Catalina Island diving questions in late Aug/09

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Torontonian

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Thanks to the very good info in the Catalina sticky. Very helpful.

My wife and I are flying to SFO then rent car to drive the coast to Long Beach, before boarding a Mexican Riviera cruise on Sun. Aug. 30/09. I'm the diver with gears while wife can snorkel or can just relax.

I'm thinking to go to Catalina Island for a day of diving. Originally was thinking to stay on the island for 1 nights, and enjoy a full day of diving and some touring the island, before coming back at night. But the hotel rates seems quite high, and might require min. 2-night stay in "high season". OTOH, 3.5* hotels in Long Beach apparently can be had for $65/n. So I'm wondering if it's worth even staying one night in Catalina Island.

If I only do one day of diving, choosing between Fri. Aug. 28 and Sat. Aug. 29, what can be the differences? Is Sat. much more crowded and therefore Fri. a better choice?

The dives are unguided, and hiring a guide is not cheap ($65). Are there usually many people diving in late Aug., and therefore can find easily buddies to dive with there?

Is diving at Casino Point quite good that we don't really need to do boat diving there, or should I try to do both? Well, if doing both, probably need to stay on island at least one night, and try to find a good package.

Does it get very hot to need A/C in the room in late Aug., or is it bearable without A/C in the cheaper hotels?

Thanks a lot.
 
Hi,
the Avalon underwater park (aka Casino Point) could be quite busy during the summer week-ends (Saturday and Sunday).
On Fridays there should not be too many people around.

If you never dove Casino Point before, you could use our eDiving - dive simulator to check out the park in 3D :D

AM
 
So at Casino Point, it's not as busy on summer Fridays. Would there still be enough people so that finding dive buddies wouldn't be an issue? Or is it better to go on Sat. to have better chance of finding buddies?
 
If you are going for the day with the intent of diving. Do a day charter on a dive boat. The diving in the park is good, but, I think the boats give you a greater variety of better sites.
 
What dashark said. Here is a link to the Califonia dive boats page :California Dive Boats : The Official Page You'll get better diving, not have to schlep your equipment from the ferry to the park, and it doesn't cost that much more than a DM. Note that not all California boats provide tanks; if the one you pick doesn't you'll have to rent them on the mainland. You can take a boat from Long Beach, LA Harbor or San Pedro, they are all within a 20 min. drive of Long Beach. (the Cruise Ships leave from San Pedro.)
 
The Sundiver has tanks

John
 
If spend the night on the island you may find some one at the point to do a night dive with. Just rent a tank on the island for your night dive and store it in the lockers provided at the point until you need it. Then return it in the morning. Really easy to do.
 
The Sundiver has tanks
John

They use Steel 85's. And on Saturday the 29th there is a trip to San Clemente Island. Sundiver Schedule Trips there do not happen often and can be exceptional. Also, not much problem finding a buddy on a boat trip. Sundiver is out of Long Beach so not much travel time to the boat. This trip might leave the night before. Check with the shop that has the charter.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I was wondering what might be at San Clemente Island. Found a dive report by someone with good photos. But he said it took 6 hrs from Long Beach to San Clemente Island?! I'll have to pass on such a trip.

Still haven't found inexpensive accommodation at Catalina Island for Thr. Aug. 27 night. If I find one, it sounds good to do a night dive, then the next day with a boat. Or we may end up going over Fri. Aug. 28 morning for a day trip. Dive boat in morning, then tour the island with my wife. I do need to spend some time with my wife on Catalina Island, other than diving/snorkeling.:crafty:

Maybe we'll go on a dive boat from near Ventura, to go to Anacapa, for a chance to play with sea lions (or them play with us). That might be Wed. Aug. 26 or Thr. 27.
 
Do a dive in Anacapa off a boat and then go to Casino Point with the wifey and spend some times on Catalina Island with her. Win-win situation.

That way you can get both flavors of Channel Islands dives.

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.
 
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