterday (3/15) from Belize, Honduras and Florida. Staying at dive buddy Danielle's house to catch up with her before returning to Catalina. Sorry to have missed most of the SoCal winter. Not sorry to have been diving in 80 degree water the past eight weeks.

Look forward to seeing some of you at the Dive Park. I should be there this weekend.

Dr. Bill

 

[OCdiving Deb]

You were missed all this time! Will you be doing any dives while you're on this side of the channel? The water is a balmy 57 degrees! Quite nice, actually.

 

[Mo2vation]

Sorry to have missed most of the SoCal winter. Not sorry to have been diving in 80 degree water the past eight weeks.

Dr. Bill

I finally started shooting underwater - and I'm discovering all kinds of stuff I used to just swim by.

So much stuff I can't ID. Yor site has helped a lot - but I still have so many questions for you! As soon as I get back into town (away for the next week or so on Biz) I'll drop you a line.

Welcome back DrB!

K

 

[drbill]

57 degrees? Not bad although after two months of 80 degrees it may amount to culture (or is it climate) shock when I go in this weekend. Hopefully I can still fit into my 7mm after all the great food on the ship!

Dr. Bill

 

[Jambi]

Welcome back Drbill. Glad you made it back safe from your trip.



Jambi