CA Bound - Holiday, Mid-week Advice

[Rick Inman]

Looks like Priscilla & I will be spending the week between Christmas & New Years with my parents in S. CA.

I love my parents, but you can only spend so much time playing pinochle, so a couple days of diving is definitely in order.

I'd really like to dive Catalina (it's been 25 years!). Looks like no charters run during the week days that week, but I ran into a package I might be able to afford on our limited budget. It includes round trip to and from Catalina, one night hotel, one boat dive (if the boat runs), one day of tanks for Casino Point... I don't know what the "weekday" rate is, or the cost to add one non-diver, so we'll see if it's do-able.

Bottom line is, I've got two days and I'm jones-ing for some diving back into the good old days where I was raised diving Catalina Island. Mid-week during the holidays isn't the best time, though.

Suggestions?

 

[wetrat]

Hey Rick,

Catalina Divers Supply offers a package like the one you mentioned, although pricing depends on what hotel you pick. Their boat, Scuba Cat, runs daily with four paid divers (2 tanks $90) and I would be willing to pick up two, maybe even three, spots. My wife Nancy might join us for a dive or two and I have two teenage sons that make good alternate air sources. CDS has a rate for nondivers too - $50. Let me know your thoughts - here's the link for CDS:

http://www.catalinadiverssupply.com/Dive_Packages/dive_packages.htm

Or, if you need more paid boat diver for the package you mentioned let me know!

John

 

[dlndavid]

Have you talked to DrBill?

 

[wetrat]

Have you talked to DrBill?

Good idea! He dives every day on Catalina. But I'm not jealous or anything....

DR. BILL :bigun2:

 

[Robert Phillips]

Save some money and come dive Laguna Beach. Much less hassle and the conditions have been great here. We don't have a lot of kelp (read: any) but we have some really interesting sites to dive. Heck, we can even do some basic-5 drills while we're there!

 

[riguerin]

Rick,

Personally, I think mid-week is the best time to go to Avalon. It's not nearly as crowded as the weekends. But it does present a couple minor problems 1.) The air fill trailer at Casino Point is not open .... you'll need to shuttle your tanks back and forth from town. Both CDS and SCUBA Luv have push carts for rent ($10/day) ... or you can just pay for a taxi ride (about $10 each way) 2.) Boat trips may operate less frequent. Both operators usually require at least 4 divers in order to schedule a boat trip ... can be tough off season / mid week.

If you're on a tight budget. You might want to just stick with shore diving at the point ... there's plenty to see over the course a couple days. Since you'll be there mid week, you won't be dealing with the group of students. Check out my gallery ... I just uploaded some UW park pics from our trip last week.

Assuming you only need tanks and weight, it will basically cost you $10/day for a tank + $5 day for weight + $5 per airfill + transportation to/from point (taxi or push cart).

You can get some pretty good deals on mid-week hotel/tour/transportation packages at the Pavilion Lodge (which CDS and SCUBA Luv both use). Here's a link

http://irmmain.scico.com/irm/RoomType1.asp#Start1

If your not interested in some of the tours, you can book the Hotel room only ... they give AAA discounts. And then book your own mainland transportation on Catalina Express: http://www.catalinaexpress.com/index.html

Good luck ! Keep us posted on what you decide.

 

[Robert Phillips]

I forgot to mention that I have 2 PST lp95's that are always full of 32% and plenty of spare lead. Just bring you and the rest of your gear. I'm off work in dec 21-25 and 28th,29th and the 31st.

 

[riguerin]

I forgot to mention that I have 2 PST lp95's that are always full of 32% and plenty of spare lead. Just bring you and the rest of your gear. I'm off work in dec 21-25 and 28th,29th and the 31st.

There you go ... doesn't get an easier on the wallet than that :05:

 

[wetrat]

I'm off work in dec 21-25 and 28th,29th and the 31st.

Hey Robert, PM me if you need a dive buddy those days and I'll most likely be able to join ya! Rick (Inman) and/or Rick (riguerin), are you in?

 

[WADiverBob]

Looks like Priscilla & I will be spending the week between Christmas & New Years with my parents in S. CA.

Rick...

My daughter & me go to Calif. on Dec. 21 to Jan. 2. I like to diving but stay with my parents in Northern CA. Have a good time dive in S. Calif.