Southern California?

[utahfish]

How is the diving in So. California? It is the closest beach to me, but I haven't heard much about it? I am a beginning diver, but would love to try it out sometime. Is there a time of year that is the best? A good beach to try? What about water temp and vis? Thanks for any advice!

[CompuDude]

We love it. The water is cold, and the vis isn't as clear as tropical destinations, but there is a TON of life to see, and we can dive year round, only put off by occasional storms that make the surf too big and vis too low to bother. Then there are the Channel Islands, sometimes referred to California's Galapagos. Vis there varies from 25' average to 40+ on nicer days.

It's cold right now, but that means clearer water. As long as you can keep warm enough topside (I'm sure the people getting dressed to shovel snow off their cars are laughing at us right now), the diving will be great!

Topside temps are warmer in the summer months, of course (too warm, IMO, since I prefer to dive dry), and those are the most popular months to dive. The water is warmest in the late Summer and early Fall after the seas have spent the summer warming up, so again, popular, especially with the wetsuit crowd. The lush kelp forests die out in the warm water (mid 60's, perhaps, as opposed to the low 50s in the winter), though, so right now is a great time to dive!

Shore diving you need to watch the surf report and make sure it hasn't rained in a couple of days (urban runoff bad water quality, big waves means tricky getting in, tricky getting out, and low vis). Some dives you're stuck with 5-10' vis, but others you can get 15-25 on a good day. Boat diving, as long as there isn't a big storm (rare), you're going to have a great day of diving, 25-40'+ vis.

What else would you like to know? And when are you coming?

Oh, and finally, what part of SoCal? California is a big place... SoCal is everything from the Santa Barbara area down to the San Diego area, and all points between, including the L.A. area.

[Travelnsj]

If you are determined to do Cold water diving Burrr.....go to Catalina Island, the marine park is great (from what I remember) easy access with the steps they put in around 9 years ago or catch either a boat with Scuba Luv or Catalina Divers supply....again from what I remember....good diving, lots of marine life and I was always lucky with vis either winter or summer.

[scubarobin]

Originally Posted by utahfish

How is the diving in So. California? It is the closest beach to me, but I haven't heard much about it? I am a beginning diver, but would love to try it out sometime. Is there a time of year that is the best? A good beach to try? What about water temp and vis? Thanks for any advice!

As a beginner, I wouldn't recommend you shore dive in Calif quite yet. Go on one of the boats, like the Great Escape, out of Long Beach over to Catalina.
Southern California Scuba Diving - Great Escape Dive Boat
We love this boat and crew and dive with them every summer at least once. Water temps in Aug-Sept are high 60s so a 7mm wetsuit with hood and gloves is good.
I have Calif videos here: California, Channel Islands on Vimeo
and a trip report from my last trip: http://www.rnrscuba.net/Calif_08/Cal...t_Aug2008.html
That will give you a good taste of Calif diving, water temps, fishlife, and surge.... before you attempt a shore dive.
Just my 2 cents.

robin

[robjoubert]

Originally Posted by scubarobin

As a beginner, I wouldn't recommend you shore dive in Calif quite yet.

robin

The best "shore dive" is the Casino Dive Park on Santa Catalina Island - refill stations, resturants and restrooms all within 100 yards of the steps that lead into & out of the water. Here are some links for Catalina:-
Diving Catalina Island - Scuba & Catalina Express // Daily Trips To Catalina Island
Casino Point

And when you want to try Shore Diving, here are some shore diving reference sites:-
Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: California North, USA West - dive locations North of San Francisco, all the way to Mendocino and Crescent City
Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: California Mid, USA West - diving locations from South of Pt. Lobos State Park (Carmel by the Sea) to Laguna Beach.
Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: California South, USA West - diving locations from the greater San Diego area (Pt. Loma North to La Jolla) continuing up through Orange County to Laguna Beach

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by scubarobin

As a beginner, I wouldn't recommend you shore dive in Calif quite yet. Go on one of the boats, like the Great Escape, out of Long Beach over to Catalina.
Southern California Scuba Diving - Great Escape Dive Boat
We love this boat and crew and dive with them every summer at least once. Water temps in Aug-Sept are high 60s so a 7mm wetsuit with hood and gloves is good.
I have Calif videos here: California, Channel Islands on Vimeo
and a trip report from my last trip: http://www.rnrscuba.net/Calif_08/Cal...t_Aug2008.html
That will give you a good taste of Calif diving, water temps, fishlife, and surge.... before you attempt a shore dive.
Just my 2 cents.

robin

We take new OW students out for shore dives as their training dives on a regular basis. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a new diver just drive up to the beach and try to dive without an experienced buddy, but there's no need to fear shore diving just because you're new.

Nothing wrong with boat diving, of course, but there's nothing wrong with shore diving, either. Also, re boat dives: SoCal doesn't offer up a DM to guide you on your dives like at tropical vacation destinations... you're expected to know how to dive, as a certified diver, and to manage your own no-deco limits. (I say this thinking of the guy on the boat last weekend who didn't have a timer OR depth gauge since he had never had to track them himself, "the DM always does that for me". *sigh*)

[scubarobin]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

We take new OW students out for shore dives as their training dives on a regular basis. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a new diver just drive up to the beach and try to dive without an experienced buddy, but there's no need to fear shore diving just because you're new.

Nothing wrong with boat diving, of course, but there's nothing wrong with shore diving, either. Also, re boat dives: SoCal doesn't offer up a DM to guide you on your dives like at tropical vacation destinations... you're expected to know how to dive, as a certified diver, and to manage your own no-deco limits. (I say this thinking of the guy on the boat last weekend who didn't have a timer OR depth gauge since he had never had to track them himself, "the DM always does that for me". *sigh*)

yeah, I was recommending boat diving first just so that it isn't such a huge deal to do the dives. It is easier, in my opinion, to go out on a boat where they drop you right over a great dive site! As a new diver you can stay right under the boat the first dive, get used to the whole gear/surge/kelp thing. And it appears to be pretty easy to get a buddy on the boats. One guy was on the boat alone last year and asked to buddy with us since we were photographers and he knew we would be going slow (he had a physical handicap). We said sure and he was great. He just hung out with us, watched us shoot video and pics.
The boats in Calif are awesome and we love the fact that there is NO DM. We are so spoiled by this now that DMs tend to annoy us as they go too fast and don't stop to look at things.

robin

[utahfish]

Thanks for the great advice (and awesome video clips!). It's making me really excited to get out and dive!

[Desert_Diver]

I've been to Catalina twice. The temps are going to be comparable to either Fish Lake or Bear Lake in the summer time. (Surface temps 60-70, 50's below the thermocline). Vis will be much better than either Utah location.

There are two boat out of Avalon, one is connected to the Scuba Luv dive shop and the other is associated with the Catalina Diver's Supply. (Catalina Divers Supply runs the fill shop at the Casino shore dive area). I have only dove off the Catalina Divers Supply boat but I've heard good things about the other boat too. The Casino dive park can be pretty crowded on the weekends with cert classes. However, if you swim out a bit (stay within the boundaries of the park), it is much less crowded. Pay attention to compass headings.

Hotel prices will be stiffer in the summer months.

If you're going in a group big enough to fill a van, transportation costs may be a little less flying into LAX and taking a van trip down to the Long Beach Harbor to the Avalon ferry. If you're going by yourself, check the air prices and cab prices from the Long Beach airport.

If this is the first time diving kelp for you, talk to one of the local divers about entanglement hazards and escape techniques. Carry cutting tools.

Dive safe. Have fun.