Diving Catalina - anyone with advice, operators, shore locations?

[Entacmaea]

Hi there, I'm heading to Catalina in November for about 4 days, and looking for some insight into good dive operators, as well as good shore diving locations. We will be doing some boat dives, and hopefully some night dives, but want to do shore dives as well to save money, just renting tanks.

Any advice would be great - just started researching, so know next to nothing yet. I from the Bay Area, so dive Monterey and Channel Islands often, and am geared up for the colder waters.

Thanks in advance!

Best, Peter

 

[DandyDon]

It's been years since I've been there, but it's rather easy to arrange both. Best to post on the Southern California forum for local help.

 

[diversteve]

Some options - the first two own boats.

Catalina Scuba Luv: Scuba Dive, Snorkel, Snuba Dive Catalina Island California

Catalina Divers Supply - Catalina Island, California - Dolphin Quest, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Whale Watching, Dolphin Watching, Scuba Certification & Classes, Scuba Diving Equipment

Diving Catalina - Call (310) 510-8558 - DivingCatalina.com

No recommendation - I haven't been there in a long time.

moved to SoCal.

 

[mathauck0814]

Catalina is best done from a boat. If you're going to the island, you're stuck with what's there. If you've got flexibility to leave from the mainland you have more options (counterintuitive as that sounds). PM me if you want a hookup with some great folks who can charter you a boat to do the really great stuff out that way.

 

[drbill]

All three of the dive ops mentioned by diversteve now have boats.

You can shore dive at Casino Point but getting anywhere else on the island to shore dive is almost impossible.

Mathauck0814 is correct that taking a mainland dive boat to the island to dive is often more economical than diving on our boats unless you plan to stay on the island anyway.

 

[Poseidons Playground]

IMO the charter boats aren't worth it. I dive the channel islands often, and like what I pay for. Every time I have taken any of the charters out of Catalina I wished I would have saved money and gone to the casino. Unless there is a special destination trip, the boats usually dont travel that far from the harbor and cost a grip of money (not worth it to me). With a dedicated partner I can do 5 or 6 tanks a day at 5$, at the Casino and have a great day. There is a lot to see there for the diver who is into adventuring slowly and looking into crevasses for critters. A charter boat from the mainland to Catalina will be a better dive charter and offer much more for the money. . . .

I forget what business is at the casino, but the younger guys who are there is pretty nice and good people persons. I have dived with a few of them in the past and would pay extra for there services / advice, their boss is a different story. The business in town is rude to customers. I was in there with a group of people waiting for service and we got blown off by some lady behind the counter who was reading a magazine. A local diver in the corner laughed when he heard our comments and said that is her personality. We all left, skipped the boat and went to the casino instead.

I absolutely love diving Catalina and do it when ever I can! Unfortunately some of the employees and two of the businesses on the islands have given me and my dive buddies bad customer service. Your on an island and pay more for bad service because it is all you have. I have found you can get cheaper cottage rentals than paying hotel rates. PM me if you have any questions.

Poseidon

 

[DandyDon]

As I said, it's been several years since I dived there. I did enjoy my days of diving with Scuba Luv, great skipper, lovely & helpful wife at the shop, diving Twin Harbors area and other sites away from the Casino walk in site. Also did it once as a day trip from the mainland with good food on both crossings, and again from a weekend liveaboard - even better diving and food.

 

[drbill]

IMO the charter boats aren't worth it. I dive the channel islands often, and like what I pay for. Every time I have taken any of the charters out of Catalina I wished I would have saved money and gone to the casino. Unless there is a special destination trip, the boats usually dont travel that far from the harbor...

As one who has dived frequently on our local boats, I would have to disagree. Yes, if there are light loads on board the boats may only go relatively short distances such as Long Point or down south toward the quarry. This only makes business sense given the cost of fuel. However, with a reasonable number on board I've been on local boats that went as far as the northwest end of the island (about 16-18 miles) or around to the backside to Farnsworth or China Point (halfway around the island.

Several of the sites within short distances from Avalon are quite different from the dive park (at least if you are a marine biologist looking at critters).

For those who aren't staying on the island, the local boats really don't make much sense since you can usually get a mainland boat to bring you to Catalina to dive 3-4 different sites, fill your tanks, feed you and give you free parking on the mainland. Given that they are more cost effective for mainland divers.

 

[jameseg]

Only used them a couple times, but had very good experiences with Scuba Luv. Their boat, the King Neptune, is 65', so plenty of space to hang out and gear up. Good crew, too. Hope to get back out with them in the next two months.

James

 

[red_instead]

Might look at a launch rental out of Two Harbors. Been meaning to do some kayak diving out that way. Maybe October.