California Dive Destinaions???

[drkris10]

Going to be in Palm Springs for a week over the 4th. Can anyone give me suggestions about where to go. Would like to see the kelp beds and a sea lion???? Don't know if I should go North or South. I'm a single diver so have to rely on others to fill the boat.

Thanks for your input.
Kris

I'm From MN so not worried about the water temp. :11:

 

[yellowperil]

Going to be in Palm Springs for a week over the 4th. Can anyone give me suggestions about where to go. Would like to see the kelp beds and a sea lion???? Don't know if I should go North or South. I'm a single diver so have to rely on others to fill the boat.

Thanks for your input.
Kris

I'm From MN so not worried about the water temp. :11:

well i'm here in monterey and we have kelp and sea lions here but it is a bit of a ways from palm springs. and if you do decide to dive here you're in luck cuz i actually have the 2 thru the 11 of july off and since i just spent a lot of money i don't have on dive equipment that's about all i'll be doing and so if your need a dive partner i'm your man.

i should warn you that i am a fairly new diver though so... hope you don't mind... but on the bright side i am military so i get decent deals on rentals if you'd need anything.

steve

 

[scubajoe]

Welcome to the board!
Can't help you.

Joe

 

[Mo2vation]

Going to be in Palm Springs for a week over the 4th. Can anyone give me suggestions about where to go. Would like to see the kelp beds and a sea lion???? Don't know if I should go North or South. I'm a single diver so have to rely on others to fill the boat.

Thanks for your input.
Kris

I'm From MN so not worried about the water temp. :11:

Palm Springs, as you may know, is not close to the ocean in any way shape or form. However, provide some additional calendar details and I'm sure the So Cal contingent can hook you up. I'll be diving that weekend, and so will many of us.

What days are you free? I presume you're coming in for a conference or something...

Provide a little more info and we'll get you hooked up.

K

 

[drkris10]

I need to be in 29 palms over the 4th weekend (Sat Sun Mon) My goal is to do a couple of days (Thurs and Fri) of diving before I make the journey into the desert. I have the option of flying into any airport ....LAx or SanDiego. My plan was to choose the airport after I decided on the dive location.

Thanks
Kris

 

[Diver_Jan]

Hi Kris,

I would suggest diving Laguna Beach. There is a great spot there to see numerous sea lions at Seal Rock. It's one of my favorite spots to dive. Plus, there is an awesome reef there as well called Deadman's. Wish you were diving after the 4th, I would be free to dive with you then.

I would fly into LAX or Orange County, depending on where you decide to hang your hat for those two days before going into the dessert.

Check out the So Cal section here on the board.

All the best,

 

[saf_25]

Hi Kris,

I would suggest diving Laguna Beach. There is a great spot there to see numerous sea lions at Seal Rock.

All the best,

I ditto what Jan said. On a weekday, there aren't too many dive boats going out from the mainland, so with beach diving, Seal Rock (at Crescent Beach) is gonna be your best chance at finding a Sea Lion and seeing Kelp. Of course, you'll have to worry about waves - have you ever done a beach enterance with waves before? If not, make sure to hook up with a local to show you the ropes (I would volunteer, but I'm still not good at waves either. If they're more than a foot or 2, then I don't dive). Laguna Sea Sports, http://www.lagunaseasports.com/, is pretty close, so you might want to call them to see if they have someone to show you around.

Or, depending on your budget, you could take the Catalina Express over to Catalina and dive at Casino Point (or, really depending on your budget, Avalon has dive boats that go out during the week, so you could do those, but that gets pricey to take the Express over, then pay for the other boat). Catalina diving is really the nicest we have here, and the dive park will definitely give you great kelp adventures. I've never seen a sea lion in the park, though, but I do know that they go through there. Just never been lucky enough myself.

The other great spot for sea lions is Santa Barbara Island - it's known for its rookery. But, that's about a 5 hour boat ride from LA, so most boats board the night before to head out, and I don't know of any that will go on a weekday.

I hope that helps - never dove in San Diego, so I don't have advice to give you for there. If you choose any of the above, flying into LAX, Orange County, or even Ontario, CA (which is usually the cheapest to fly to, and will be the closest to Palm Springs to drive back to) will all be good options.

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy!

Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue Look around our various forums - everything from New-To-Scuba to Instructors-Only to Dive Medicine.

Ask anything - in the appropriate forum, and we'll make up an answer...

Don't recall the altitude for 29 Stumps, but you need to research that vs traveling to altitude after diving. If you fly into LAX or Long Beach, you'll be very close to the Catalina Ferry, and then to great shore diving off of Casino Point. Well - I've done the beds from a boat a few times, and I've heard from many that CP is great, too. Need to learn the cautions and instructions on diving in kelp, though; easy to escape if you're cool headed and know how, but divers panic and die at times.

don