Avalon diving inquiry

[Algae]

I have a few friends heading to Catalina for a day trip and I was going to try to sneak in some diving while they are taking a ecotour (I'd rather be under the water than on top of it). I wanted to rent tanks/weight and just tote the rest of my gear on the boat.

My question is, are there places to safely store your gear while not dive so I can spend time with my friends without having to drag my gear everywhere? Also where would be the best place to shore dive off Avalon. My hubby and I are advanced divers and are very comfortable in surge, waves etc..

Thanks,

Algae

 

[flyhigh123]

there are some large lockers there... u may be able to fit ur BC in one and wetsuite in another... these are by casino point

 

[Brian Gilpin]

There are lockers right at the ferry terminal. Dive Casino Point which is a short walk. Have fun.

 

[Algae]

Thanks for the info. I do recall the lockers near the ferry but casino point sounds more convenient. Are they large enough to fit fins or would you advise renting them. Is the best place to rent tanks/weight at the pier?

Thanks again.

Algae

 

[onbelaydave]

Plenty of non-divegear lockers at "The Landings". Tanks and weights are available at the "Green Pier". I'd suggest renting one or 2, (if you're planning on more than 1 dive) of their wheelbarrow carts ($10 ea.) to lug all of your gear the "short" distance to Casino Pt.

Lockers again available at the park, $ 0.75 a lock. Big enough for anything you can stuff in, fins, 3-4 tanks, your whole bag,etc. Handrail assisted, concrete steps lead into the water. Not much harder than a giant stride from a diveboat, and as much, if not more, to see in the park than on a boatdive. (The critters aren't dumb, they're open season anywhere else on the Island). I've done a 3-4 day "destination" trip to Avalon/ Casino Point the past 2 years instead of a "tropical" trip just to escape the monotony of another coral reef that looks the same no matter where you go in the Caribbean.

 

[wetrat]

My 2 cents: I always take a baggie of quarters when I go - for the lockers and the showers.

 

[drbill]

The baggage service at the boat terminal will hold onto your gear until your boat departs. They will even pick it up at Casino Point after your dives. Of course there is a charge for this service. Since I've never used it, I'm not sure what it is, but you can stop by when your boat arrives and find out.

 

[socaldiver]

The baggage service at the Landing is $8 for a round trip. Tell them when you want the bags delivered to the Point and when you want the gear picked up from the Point. They will store it for you until you are ready to leave the island.

 

[mccabejc]

I wouldn't rely on there being empty lockers by the Casino. There's only a few working ones, and unless you get there real early, and find one that's not broken, you're better off using lockers near the ferry terminal, or storing with Catalina Baggage.

By the way, I need to talk to Dr. Bill about seeing if we can get someone to move a bunch of lockers from the ferry terminal to the Casino. Perhaps late at night when we're all over there in a few weeks. After the bars close, the town is quiet, a bunch of us jack up a line of lockers and roll it over to the Casino. Nobody will know....

 

[drbill]

Jim- Knowing some of our local police force it would be the one "crime" that they would catch us in the act of commiting! I had to report our local detective allowing his wife to drive the wrong way down a one way street. My guess is both were drunk. Great example for the community.