July 7 Huntington Beach

I will be in SoCal the beginning of July and I will have one day to go diving. I will be near Hunington Beach on July 7th. Any suggestions for a one day dive, Beach or Boat?

Thanks,

Dan Davies

Laguna Beach would be the closest site for diving to Huntington Beach. Go to http://www.sandeaters.org dive sites for a description of dive sites in the area. They also have a dive every Sunday and anyone can come as they are not a club, just a schedule of a website. SoCal offers great diving in Malibu, Palos Verde and Laguna Beach. Giant Kelp in Malibu and Palos Verde, mostly rock reef in Laguna Beach, but there is some kelp here and there.

SoCal beach diving does require you to be in good condition. Most dive sites have a walk down a hill to get to the water in full gear.

Laguna Beach City ordinance requires a snorkel, BC and dive buddy. You can rent BC, Tank and weights, but should bring the remainder of the equipment with you. A few locations rent everything, but it is expensive.

Ventura offers boat dives on Wednesday and Thursday http://www.peaceboat.com/main1.htm
Most of the other boats run only on the weekend. The Great Escape out of Long Beach is, IMHO a great boat. http://diveboat.com/southern_california_dive_boat_charters.html

I will be just back from Ft. Carson and ready for some diving about then. Have you done much ocean diving?

(562) 421-3094

I have never done Ocean diving. I am in the Denver area and got my OW in November last year and my AW in Feburary of this year. I have 25 dives all in cold, fresh water. I am excited about getting to do my first ocean dive. Thanks for your information. I will check out the links tonight.

ddavies:

I have never done Ocean diving.

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Don't forget to adjust your weights accordingly. Saltwater being more dense than fresh, you'll need a bit more weight to sink you on an ocean dive. Never having dove fresh water myself, I can't offer you any advice on how much of an adjustment you'll need to make, but any dive shop around here can steer you in the right direction, assuming someone on this board doesn't answer that question first. Good luck!

ddavies:

I have never done Ocean diving. I am in the Denver area and got my OW in November last year and my AW in Feburary of this year. I have 25 dives all in cold, fresh water. I am excited about getting to do my first ocean dive. Thanks for your information. I will check out the links tonight.

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Ok, so given your experience I would recommend:
Los Angeles County
Malibu Area:
Stair Case - if you can handle the walk of about 2 city blocks in full gear down and up hill. (you can see the Leo Carrillo parking lot as you swim out from Staircase).
Leo Carrillo - park on the beach
Nicholas Canyon - 10 stairs
Point Dume - park on beach 548 yard swim against current - so check your physical conditioning
Malibu Road - 20 stairs
My special place - 82 stairs
Corral Canyon

Palos Verde:
Malaga Cove - long walk 2 city blocks down a sloping ramp - shallow dive great site.

Orange County Laguna Beach:
Crescent Bay
Shaws Cove
Divers Cove
Fishermans Cove (20 feet from entrance to Divers cove and same parking spot)
Crystal Cove

Catalina Island
Avalon Water Park Catalina Island

I may be available for a dive. It will be my first week back from Ft. Carson, but I will be jonesing for a dive and may break away from the work load.

Turns out I will be in Costa Mesa and not Hunington as I first thought. I found this link that gives details about the Laguna Beach shore dives you mentioned. http://lagunaseasports.com/divesite/default.asp This sounds like where I will end up diving. I will contact the dive shop to check on renting tanks. My wife is exicited about seeing the area again. She grew up in Laguna Beach on Blue Bird Canyon. Now all I need is a dive buddy for July 7th.

Dan Davies

ddavies:

She grew up in Laguna Beach on Blue Bird Canyon.

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Isn't that where the landslide was?

DaFireMedic:

Isn't that where the landslide was?

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That's what I thought.

Christian

I heard about a landslide on the national news but did not hear where it was. If my wife's old home was lost, I know she will be very sad to see that.

pasley:

I will be just back from Ft. Carson and ready for some diving about then. Have you done much ocean diving?

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BTW Mel, The dive gods have not noticed you are away and land locked, we still have red tides and poor viz.