Advice on diving in SoCal in late Feb.

[Gunpowderboy]

I'm going to be in SoCal in late feb and would love to log a couple of dives. Since I'm there on business my days are limited and would be available on either 17-19 or 24-26 of Feb.

Anyone have any good suggestions on where to go and where to rent equipment?

[vistasbelow]

Catalina Island is a must see for California diving. you will find the most consistant good conditions unless there is a strong NorthEast wind going on. there are dive shops with easy access, two dive boats and one of the best shore dives in the world.
for a little more info Catalina island scuba diving travel review (http://www.vistasbelow.com/travel/reviews/catalina.html)

You can easily dive there on a day trip but the island is worth an overnight trip for sure.

[Papa_Bear]

Avalon Harbor Clean up on Catalina! There will be 500 divers diving all weekend so you can join the fun and maybe meet Dr. Bill?

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board, gunpowerboy. As others stated, going over to Avalon, Catalina for the day will get you the biggest bang for your buck.... check out our "sticky" here:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/socal/231885-updated-great-catalina-island-info-sticky-thread.html for more information.
Since you wish to dive mid-week, I will not know how my schedual will be until a week before, but
if I can, I would love to sneak a break and dive the "park" with you on a Thursday or Friday.
Give us more info on yourself.... where are you from, how often do you dive, etc???

[Bubbletrubble]

Where in SoCal will you be?

[Codyjp]

Avalon Harbor Clean up on Catalina! There will be 500 divers diving all weekend so you can join the fun and maybe meet Dr. Bill?

If I were traveling and looking to experience the local diving I highly doubt I'd spend a bunch of money to help the locals clean up their trash.

[Rainer]

Totally agree.

I don't even get the point of paying to help clean up *my* local spot. My volunteer time isn't good enough without me also handing over a check? :shakehead:


If I were traveling and looking to experience the local diving I highly doubt I'd spend a bunch of money to help the locals clean up their trash.

[Codyjp]

Totally agree.

I don't even get the point of paying to help clean up *my* local spot. My volunteer time isn't good enough without me also handing over a check? :shakehead:

I've asked "why do we have to pay to clean up trash" question for 3 years. I didn't bother this year.

I pick up trash on every dive, and oddly enough it doesn't cost me anything when I do it.

[JMdiver]

Dive boats are another way to go. The Spectre out of Ventura goes out on Fridays.
Diving Scuba Vacation, Channel Islands, California (http://calboatdiving.com/)

John

[ScubaduoAdventures]

When you say southern cal you are encompassing hundreds of miles and quite a few dive options. What part of SoCal so we can offer the best advice?

[Leejnd]

Personally, if I was here on business and only had a day or two that I could sneak away, I'd book a trip or two on one of our local dive boats. Some of them are affiliated with dive shops and you can get your rentals right through them, and you are also assured of a great day of diving, and not quite as vulnerable to bad conditions (as you would be if you were going to try to get in some beach dives).

My personal fave is Peace out of Ventura Harbor (if you're going to be in this northern part of SoCal). Really comfortable boat, GREAT food (best dive boat food I've ever had!), you can rent your gear through them, onboard hot tub, nitrox. Peace just got out of drydock for a refurb, so it's probably looking pretty good right now! They have a couple of mid-week trips to Anacapa within the dates you mentioned. If your time is more limited, you could do the Raptor (also out of Ventura) - it's a more minimalist experience, but it's a faster boat so you get back to the dock way earlier.

I've been on several of the dive boats out of Long Beach/San Pedro, and they are also a good option. You can get info about all the SoCal dive boats here: California Dive Boats : The Official Page (http://californiadiveboats.com/)

[fuggler]

Personally, if I was here on business and only had a day or two that I could sneak away, I'd book a trip or two on one of our local dive boats. Some of them are affiliated with dive shops and you can get your rentals right through them, and you are also assured of a great day of diving, and not quite as vulnerable to bad conditions (as you would be if you were going to try to get in some beach dives).

My personal fave is Peace out of Ventura Harbor (if you're going to be in this northern part of SoCal). Really comfortable boat, GREAT food (best dive boat food I've ever had!), you can rent your gear through them, onboard hot tub, nitrox. Peace just got out of drydock for a refurb, so it's probably looking pretty good right now! They have a couple of mid-week trips to Anacapa within the dates you mentioned. If your time is more limited, you could do the Raptor (also out of Ventura) - it's a more minimalist experience, but it's a faster boat so you get back to the dock way earlier.

I've been on several of the dive boats out of Long Beach/San Pedro, and they are also a good option. You can get info about all the SoCal dive boats here: California Dive Boats : The Official Page (http://californiadiveboats.com/)

Does the Peace offer unlimited dives or does the charter decide?

[Bottom Snatcher]

fuggler, the charter generally decides. Usually the dive boat will move to different locations so you will only have time for one dive at each location. Sometimes if the site is good and they're running short on time you do two dives at one site. I always get my fill of diving on the Peace.

[fnfalman]

Does the Peace offer unlimited dives or does the charter decide?

On a single-day trip, there are usually about 3-4 dives depending on which Northern Channel Islands the boat goes to. Anacapa is the nearest to shore so if the boat were to go there, 4-dives a day is very typical. Usually the boat leaves the island so that it can get back to the dock between 5-6 PM.

On multi-days trips, you can easily squeeze out 6-7 dives (including night dives) a day, if you can hack it. Multi-days trips tend to visit the more advanced sites (deep, possible current), so you gotta be in pretty good shape to conk out more than 4-dives. Usually everybody would do 4-dives + night dive. Some of the hearty type will do 5-dives + twilight dive + night dive.

[Leejnd]

Does the Peace offer unlimited dives or does the charter decide?

I've never heard of a dive boat anywhere in the world that allows for unlimited dives on a day trip. They'd have to just drop anchor somewhere and leave the gate open the entire day and let divers come and go - and I've never seen a day-trip dive boat do that. Perhaps there are some liveaboards that do that? The downside, of course, would be that you'd have to do all your dives at the same spot, instead of moving from spot to spot for a specific number of dives, which is what every day-trip dive boat I've ever been on does.

Peace offers different day trips - some offer 3 dives, some 4. I believe that on their site they have a schedule of upcoming trips which lists the number of dives they'll do that day.

I did a lobster-hunting trip out to Santa Barbara Island in December and we did 4 dives. I've also done mid-week Anacapa trips on Peace that only offered 3 dives. Depends on the schedule, I guess.

[fuggler]

I've never heard of a dive boat anywhere in the world that allows for unlimited dives on a day trip. They'd have to just drop anchor somewhere and leave the gate open the entire day and let divers come and go - and I've never seen a day-trip dive boat do that. Perhaps there are some liveaboards that do that? The downside, of course, would be that you'd have to do all your dives at the same spot, instead of moving from spot to spot for a specific number of dives, which is what every day-trip dive boat I've ever been on does.

Peace offers different day trips - some offer 3 dives, some 4. I believe that on their site they have a schedule of upcoming trips which lists the number of dives they'll do that day.

I did a lobster-hunting trip out to Santa Barbara Island in December and we did 4 dives. I've also done mid-week Anacapa trips on Peace that only offered 3 dives. Depends on the schedule, I guess.

I was just curious because I've been on the Sanddollar boat to Catalina last year and it was pretty much "unlimited". They moved to different sites but there was no specific number of dives you're allowed to do. (I did 9 dives in 2 days the boyfriend did 11 dives.) I've been looking at the California dive boat schedules and I noticed that some boats/charters specify how many dives you can do. (Example: the horizon boat out of San Diego is going out to San Clemente for 2 days this month and on their site, it says "up to 8 dives" only.) I'm not sure if 8 dives in 2 days is a suggestion or a rule. Anyway, I booked a 3-day trip on the Vision this month. Hope I don't get too cold, otherwise the unlimited dive concern wouldn't matter.

[Leejnd]

Hope I don't get too cold, otherwise the unlimited dive concern wouldn't matter.

Yeah, that's definitely an issue! 4 dives in one day is usually max for me, before I start to feel chilled to the bone. I've done more dives in a day before, but only where it's warm...like bathwater warm. ;)

I'm sure you'll have a great time on Vision.

[Bubbletrubble]

I was just curious because I've been on the Sanddollar boat to Catalina last year and it was pretty much "unlimited". They moved to different sites but there was no specific number of dives you're allowed to do. (I did 9 dives in 2 days the boyfriend did 11 dives.) I've been looking at the California dive boat schedules and I noticed that some boats/charters specify how many dives you can do. (Example: the horizon boat out of San Diego is going out to San Clemente for 2 days this month and on their site, it says "up to 8 dives" only.) I'm not sure if 8 dives in 2 days is a suggestion or a rule. Anyway, I booked a 3-day trip on the Vision this month. Hope I don't get too cold, otherwise the unlimited dive concern wouldn't matter.
@fuggler: If I were you, I wouldn't get too hung up on "number" of dives, per se. The Horizon, like a lot of other boats I've been on, will give you gate times. The gate times specify when divers can enter the water. On my last trip on the Horizon from San Diego to San Clemente Island, we anchored at 3 different spots. At the first 2 sites, everyone did one dive. At the third site, the gate time was 2 hours long. My buddies and I decided to do one long leisurely dive for 85 minutes at the third site. Some wetsuit divers rushed around and did 2 very short dives. In this case, number of dives was at the divers' discretion.

In my experience, when the Horizon lists "up to X dives" I figure that I'll be doing X-1 dives because I don't like to rush around and do 30-40 minute dives.

If you want to maximize your bottom time/# of dives on a dive boat like the Horizon, I'd recommend investing in a drysuit.

On a side note, if you know that you will be doing a long dive (longer than one hour or so), you should extend the courtesy of letting the DM know about your dive plans before entering the water. We are always pretty clear about that since we like doing long dives. I can imagine that this would be very important for rebreather divers since their bottom times can be significantly longer than those for open circuit diving.

BTW, the Horizon is a very professional dive op. The captain and crew are always top-notch.

Have fun on the Vision...

[fnfalman]

@fuggler: If I were you, I wouldn't get too hung up on "number" of dives, per se. The Horizon, like a lot of other boats I've been on, will give you gate times. The gate times specify when divers can enter the water. On my last trip on the Horizon from San Diego to San Clemente Island, we anchored at 3 different spots. At the first 2 sites, everyone did one dive. At the third site, the gate time was 2 hours long. My buddies and I decided to do one long leisurely dive for 85 minutes at the third site. Some wetsuit divers rushed around and did 2 very short dives. In this case, number of dives was at the divers' discretion.

In my experience, when the Horizon lists "up to X dives" I figure that I'll be doing X-1 dives because I don't like to rush around and do 30-40 minute dives.

If you want to maximize your bottom time/# of dives on a dive boat like the Horizon, I'd recommend investing in a drysuit.

On a side note, if you know that you will be doing a long dive (longer than one hour or so), you should extend the courtesy of letting the DM know about your dive plans before entering the water. We are always pretty clear about that since we like doing long dives. I can imagine that this would be very important for rebreather divers since their bottom times can be significantly longer than those for open circuit diving.

BTW, the Horizon is a very professional dive op. The captain and crew are always top-notch.

Have fun on the Vision...

Yep. The boats will let you know what the anticipated dive length is. If you want longer bottom time (assuming that your exposure suit can handle the time period) then be the first one in and last one out.

Because of the cool water, most dives averaged around 40-minutes though there are those who would push the 1-hr+ mark. Just let the DM know so that they're not overly worried about you if everybody comes up and you still haven't.

Since that the galley serves yummy snacks in between dives, and if you're the last one in, there may not be anything left for you. SoCal divers are chow hounds.:D

[Empty V]

On multi-days trips, you can easily squeeze out 6-7 dives (including night dives) a day, if you can hack it.

I've never seen anyone do 7 dives on any trip. You have to remember that the crew does not get paid extra for night dives and their usual day is tending to divers for 4 dives. So it's somewhat rude to ask them to perform the extra work for 3 more dives. The night dive is expected and if you go on it then you should be adding a little extra into the tip jar along with tipping for 2 days not just one.


Since that the galley serves yummy snacks in between dives, and if you're the last one in, there may not be anything left for you. SoCal divers are chow hounds.:D

I'm not sure what boats your going on but I've never been on one thats run out of snacks/food.

Billy

[Rainer]

Yeah, this suggestion that you're "easily" going to squeeze in seven dives per full day on these charters is rather ridiculous. I think six is pushing it, and five is really a practical daily maximum.

[fnfalman]

I've never seen anyone do 7 dives on any trip. You have to remember that the crew does not get paid extra for night dives and their usual day is tending to divers for 4 dives. So it's somewhat rude to ask them to perform the extra work for 3 more dives. The night dive is expected and if you go on it then you should be adding a little extra into the tip jar along with tipping for 2 days not just one.



Just because you've never done it or never seen it done, that doesn't mean it hadn't happened. I'm sorry, but there are a lot of SoCal diving that doesn't include you.

You still sore about the Raptor discussion from last year? Is that why you kept going out of your way to take pot shot at me? Let it go, dude. It was just an internet discussion.


I'm not sure what boats your going on but I've never been on one thats run out of snacks/food.

Billy


The smiley tends to denote a comment made in jest. Surely somebody with as much internet forum experience as you are would know the basic meanings behind the more mundane emoticons. Like this one :shakehead:

[fnfalman]

Yeah, this suggestion that you're "easily" going to squeeze in seven dives per full day on these charters is rather ridiculous. I think six is pushing it, and five is really a practical daily maximum.

On multi-days trips, the Peace doesn't seem to have a problem with letting divers do 6 or 7 dives. Of course that's why the Peace is the superior boat and it tends to charge more for charter fee AND their tip jars tend to be overflowing by the end of the trip.

[Rainer]

I've been on the Peace, numerous times. These trips are usually four day dives and a single night dive (5 max / day). I don't tend to do shorter dives like you, however, so that might be the difference.

[fnfalman]

I've been on the Peace, numerous times. These trips are usually four day dives and a single night dive (5 max / day). I don't tend to do shorter dives like you, however, so that might be the difference.

May very well be. :dontknow:

[liuk3]

You guys need to start thinking outside of the box. It's very easy to get in a huge number of dives if all you're interested in quantity. Just make your dives last only about 10-20 minutes and only go down to about 25 ft. I bet I could easily get 10 dives in a day that way. LOL.

More seriously, though, I think that socal boats generally are willing to give 3-4 dives in a day with up to 60 minute run time per dive. I usually like to be the first one off the boat when the gates open and the second to last person back on the boat. This seems to maximize run time for me. I hate to be the last person back on the boat because I think that it's inconsiderate to hold everyone else up on the boat.

I'm a huge fan of the Peace as well. I love the crew, and it'll always have a special place for me as it was my first time on a dive boat in California. They were absolutely great when I was just learning how to dive. I always felt like the crew really looked out for me then. I've also seen them handle tough situations extremely professionally and even made my non-diving father enjoy the trip when he came along just for a ride. Other boats I've had a great experience on were the Sundiver and the Spectre. For more advanced dives, I also love the Seabass.

[Empty V]

Just because you've never done it or never seen it done, that doesn't mean it hadn't happened. I'm sorry, but there are a lot of SoCal diving that doesn't include you.

You still sore about the Raptor discussion from last year? Is that why you kept going out of your way to take pot shot at me? Let it go, dude. It was just an internet discussion.


Sorry to burst your bubble Skippy but you posted something ridiculous and I responded. When did I say it's never been done? Thank you for pointing out that I'm not at every single dive that every single diver has ever gone on or will go on. My quest for knowledge has now come to an end. :rofl3:


The smiley tends to denote a comment made in jest. Surely somebody with as much internet forum experience as you are would know the basic meanings behind the more mundane emoticons. Like this one :shakehead:

Just so I understand, when someone puts a smiley at the end of their post it is supposed to be received as the entire post is sarcastic?

Billy

[fnfalman]

Sorry to burst your bubble Skippy but you posted something ridiculous and I responded. When did I say it's never been done? Thank you for pointing out that I'm not at every single dive that every single diver has ever gone on or will go on. My quest for knowledge has now come to an end. :rofl3:



When I posted something ridiculous? Once again, let me say it verrrryyyyy slowllllly. Just because YOU haven't done it, or have seen it been done, it doesn't mean that it hadn't been done.

If you ever were to have taken a multi-day trip on the Peace boat with the dive shop called Ocean Adventures in Santa Monica/Venice, then you would know that those people are a hardy bunch of divers. 6-dives on the first day, 4-dives on the second day was a matter of course.


Just so I understand, when someone puts a smiley at the end of their post it is supposed to be received as the entire post is sarcastic?

Billy
:D;):shakehead::eyebrow::)

[fnfalman]

You guys need to start thinking outside of the box. It's very easy to get in a huge number of dives if all you're interested in quantity. Just make your dives last only about 10-20 minutes and only go down to about 25 ft. I bet I could easily get 10 dives in a day that way. LOL. .

Or you can bring a rebreather unit, don one of them fancy dandy drysuit with the fancy dandy wild weasel underwear then do a five-hours dive and proclaim that you're one bad mofo who only does one long dive a day.:cool2:

[Empty V]

When I posted something ridiculous? Once again, let me say it verrrryyyyy slowllllly. Just because YOU haven't done it, or have seen it been done, it doesn't mean that it hadn't been done.

If you ever were to have taken a multi-day trip on the Peace boat with the dive shop called Ocean Adventures in Santa Monica/Venice, then you would know that those people are a hardy bunch of divers. 6-dives on the first day, 4-dives on the second day was a matter of course.


:D;):shakehead::eyebrow::)

It doesn't mater how "slowly" you "say" something or how many extra consonants you type, telling the OP that you can easily do 6-7 dives in one day is ridiculous. Again, I never said it hasn't been done, I said it's not normal for pretty much anyone. Obviously you're not a normal diver. "Go deep or go home" right? Almost everyone that's posted after you also disagrees that 6-7 dives is not what the average diver will do. There's isn't enough time for anyone to do 7 full length normal dives safely in one day. A normal dive being 45-60min duration and average depth around 50fsw. Usually when you're on a multi-day trip (especially to the outer islands) your dives are deeper. Regardless the OP hasn't followed up and has probably forgotten about this thread. But I'm sure that won't stop you from giving more useless advice.

Billy

[Leejnd]

Ohmygod, seriously? When did this pissing match between you two start? You really should go back and read these last few posts - they just look rediculous to those of us who aren't involved in whatever hatefest is going on between you.

I've dived with both of you, and like you both, and hate to see what should have been a helpful thread turn into this silly bickering over, really, nothing.

Billy, I don't think that fnfalman gave any "useless" advice. He made a trivial comment that snacks might run out if you don't get to 'em quickly...that's all. And to tell you the truth, I actually HAVE seen that happen! Not on Peace, mind you... ;)...but I've seen it on Raptor. Charlie and I got out of the water near to last once, and the snacks were almost gone. Fortunately I'd snagged a bunch of scallops, and somebody happened to have soy sauce and wasabi - voila, sushi on board!

Anyway, boys...back AWAY from the computer, go stand in the corner for a little while, or maybe have a beer or something. I hope I run into you guys on a boat sometime soon - let's go for a dive! (Although, maybe it better be two different boats, if there's that much bad blood between y'all...)

[fnfalman]

It doesn't mater how "slowly" you "say" something or how many extra consonants you type, telling the OP that you can easily do 6-7 dives in one day is ridiculous. Again, I never said it hasn't been done, I said it's not normal for pretty much anyone. Obviously you're not a normal diver. "Go deep or go home" right? Almost everyone that's posted after you also disagrees that 6-7 dives is not what the average diver will do. There's isn't enough time for anyone to do 7 full length normal dives safely in one day. A normal dive being 45-60min duration and average depth around 50fsw. Usually when you're on a multi-day trip (especially to the outer islands) your dives are deeper. Regardless the OP hasn't followed up and has probably forgotten about this thread. But I'm sure that won't stop you from giving more useless advice.

Billy

You're right. I'm wrong.

I apologize to the OP and other thread posters for my childish bickering.

[fnfalman]

xxxxxxxxxxxxx.

[fnfalman]

xxxxxxxxxx

[DESERT EEL]

I would like to thank both of you for entertaining me during my surface interval. Time to dive !!!!

[RockPro]

Wow! That was quite the exploding can of worms. Poor guy that started the thread with a question never got to reply.. and probably scared off faster than a ray under a decending SCUBA class.

If you are in the LA / OC area and just want to walk off the beach on a weekday morning during your available dates there.. let me know. I'm up for it most mornings with a day's notice. I can usually get a Laguna dive in first thing in the morning and make it into work without an issue. Great way to start the day.

[Gunpowderboy]

Wow I did not expect to open up a can of worms when starting this thread. Having said that, thanks for all the great tips!

I've decided to go to Catalina most likely on the 19th or 20th. and also
do one day of diving in San Diego on the 24th.

I would love to do a nice wreck dice in the San Diego area, but most of them seem to be way too deep or to technical for my experience level. Must be suitable for AOW with some wreck experience. Anyone have any suggestions.

[Bubbletrubble]

I would love to do a nice wreck dice in the San Diego area, but most of them seem to be way too deep or to technical for my experience level. Must be suitable for AOW with some wreck experience. Anyone have any suggestions.
I don't think you ever mentioned what your wreck experience is. Perhaps if you filled out your profile info, we could be of more help.

The Yukon (sandy bottom at 110 fsw) is a nice wreck to check out in San Diego's Wreck Alley. Many times the dive boat will do the Ruby E as Dive #2 following a Yukon dive.

Personally, I think there's far more to see in the Point Loma Kelp beds...but I like kelp and the rocky formations in the area. One of my favorite dives is Train Wheels. Interesting structure there.

[JMdiver]

My favorite site is 7 fathoms Reef it has great structure.

John

[Leejnd]

John, isn't 7 Fathoms Reef on the backside of Anacapa? I could swear I was there on either Peace or Raptor recently...it sounds familiar...

[Bubbletrubble]

John, isn't 7 Fathoms Reef on the backside of Anacapa? I could swear I was there on either Peace or Raptor recently...it sounds familiar...
@Leejnd: I think John is talking about the 7 Fathoms site located in the Point Loma Kelp beds. The Lois Ann website gives a brief description (http://www.loisann.com/dive_sites.html) of the site.

You're correct, though, there is a 7 Fathom Reef off of Anacapa Island. :D

[JMdiver]

I was talking about the one in SD & I've never heard of the one at Anacapa. Next time I'm on the Spectre I'll have to ask Capt. Ted about that. Also it's only boat accessible.

John

[fnfalman]

You're correct, though, there is a 7 Fathom Reef off of Anacapa Island. :D

That's a decent dive spot. I wasn't overwhelmed with it, but it's a decent dive spot.

[Empty V]

I was talking about the one in SD & I've never heard of the one at Anacapa. Next time I'm on the Spectre I'll have to ask Capt. Ted about that. Also it's only boat accessible.

John

Does the Spectre go to spots as deep as 7 fathoms? :rofl3:

Billy

[ScubaSteve2000]

Wow I did not expect to open up a can of worms when starting this thread. Having said that, thanks for all the great tips!

I've decided to go to Catalina most likely on the 19th or 20th. and also
do one day of diving in San Diego on the 24th.

I would love to do a nice wreck dice in the San Diego area, but most of them seem to be way too deep or to technical for my experience level. Must be suitable for AOW with some wreck experience. Anyone have any suggestions.

We'll be at Catalina on Saturday... along with a few hundred of my closest dive buddys.

Steve.

[Gunpowderboy]

Hey Guys and Girls,

I wanted to thank you all for giving me some good tips. I ended up doing four dives on my trip. Two in Catalina dive park and two at Lajolla shore (the cove was unfortunatly closed due to bad surface conditions).

I can reccomend the OEX shop in Lajolla who took great care of me since I didnät have a dive budy. In Catalina I hooked up with some people who were getting their airfills whn I rented my equipment. Gotta love divers, very friendly and always up to help out a fellow lonely diver.

[fnfalman]

Glad to see you had the chance to make the dives and enjoyed the experience.