Catalina Island diving questions in late Aug/09

[scottfiji]

>> Dive boat in morning, then tour the island with my wife.

the dive park is great, if you are already on catalina, I think diving the dive park will be just as good as going on a boat.

Anacapa is great too, if they go to cathedral cove you will see the sea lions.

have fun, the diving is great in august.

Scott

 

[Torontonian]

..Go to Catalina early Friday morning and bang out two dives. That way you should finish by maybe 10 AM and spend the rest of the day goofing off then return to mainland on the 5 PM or 6 PM Catalina Express boat.

The wife can snorkel during both trips. Put her in a 7-mm suit and she will float like a cork. Casino Point is also a small area so you don't have to worry about getting lost.

Sounds good. Would it be easy to find dive buddies on Fri. mornings in late Aug.? And I think we'll probably catch the last ferry back to Long Beach.

Good to know Casino Point is a small enough area that we won't get lost. That's funny, wife floating like a cork. She's more chubby than I am, so she should already float more.

Well, she (and I) have 3mm long wetsuit. Since it'll be late Aug., will she be ok in the 3mm, or do we really have to rent her a 7mm?

the dive park is great, if you are already on catalina, I think diving the dive park will be just as good as going on a boat.

Anacapa is great too, if they go to cathedral cove you will see the sea lions.
Scott

Oh, so Casino Point should be just as good as going on boat? I can save a little then.

I'll also suggest to the BIL/SIL/MIL to fly to California a few days early (before our cruise to Mexican Riviera), so they also join to snorkel with sea lions, and also to Catalina Island.

 

[kelpmermaid]

3 mil should be fine on the surface at that time of year.

 

[ligersandtions]

I would imagine a 3mm will be fine for her on the surface, but it is unlikely that a 3mm will be fine for you....unless you're one of those people who just never gets cold (but even at that, most socal divers who dive wet dive with a 7mm year round).

On a Friday morning in August, you may be able to find dive buddies....much better chance finding dive buddies on a Friday than any other week day, I would guess. But I'm sure very few people know what their schedule will be like in August, so you'll probably have to try to make plans much closer to the time you will be here.

IMO, diving Casino Point is at least as good as diving from a boat. You get to dive on your own schedule, there's plenty to see, and it will save you a little bit.

 

[Torontonian]

3 mil should be fine on the surface at that time of year.

Ah, that's good. She can use her own then. That was so funny, from fnfalman to say she'll float like a cork.

I would imagine a 3mm will be fine for her on the surface, but it is unlikely that a 3mm will be fine for you....unless you're one of those people who just never gets cold (but even at that, most socal divers who dive wet dive with a 7mm year round).

On a Friday morning in August, you may be able to find dive buddies....much better chance finding dive buddies on a Friday than any other week day, I would guess. But I'm sure very few people know what their schedule will be like in August, so you'll probably have to try to make plans much closer to the time you will be here.

IMO, diving Casino Point is at least as good as diving from a boat. You get to dive on your own schedule, there's plenty to see, and it will save you a little bit.

I do get cold. Even though I live in Canada for 34 years (immigrated from Taiwan when I was a youth), I still don't like the cold. So sounds like I need to rent the 7mm.

Would a knife be a necessity, in case of getting tangled in the kelp?

 

[rakkis]

Keep in mind that a lot of the cruises stop at catalina for a few hrs either on their way out or on their way back. so i would check your boat's itinerary before planning a separate catalina stop

 

[Teamcasa]

Ah, that's good. She can use her own then. That was so funny, from fnfalman to say she'll float like a cork.

I do get cold. Even though I live in Canada for 34 years (immigrated from Taiwan when I was a youth), I still don't like the cold. So sounds like I need to rent the 7mm.

Would a knife be a necessity, in case of getting tangled in the kelp?

Kelp breaks off very easy. So, as long as your only diving in the park, I would not worry about it.

 

[drbill]

Diving the park is a reasonable option for a day trip if you bring your gear. The cross channel fare is about $70 RT from Long Beach and the schedule would be great that time of year. As you have discovered, hotels here can be pricey.

As suggested by others, if there are dive boats going out on day trips the day you choose, that can be pretty reasonable as well. You avoid the cost of the cross-channel boat and get a chance to dive three (usually) different locations on the island.

 

[ligersandtions]

I do get cold. Even though I live in Canada for 34 years (immigrated from Taiwan when I was a youth), I still don't like the cold. So sounds like I need to rent the 7mm.

Would a knife be a necessity, in case of getting tangled in the kelp?

I would definitely recommend renting a 7mm in that case....unless, of course, you have a drysuit and want to lug it down. But, in August, I would imagine you should be able to warm up nicely on the surface intervals, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

While kelp does break easily if you get tangled up in it, I do carry a knife, as I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. FWIW, I've never needed to use my knife underwater.