Catalina Island advice request

[joebubbles]

I'm attending a conference at Huntington Beach at the end of Feb and on Feb. 26th I would like to do a couple of dives at Catalina (cold water dive for the first time), but I would also like to dive or snorkel with sea lions. I am not interested in hoping to see a sea lion at Casino Point if i'm lucky. I have the specific goal to come back with underwater video footage with high quality interaction. I understand that would mean a boat tour. Would you know of my options if any? I noticed a tour operator that goes to Seal Rock for this, but I think the passengers stay in the boat, and another operator said there is no permanent colony. Am I being realistic, or am I out to lunch:goingdown:

 

[Rainer]

Get on the Spectre to Anacapa. We had excellent encounters all three trips we took last year.

[vimeo]28308218[/vimeo]

[vimeo]20507429[/vimeo]

 

[USCScubaboy]

+1 for Anacapa. Did my drysuit cert class there and kept getting distracted by them. :lol2:

Santa Barbara Island is another location that has a permanent sea lion colony. However, not as many boats go there.

 

[mathauck0814]

Hop a charter in San Pedro and just go diving. We almost always see sea lions in the shallows around the islands.

 

[drbill]

I live and dive Catalina and sea lion encounters with divers are not common, possibly due to negative interactions with fishers. I second Anacapa and Santa Barbara. Personally I don't dive the East End near "Seal" Rocks due to generally poor visibility and the presence of the landlord.

 

[azjohnnyo]

Get hold of Kyaa Heller at http://sundiver.net/ every time we go out with her we have a TON of encounters!! They are also on FB (who isn't nowadays!!) www.facebook.com/pages/Sundiver-International-Inc/141781826924?ref=ts


JohnnyO
------------
"What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?"

 

[fnfalman]

Sea lion rookery on Anacapa Island is on the far side (unprotected side). Not every trip to Anacapa would automatically get to go to the far side either. It's based on the weather condition.

 

[joebubbles]

:worship::worship:Thank you very much everyone! Today I booked a dive charter for Feb. 26th through Sport Chalet going to S.Cruz/Anacapa on the Spectre! Great video Rainer. Any issues about renting equipment from Sport Chalet?

 

[fnfalman]

I don't know if Sport Chalet would rent the what we call Basic Five (mask, snorkel, fins, boots, gloves), but I know they rent everything else.

 

[blue steal]

I used to rent from SC before I purchased my gear and they have gear that was new or in pretty good condition. The package was $45 (plus tax) for wetsuit full 7mm with separate hood, tank AL80, weights soft for BC, BCD, reg/octo/spg with computer(gekko). They are pretty flexible about pick up and return times, you can pick up say on a Friday morning and return Saturday before they close and only be charged for 1 day.
As HT said I don't think they rent gloves, booties, fins, mask/snorkel.
You may need to check with a dive shop for those.