Which is better Ca or Fl

[kancho]

Other than the temperature which place do you think have more wildlife. I have been to Cal's Gull and Catalina Islands. It was ok.. I enjoyed my self.. What can I expect to see from Florida other than I don't need to wear my dry suit

[teerlkay]

Where you headed?

SE Fl and the keys - you'll see coral, turtles, sharks, angelfish, lobster, etc

You can also try some springs in Mid state

And they've got some of the biggest wrecks imaginable

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by kancho

Other than the temperature which place do you think have more wildlife. I have been to Cal's Gull and Catalina Islands. It was ok.. I enjoyed my self.. What can I expect to see from Florida other than I don't need to wear my dry suit

Next time you come to SoCal, see if you get on a Peace (boat) charter to Santa Cruz Island. Spectacular.

I've never dove Florida to compare, however, so I can't help you there.

[Mycroft]

I've done both (Florida diver here) and in March I'm going to dive the Yukon for the first time.

CA water is just too blamed cold.

However, the Garibaldis are pretty cool, when I went to Casino Point. Kelp is a bit of an issue. Now I've seen it, and it is fine for a dive or 2, but is a navigational hazard for diving all the time.

As for the creatures available for viewing, it all depends on where you go. And the contrast of doing both is interesting.

[chinacat46]

I'd have to say having dived at both places that I'd pick Indonesia.

[kancho]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Next time you come to SoCal, see if you get on a Peace (boat) charter to Santa Cruz Island. Spectacular.

I've never dove Florida to compare, however, so I can't help you there.

Thanks.. I will try that. I might go then sometime mid next year.

[Goober]

Originally Posted by kancho

What can I expect to see from Florida other than I don't need to wear my dry suit

A brand new world! Clapton said it best. Mainline Florida.

[ryssyr]

have you looked into monterey bay? its quite a good dive this time of year. lots of wildlife seals, otters, kelp forests etc.

[Grin]

I cannot speak for Cal as all I've dove there is Catalina. If Catalina is supposed to be good then Florida beats it by 100 miles. Florida bottom and conditons vary majorly by the part of Fl you dive. The SE coast all the way to the Keys is tropical and super vis and warm. Lots of coral and so manyt types of tropical fish everywhere and critters. Alot of other areas of FL have not so great vis alot of the time, but most of those areas benefit in the form of less diver traffic and lots of big edible fish like groupers and snappers if your into fishing or spearfishing. If you need dive charter boats you basically are going to have to go from somewhere between Jupiter and Key West. All good conditions tropical type diving inbetween there. I froze in Cal but I had a rental suit. I'm sure Cal varies just like FL though. Great Whites vs Bull sharks. Neither good but I'll take the Bulls over a White.

[NitroWill]

Florida! What could be so great about diving in kelp and cold water? Although, I am a bit partial