Vacationing in the LA and want to dive

I will be out in the LA area for a wedding and I will have some extra time February 28th. I was wondering if someone could point me to reputable dive shop or charter operator that I could set a dive up with. Or even better would be someone from here. I would be coming from Buffalo, NY and would like to see what the Pacific Ocean has to offer. Thanks for the help.

Taking the Catalina Express to Catalina Island and diving at Casino Point is easy and gives a great kelp dive experience. Round Trip cost is $72.50

The 28th of February is Thursday. I don't think that the dive boats would run on Thursday so the best bet would be going to Catalina Island and dive at Casino Point dive park as mentioned above.

Round trip ferry cost is $72.50 but by the time you add in equipment rental and tank fills (I presume that you would dive more than once), mainland parking/taxi/porter service/food/drink, etc., it'd be more around $150/person.

As you have heard, the dive boats here run on Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes on Friday and Wednesday. That leaves you the following choices in order of my recommendation:
1. Private charter - Sundiver II from sundiver.net small boat that accomadates up to 6 divers. You could do a private charter, try to find some local divers on the SoCal sub-forum here willing to play hooky and go diving on a Thursday. Catalina is the best site to go to. Catalina nomral visibility is 30+ feet.
2. Catalina Express to Avalon, Catalina Island, CA and then dive the dive park at Casino Point. Cost is $72 for the ferry, rental gear from the dive shop on the island (call in advance so they will be open) Dive Catailina Dive Shop is right there where you get off the ferry at. Total cost is a little more by the time you factor in food and rentals etc than thaking a dive boat from the mainland.
3. Beach dive in Laguna Beach, Malibu, Palos Verde area. The visibility will be about 10-15 feet (normal) or on a great day 20-30 feet and you will have waves to deal with. I could go diving on a Thursday.

Yep...Catalina...Casino Pt...cool land destination too. Mainland chancy, esp this time of year.

Some good advice above.
For a Thursday maybe the Sundiver Express may go out. I think the price is $100 or $110 for a 3-tank dive. They have AL80 tanks and rent some gears.
Not sure in LA where you be staying, but there are a few LDS around that can rent full gears.
Best bet probably is the Catalina Express, there are coupons on-line for $7.50 off the $72.50 price. Brings it down to $66, plus $15 daily parking in Long Beach.
I think for a single day only go the express route.