Catalina

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ScubaK-Dawg

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Scuba Instructor
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Location
San Diego, CA
I'll be in LA this Thursday for work, I'll thinking about heading to Catalina on Friday to do some diving Saturday during the day. Few questions.
1. Getting to Catalina - What's the best way to get there from LA? I heard the is a Ferry that you can take. How's the public transportation on Catalina? Is it easy to get around without a car?
2. What is the best dive operation to use? Is it ok to go w/o making prior arrangements, and I'll just make them Friday when I get to the island for dives Saturday? Is there beach diving, or mainly boat diving? What is the water temp this time of year?
3. Accomodations - Any recommenations on where to stay? Somewhere with some sort of night life?
Any recommendations and advice is appreciated.
Thanks
 
Hello scubaKdawg! I am visiting LA now and will be in Catalina on Friday morning with my wife. We are staying until Sunday morning. Feel to free to join us at the Casino dive park. It's free and all agree they love it! So, to your questions...

1. The best way to get there is to take the Catalina Express ferry that leaves out of San Pedro right now. I believe we will be on the 8am Friday, takes one hour/cost $48 round trip, and usually requires a reservation so just go to catlinaexpress.com and you will have all your answers. As for public trans, your feet or a taxi seems to be the deal. However, the city of Avalon is very small so...

2. Again, we will be diving the Casino Park almost exclusively (unless conditions stink but rarely do) but boat diving can easily be had from scubaluv and others. It might be busy this weekend so make reservations asap. I have never done it but my research indicates that the park is the place to be. Water temps will be in the mid to upper 50's at depth.

. Don't know that one. An earlier thread about hotels in this forum will answer your questions. I'm on a cell phone now or I would give you links. Just search this forum for "Catalina" etc...

See you at the park. The fill station is open at the park from 12-4 on Friday (we will be there at 12pm) and I think 9-4ish on Saturday. We will also be there alot on Saturday. Look for two dry suit divers in black dui tls350's, medium builds all around, blonde lady, dark haired guy, both early 30 somethings. Lol. Mug shot! Have fun! I know I will!

Jason and Becky
 
Catalina Express runs from San Pedro only at this time. Schedule is messed up due to too much debris in the Long Beach basin. There will be fewer boats than normal so make reservations (although it may be a slow weekend).

Public transportation here is fair, but it is a tiny little town. The walk to the dive park from the boat is only a mile at best. You can rent a cart for your SCUBA gear and walk it out there. There is a baggage service at the boat terminal that will also take your gear out to the park. Taxis are fairly easy to get if you want a ride. I've lived here 35 years and for the last five I haven't had a car so one can live here without those infernal contraptions (I DO keep one on the mainland though!).

Either SCUBA Luv or Catalina Divers Supply can give you a good experience. Generally it is no problem this time of year to go out without advanced reservations. Check in with one of them when you get in Friday to see if their boats are going out. You can dive to your heart's content at the Dive Park (easy "beach" dive- there are stairs lerading into the water). I haven't downloaded my computer from yesterday but it was 58 degrees at 70 feet last weekend.

As for hotels, I recommend Seaport Village- they have shuttle service to the park and it is a bit away from loud noises. They are also dive friendly. Tell Don I sent ya (I don't get any kickbacks). Any hotel in town will be in the middle of the action (Best Western and Inn on Mt Ada are the two exceptions).

This time of year there isn't much night life! Karaoke at El Galleon or dancing at the Chi Chi Club. It can be pretty slow in Jan and Feb out here.

Feel free to PM me with specific questions.

Dr. Bill


ScubaK-Dawg:
I'll be in LA this Thursday for work, I'll thinking about heading to Catalina on Friday to do some diving Saturday during the day. Few questions.
1. Getting to Catalina - What's the best way to get there from LA? I heard the is a Ferry that you can take. How's the public transportation on Catalina? Is it easy to get around without a car?
2. What is the best dive operation to use? Is it ok to go w/o making prior arrangements, and I'll just make them Friday when I get to the island for dives Saturday? Is there beach diving, or mainly boat diving? What is the water temp this time of year?
3. Accomodations - Any recommenations on where to stay? Somewhere with some sort of night life?
Any recommendations and advice is appreciated.
Thanks
 

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