San Diego bound

[Miller]

I will be in San Diego in Dec for two weeks. It looks like I will have a free day to dive. I don’t want to carry all my gear. So I plan to rent. Any body have a take on Dive Connections Incorporated? It’s close to were I will be staying. This will be my first Ocean dive in two years. I know the water will be cold. But then the lake I dive in runs in the high 60’s. Then there sea sickness.

Thanks in advance.

 

[wetrat]

Hey Miller,

If I were you, I would take a DCI boat or the Dive Bliss out to the Coronado Islands:

http://www.gottadive.com/

http://www.divebliss.com/

The Coronados are a little more suited than the local wreck sites for a guy who hasn't been diving in the ocean for awhile. The local wrecks lie in about 85 to 95 fsw, below the thermocline. Sites at the Coronados tend to be shallower with a little better visibility. Wherever you go, be prepared for water temps at depth between 55 and 60F - full 7 mm wetsuit with gloves, hood and booties (or a dry suit if you are so lucky).

Other possibilities might be to take either of the above operators to the Point Loma Kelp Beds or the NOA tower, a sunken research tower that lies in about 60 fsw. Or do a shore dive:

http://www.divebums.com/main.html

The seasick thing I can't help you with!

 

[HilaryRN71]

I will be in San Diego in Dec for two weeks. It looks like I will have a free day to dive. I don’t want to carry all my gear. So I plan to rent. Any body have a take on Dive Connections Incorporated? It’s close to were I will be staying. This will be my first Ocean dive in two years. I know the water will be cold. But then the lake I dive in runs in the high 60’s. Then there sea sickness.

Thanks in advance.

I took DiveBliss out to Coronados, and I agree with wetrat. Perfect place for a "first ocean dive in awhile" dive experience. It's nice, some life, and has the benefit of usually being a couple of degrees warmer than the inland waters. You will have fun!

 

[Miller]

Thanks for the reply. I look at Divebliss and the OEX Dive shop that use them. That looks like the way I will go. When I said open ocean. Some people may not think Key Largo is open ocean. I guess this will be a new experience.
Thanks for the Divebums link. If this goes okay. I will plan for a week next year. My wife and I spent a week in La Jolla back in 1995. But I wasn’t into diving then. My wife has always wanted to go back.. Is there any time of year better then others?

 

[dpbishop]

Summer usually has better visability than winter. If you are going to dive Catalina I suggest early September, after Labor Day, as the crowds really thin out, the viz is still good, and Air temps are 70 -80. La Jolla Cove is a great shore dive as it is a game preserve, and La Jolla Canyon usually gets good viz if you drop down far enough. The Yukon is a great site to experiment with wreck diving, It takes about two tanks just to cover the outside.

 

[pasley]

I... I know the water will be cold. But then the lake I dive in runs in the high 60’s. Then there sea sickness.

Thanks in advance.

Around these parts that is about 10 degrees warmer than we generally see. Water temp will be 52-58 (54-56 is normal) with a rare day seeing 62F