Another Catalina ?

[RDRINK25]

Hey all I am heading to Catalina Island for Labor Day. Was looking to do 2 dives on a charter but only have 1 day and want to see the most. Really looking fro the thick Kelp beds. Is it better to do a charter or just Dive Casino Pt?

 

[blue steal]

Having only one day I would opt for the park.
Another option for a single day trip is to charter one of the boats out of Long Beach or San Pedro.
Cost will be about the same and you can get 3 dives in three different areas along the island.
they will also feed you breakfast, snacks, lunch, and more snacks.
Fills between dives are included, plus most boats have bunks for sleeping/napping.

 

[RDRINK25]

We have alreay planned to spend the night on the Island. Was looking for a charter on the Island or just opt for 2 dives in the park? Or I know this might be crazy talk how about one dive on the boat and on in the park?

 

[Lopez116]

If you're looking for thick kelp, do not bother diving the park. Kelp is almost non-existent there. In fact, kelp is pretty sparse along most of the island, although there are sites where the kelp is looking pretty good.

If you stay on island, I would dive with Catalina Divers Supply. I've always had good dives with them.

 

[drbill]

Our giant kelp forests here have indeed been decimated by a combination of factors over the past 12-15 months. However, I've been quite surprised by the regrowth at the south end of the dive park. Although none of the kelp there has reached the surface and formed canopy, nor is it very dense, I am surprised it has come back as much as it has given the incredibly warm bottom temperatures I've experienced recently (71 F at 85 fsw yesterday).

None of our local boats will give you a one dive trip... they are all at least two dives per trip.

 

[RDRINK25]

I was looking at Scuba Luv for the charter but the need 2 more people to go out which they seemed confident. If not I was just rent tanks and go in the park.

 

[blue steal]

There is a sticky on Catalina here. It is a bit dated, but still quite a bit of good information and advice.

 

[RDRINK25]

Anyone have recent temps heading down this weekend and would like to know what wetsuit to bring.

If anyone wants to come out Sun with Scuba Luv we have a boat dive planned but still need a few people.

 

[drbill]

Just back from a few weeks diving the Red Sea so I haven't been diving here due to the backlog of video to edit.

Water was toasty before I left... bottom temps as high as 70+ at 100 fsw and 77 F at 40 fsw. I've heard pulses of colder water (low 60s) have been entering the dive park lately. Would be nice to give our giant kelp a break, but I think the surface waters are still too warm (and lacking nutrients) to allow canopy to reach the surface.

 

[ktomlinson]

Are there any charters to the other Channel Islands from Catalina? Some of the other islands have kelp right now.