Summer trip to Catalina...are we crazy?

[Bibendum]

Hi All -

My Dive buddy and I were thinking of planning a trip to Catalina for three or four days this summer (end of July or early August). We would stay in Avalon and do shore dives, and hopefully find a reasonable package deal.

Are we crazy to go in summer due to crowds and lots of divers at Casino Point? Is mid-week any better during the summer?

Are there other shore dive options besides Casino Point? How's visibility this time of year?

Thanks!

 

[dlndavid]

A bunch of us SBers will be there in mid September, don't know much about the diving there yet.

 

[LAJim]

Viz is often 30 - 40 feet that time of the year and starts to open up the later you get into August. Avalon is very crowded on weekends during the summer. Mid-week would be much nicer. Once in Avalon you might have the option of taking a shuttle van over to Two Harbors where there is some shore diving possible - but not a good idea during busy weekends due to boat traffic. The Garibaldi dive boat out of two harbors has some reasonable one - and two-tank dives - nice sites near Two Harbors.

Jim

 

[alaity47]

My husband and I just spent a 3-day weekend in Avalon and had a great time. We took the last ferry out on Thursday so we could get up early Friday and hit the dive park. It was great - fewest people I've ever seen out there.

Saturday we signed up for the King Neptune, which was a little crowded as per usual during the summer, but still a lot of fun.

Sunday we took a land day and did one of the inland tours, then rented a golf cart and tooled around the perimeter of Avalon.

It was not a cheap weekend... but definitely worth it. We also like to go in the winter when it's less crowded and cheaper, but then there's the chance of crummy weather and our favorite restaurants being closed!

 

[drbill]

Tourism seems to be down this summer, at least so far. Probably the economy and our high prices. Mid-week is highly recommended over weekends. Mid-week during the early fall may be even better.

Good to see you two on the boat Anastasia. Hope the "mating" sheep crab images and video came out well.

 

[JodiBB]

If you want to stay more "cheaply", I recommend the Hermosa Hotel...the rooms are tiny and not much ameneties (some even have a shared bathroom), but for about $50+/night, they are extremely clean. They are about a mile's walk from Casino Pointe, so you can store gear or at least tanks (at a minimum) in the lockers overnight at the Pointe so you won't have to lug tanks and weights back and forth from the hotel.

 

[alaity47]

I don't think Casino Point is more than a quarter mile from the middle of Avalon... it's usually about a 10 minute walk for us.

(Or a 5 minute cab ride. Totally worth the money once you start lugging drysuits and two sets of camera gear).

 

[Bibendum]

Anyone have any thoughts on Pavilion Lodge vs. Seaport Village Inn vs. Hotle Mac Rae? I have stayed at the gotel Mac Rae before, but not as a diver, all my other trips to Catalina have been day trips. I would like to find a mid-range hotel that is not too far from Casino Point.

Can you shore dive from Descanso Beach? What about the cove south of where the Catalina Express drops off?

 

[kelpmermaid]

Anyone have any thoughts on Pavilion Lodge vs. Seaport Village Inn vs. Hotle Mac Rae? I have stayed at the gotel Mac Rae before, but not as a diver, all my other trips to Catalina have been day trips. I would like to find a mid-range hotel that is not too far from Casino Point.

Can you shore dive from Descanso Beach? What about the cove south of where the Catalina Express drops off?

I like Pavilion Lodge, but the price has gotten to be a bit rich for me recently. You may catch a deal on a package midweek, though. I once had a very bad mattress (think donut) at the Hotel Mac Rae, and that soured me on that.

The cove south (or is that east?!) of Cabrillo Mole is Lover's Cove. You can snorkel, but diving is not permitted. Watch out for the fish-watching semi-submarine.

 

[alaity47]

Anyone have any thoughts on Pavilion Lodge vs. Seaport Village Inn vs. Hotle Mac Rae? I have stayed at the gotel Mac Rae before, but not as a diver, all my other trips to Catalina have been day trips. I would like to find a mid-range hotel that is not too far from Casino Point.

We've stayed at Mac Rae and at Seaport Village, and Seaport is better for divers (shuttle service to the point, a room to leave gear in so you don't have to haul it up stairs). I liked the Mac Rae, but dragging my dive gear up that front set of stairs drove me bonkers. We also like the Atwater, which has a big room for gear storage on the first floor (but I don't believe they shuttle divers to the point - I could be wrong).