SoCal diving in June

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...Yeah, ideally if you're coming on a weekend during the high season, you book more than a couple weeks in advance. Those are the only days you have available?

Here's another option not yet sold out. It's probably not as good a fit for you. Eco Dive Center in Culver City runs boat charters every weekend to Catalina and other islands. They have a boat going to Catalina on the 19th.
BOAT TICKET: Catalina Island 06/19/2021 7:00AM 3 Dives - Magician Dive Boat
This is not a substitute for the ferry; you won't set foot on the island, and you won't be diving in the park. You'll go to three sites of the captain's choosing; they will all be suitable for OW divers. The boat will be crowded, and you will have to gear up fairly quickly without assistance. There may be an OW class on the boat, but you won't get to hang out with them. There will be a site briefing, but there won't be a guide for you unless you call the shop to hire one, and if you do, it'll probably be at least $100 plus the price of another boat ticket. The boat will look a bit shabby and nothing like a luxury tropical liveaboard. You will need to go to a dive shop the day before to rent gear, and return it the day after; you probably won't have time the day of the trip because the store will be closed before you get back. You can do a weight check in the water and come back for more lead if you really need to, but it's pretty inconvenient. The food will be basic but tasty, probably something like pasta and salad as the main dish, with snacks and dessert so you're eating before and after every dive. If you have ever been seasick, you should probably take some meds, as the crossing takes over an hour and can be rough sometimes. You will need a good boat coat, preferably one you can wear over your wetsuit between dives. You should bring at least $30 cash for crew tips for the two of you.

Or go with the helicopter option. Looks like IEX has two spots left on the 18th, for now.

Can confirm, just did my 2nd OW class weekend on the Magician the weekend before last and the above is all true. Our class of 6 was the only class though, most of the other passengers were certified divers with and without buddies. Lots of kelp and we did see sea lions on our trip (we were at Lulu's), though they kept to themselves.
 
@MaxBottomtime We saw this at Redondo last night. Do you know what it is? 6"-8" long and 4" wide.

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Tritonia tetraquetra. I found one at Marineland several years ago, but haven't seen any south of the northern Channel Islands since. Nice find.
 
Tritonia tetraquetra. I found one at Marineland several years ago, but haven't seen any south of the northern Channel Islands since. Nice find.

Thanks! From what I've read, they are much more prevalent to the far north of us.
 
Success! I was able to book passage on the Catalina Express on June 18th. My plan is to take the 11:00 am Ferry from Long Beach which will arrive at Avalon around 12:00 pm, grab some lunch in Avalon, then guided shore dive at 2:00 pm with Catalina Divers Supply, then catch the 5:45 pm ferry back to Long beach.

Does this sound reasonable? Any suggestions for restaurants or other things we should see during our short time in Avalon?

Thanks everyone for helping me plan this.

DougieG
 
Glad to hear it! Be sure to book your guided dive ASAP if you haven't already and let them know about the rental gear you'll need.

It's about a 3/4 mile walk from where the boat drops you off to the Casino building where the dive park is, and you'll pass lots of restaurants on the way. You could just scan the menus and see what looks good to you. For ambiance/view you can't beat the waterfront patio at Bluewater, about halfway through your walk; they serve mostly fish if you're into that. Be warned, everything on the island is crazy expensive.

You won't have much time after your dive for other activities. Probably just enough to hit up Lloyd's candy and ice cream shop, and then sit on the beach and enjoy the waning afternoon sun, maybe browse the shops for souvenirs.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for sea lion and giant sea bass sightings for you!
 
Boat Dive... Breakfast, lunch, 3 dives . And an Ocean cruise.
Bring a camera Lots to see above and below the surface.
SoCalRich
 

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