This was our first trip to Catalina and the Pacific so I am by no means any type of an expert. If anyone has any ideas on how to do this cheaper, faster, or better....please chime in. The conditions were less than par so we will be back at some point for another try.
Getting there- we flew in on Southwest from OKC to SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) and spent the night with friends. We planned to take the ferry from Dana Point the next morning but ended up doing other things with friends. The only other option was the ferry out of Long Beach at 5:45. I'm not going to get into California Traffic, but I'll just say leave early if you're not used to it.... if you are, leave early anyway. GPS took us right to the Catalina Express Ferry Terminal. There is a parking garage close for ferry parking.
The ferry is nice and seats are comfortable. It takes just a little over an hour to get to the island. Some said it was rough but the ferry to Cozumel made this feel like a limo ride. It's a Catamaran so I thought it was smooth, despite 4-5 foot seas. It cost right at $150.00 for a round trip ticket for two.
Once there, the ferry pier is at one end of the town of Avalon, the dive park is at the other. It's about a 15-20 minute walk between the two.
We stayed at the Hotel Mac Rae for $80 a night on Hotels.com. Nice enough, clean room, nice staff, muffins, pastries, and not bad coffee for breakfast. Located on the water between the ferry and dive park. Our view was of the wall of the building next to the hotel less than two feet from the window. We were not there to stay in the room though. They also have a shower you can use after you check out, unsecure bag storage, and will let you take a towel if you leave an ID. Great perks for divers!! We will stay there again.
That night we ate at the Blue Water Grill and had a great meal. The scallops were amazing and sour dough bread, Clam Chowder, and everything else was just as good. It was about $100 with appetizer, drinks, and tips. We will eat there again.
The walk to the dive park kind of sucked lugging gear. If you have a rolling bag or cart, that would make life easier. It's about a 15 minute walk going slow. Catalina Divers Supply has a trailer at the park that they rent full equipment, tanks, fills, and weights out of. I only saw hard weights. Staff was friendly, knowledgable, and concerned it was our first time there since the surge was a bit(a lot) sporty. We geared up and headed down the entry stairs. Entry was not difficult as long as you timed it right with the surge. Walk down the steps, wait for the surge to be waist deep or more, spin and kick and the surge will take you out. Actually the easiest shore dive entry I've ever done.
The vis was down and surge was significant so diving was less than fantastic. The Kelp was really fun to dive in, there are a few sunken boats, and a crane boom like structure they call a dive platform. Our first dive went to 90 feet pretty fast. Second dive we stayed around the 60 foot foot mark for most of the dive...54 minutes.
What absolutely made the dive trip for me was a huge...I mean Godzilla huge....sea bass. She was at least 6 feet long and probably 500 pounds or more (by my cattle weight judging skills). She could have cared less that we were inches from her and just stayed by her stalk of Kelp like it was her home. The free diver that waved at 41 feet deep was just icing on the cake. We saw several other large sea bass and beautiful gold Garibaldi everywhere.
Fun dives, the vis and surge could have been better, but still better than Oklahoma Lake Diving.
Getting out was tricky. If your timing was right, the surge would lift you about a third of the way up the steps and set you down gently, looking like a boss. If your timing was off, it would pound you on the steps like a rag doll, then try to drag you out to sea. My wife got rolled and has the bruises and swollen knee to prove it. I got to her and helped her to her feet and we made it out with only our pride hurt.
Cost of 2 tanks, 2 fills, and weights was $62. They have about every type of tank you could ask for. I dove a steel 100 and wife a steel 80. Water temp was 68-70, I was fine in a 7mm, semidry hood and 5 mil gloves. Wife dove a lavacore and 3 mil suit, hood and gloves. She dove the second dive without the hood. (She hates hoods). We were probably over dressed for 70 degrees, but I planned for 60.
With my wife's banged up knee we took a cab back to the hotel for $12 and used their shower. We stored our bags with them and walked around a few hours. We ate a at Maggie's Blue Rose next to the hotel and it was not that good. My wife got sick while eating and the food was mediocre. We will pass on that one next time.
There are bathrooms at the dive park, but no food or drinks. Take your own, it's a walk to get anything.
I lugged the gear back to the ferry and the rest of the trip went smoothly. Parking from about 4 pm to 8pm (28 hours) the next day was $34.
We can check Kelp diving off out bucket list, but did not see a sea lion in the park. As we were in line to get on the ferry.....a sea lion surfaced as if to say "So Long Suckers" or words to that effect and swam off....possibly mooning us as he left. Next time buddy...next time.
We will be back, hopefully to catch a dive boat. We had planned on diving with Catalina Divers Supply's boat but only 4 divers signed up. I offered to pay for two ghost ride alongs, but that wouldn't be enough. They need 6 paid divers slots to go.
Next time we will leave a dive boat option for Friday and Saturday to double our chances for a boat. They had two boats going Saturday. None made it Friday.
I'll add Lax or SNA to my cheap airfare searches. It was a fun trip.
If you have any advice on Catalina, I'm all ears!!
Safe travels,
Jay
Getting there- we flew in on Southwest from OKC to SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) and spent the night with friends. We planned to take the ferry from Dana Point the next morning but ended up doing other things with friends. The only other option was the ferry out of Long Beach at 5:45. I'm not going to get into California Traffic, but I'll just say leave early if you're not used to it.... if you are, leave early anyway. GPS took us right to the Catalina Express Ferry Terminal. There is a parking garage close for ferry parking.
The ferry is nice and seats are comfortable. It takes just a little over an hour to get to the island. Some said it was rough but the ferry to Cozumel made this feel like a limo ride. It's a Catamaran so I thought it was smooth, despite 4-5 foot seas. It cost right at $150.00 for a round trip ticket for two.
Once there, the ferry pier is at one end of the town of Avalon, the dive park is at the other. It's about a 15-20 minute walk between the two.
We stayed at the Hotel Mac Rae for $80 a night on Hotels.com. Nice enough, clean room, nice staff, muffins, pastries, and not bad coffee for breakfast. Located on the water between the ferry and dive park. Our view was of the wall of the building next to the hotel less than two feet from the window. We were not there to stay in the room though. They also have a shower you can use after you check out, unsecure bag storage, and will let you take a towel if you leave an ID. Great perks for divers!! We will stay there again.
That night we ate at the Blue Water Grill and had a great meal. The scallops were amazing and sour dough bread, Clam Chowder, and everything else was just as good. It was about $100 with appetizer, drinks, and tips. We will eat there again.
The walk to the dive park kind of sucked lugging gear. If you have a rolling bag or cart, that would make life easier. It's about a 15 minute walk going slow. Catalina Divers Supply has a trailer at the park that they rent full equipment, tanks, fills, and weights out of. I only saw hard weights. Staff was friendly, knowledgable, and concerned it was our first time there since the surge was a bit(a lot) sporty. We geared up and headed down the entry stairs. Entry was not difficult as long as you timed it right with the surge. Walk down the steps, wait for the surge to be waist deep or more, spin and kick and the surge will take you out. Actually the easiest shore dive entry I've ever done.
The vis was down and surge was significant so diving was less than fantastic. The Kelp was really fun to dive in, there are a few sunken boats, and a crane boom like structure they call a dive platform. Our first dive went to 90 feet pretty fast. Second dive we stayed around the 60 foot foot mark for most of the dive...54 minutes.
What absolutely made the dive trip for me was a huge...I mean Godzilla huge....sea bass. She was at least 6 feet long and probably 500 pounds or more (by my cattle weight judging skills). She could have cared less that we were inches from her and just stayed by her stalk of Kelp like it was her home. The free diver that waved at 41 feet deep was just icing on the cake. We saw several other large sea bass and beautiful gold Garibaldi everywhere.
Fun dives, the vis and surge could have been better, but still better than Oklahoma Lake Diving.
Getting out was tricky. If your timing was right, the surge would lift you about a third of the way up the steps and set you down gently, looking like a boss. If your timing was off, it would pound you on the steps like a rag doll, then try to drag you out to sea. My wife got rolled and has the bruises and swollen knee to prove it. I got to her and helped her to her feet and we made it out with only our pride hurt.
Cost of 2 tanks, 2 fills, and weights was $62. They have about every type of tank you could ask for. I dove a steel 100 and wife a steel 80. Water temp was 68-70, I was fine in a 7mm, semidry hood and 5 mil gloves. Wife dove a lavacore and 3 mil suit, hood and gloves. She dove the second dive without the hood. (She hates hoods). We were probably over dressed for 70 degrees, but I planned for 60.
With my wife's banged up knee we took a cab back to the hotel for $12 and used their shower. We stored our bags with them and walked around a few hours. We ate a at Maggie's Blue Rose next to the hotel and it was not that good. My wife got sick while eating and the food was mediocre. We will pass on that one next time.
There are bathrooms at the dive park, but no food or drinks. Take your own, it's a walk to get anything.
I lugged the gear back to the ferry and the rest of the trip went smoothly. Parking from about 4 pm to 8pm (28 hours) the next day was $34.
We can check Kelp diving off out bucket list, but did not see a sea lion in the park. As we were in line to get on the ferry.....a sea lion surfaced as if to say "So Long Suckers" or words to that effect and swam off....possibly mooning us as he left. Next time buddy...next time.
We will be back, hopefully to catch a dive boat. We had planned on diving with Catalina Divers Supply's boat but only 4 divers signed up. I offered to pay for two ghost ride alongs, but that wouldn't be enough. They need 6 paid divers slots to go.
Next time we will leave a dive boat option for Friday and Saturday to double our chances for a boat. They had two boats going Saturday. None made it Friday.
I'll add Lax or SNA to my cheap airfare searches. It was a fun trip.
If you have any advice on Catalina, I'm all ears!!
Safe travels,
Jay
