Vitiing Catalina Island in So. California

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Kerry Thomas - 11 Aug 2004 04:34 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am planning to visit southern California, specifically Catalina
Island, at the end of Aug, and have hooked up with Scuba Luv on the
island, for two days of diving. I plan on renting a 7/5, possibly to
wear over my 3mil full. I am also bringing a 7m hood and 5m gloves.

Any advice for this water, currents, marine life, etc. to be aware of,
any gotchas I should take note of?

Does anyone know about Scuba Luv? From my experience with them on the
phone, they seem competent and courteous, but would like to get a
sampling of opinion (good or bad) about their safety(foremost) and service.

Thanks, take care, everyone, and dive safe.

RANT
If anyone isn't aware of it, most hotels on the island have a two-day
minimum stay on the weekend, in addition to ungodly rates. Some nonsense
about the bed tax, and having to wash sheets, and freshwater shortages,
etc. etc. Sounds to me like an excuse to charge people for two days.
They quote "$279 per night!" in big letters, however, in smaller
letters, they tell about the 2-day min. [snort in dusgust] Marketing
weenies.However, I found an inexpensive place, for $85 per night, that
allowed me the single Saturday night stay. Hope it will be a decent
place, as all I will need is a bed.
/RANT

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-- Kerry Thomas
-- Please remove .NOSPAM from my email to reply.

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Greg Mossman - 11 Aug 2004 05:11 GMT

> I am planning to visit southern California, specifically Catalina
> Island, at the end of Aug, and have hooked up with Scuba Luv on the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Any advice for this water, currents, marine life, etc. to be aware of,
> any gotchas I should take note of?

If you have no other reason to visit Catalina Island other than to dive, I'd
recommend skipping the island altogether. It's much more reasonable and
you'll get much better diving if you instead hook up with a mainland-based
dive boat.

Water will be 68 degrees or so at the surface. You should be fine with the
7/5, without the 3 under it, unless you're one of those anorexic types who
really just need to eat more. I ditch the hood and switch to light gloves
in summertime, but then I don't really just need to eat more. YMMV.

Current will be there, but not too bad or the boat probably won't drop you.
Marine life will also be there, mainly garibaldi [perch], basses of several
varieties and sizes, lots of rockfish, occasional scorpionfish and sculpin,
morays, octopus, and plenty of daring lobster that will make themselves
scarce come October. Viz might be crap if the algae is blooming or
excellent if it is not - end of August is touch and go. It's been a warm
summer so the bloom may have burnt itself out already but I don't know
firsthand since I've been too lazy/busy to get out and check it myself.

> Does anyone know about Scuba Luv? From my experience with them on the
> phone, they seem competent and courteous, but would like to get a
> sampling of opinion (good or bad) about their safety(foremost) and service.

They are competent and courteous until you annoy (her) in which case (she)
can be quite bitchy. And they are devious. I will never use them again,
but I have very personal reasons for doing so. Unfortunately, CDS, their
only competition, is less competent and less courteous. They do have a
better location if you're diving the marine park. I haven't gone out on
either of their boats.

> RANT
> If anyone isn't aware of it, most hotels on the island have a two-day
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> allowed me the single Saturday night stay. Hope it will be a decent
> place, as all I will need is a bed.

Catalina is hardly the only place that does this. If you are getting a
cheap rate, I can promise you it will suck. You will be stuck inland
several blocks from the water, up a steep hill, with no A/C, and a really
lousy mattress. For the $85 you can get on an open boat charter that will
take you to the island, feed you, and take you back to the mainland. On the
mainland you will need to spend a few bucks for a motel but it will be
cheaper and nicer than on the island, or you can sleep on the lifeguard
stations like the homeless people do.

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Rich Lockyer - 11 Aug 2004 05:21 GMT

>I am planning to visit southern California, specifically Catalina
>Island, at the end of Aug, and have hooked up with Scuba Luv on the
>island, for two days of diving. I plan on renting a 7/5, possibly to
>wear over my 3mil full. I am also bringing a 7m hood and 5m gloves.

Surface temp is 71 right now. Air temp is running 80-85.
A 7/5 alone should be more than enough... it shouldn't be much below
60 at 100ft
It was 51 at 100ft three weeks ago at Santa Barbara Island, but there
was a HARD thermocline at 30ft.

>Any advice for this water, currents, marine life, etc. to be aware of,
>any gotchas I should take note of?

On the front side, it's pretty mellow. You can get some nasty
currents at the Isthmus at Ship Rock and Eagle Reef. Back side can be
unpredictable, but I've never been blown out.

Marine life? Be aware of the Pacific Torpedo Ray. It is a ray with a
vertical component to it's tail and a mottled light grey body. It is
electric, and not afraid of humans. Approach with caution, and be
very aware of it's movements (it won't chase you, but may approach).

Sculpin/scorpionfish are red with sharp things on top of their backs.
They are toxic, and they blend in with the rocks. Don't touch them.

Sharks are rare, but you will occasionally see a Leopard, Blue, Mako,
or even a White. Don't look or act like shark food and you'll be
fine.

>RANT
>If anyone isn't aware of it, most hotels on the island have a two-day
>minimum stay on the weekend, in addition to ungodly rates. Some nonsense
>about the bed tax, and having to wash sheets, and freshwater shortages,

All fresh water on the island has to be barged in. There is not
enough rainfall and the island is not large enough to support a human
population. There are no desalinization or purification plants on the
island.
Though the water is SAFE to drink, it does taste like it's been in a
moldy tank on a barge. I'd rather drink the water in Mexico (and
have).

>letters, they tell about the 2-day min. [snort in dusgust] Marketing
>weenies.However, I found an inexpensive place, for $85 per night, that
>allowed me the single Saturday night stay. Hope it will be a decent
>place, as all I will need is a bed.

Cabins are available... a simple heated room with a frame and
mattress. Bring your own sheets/blankets. Cabins are about $45 a
night.

--- Rich
http://richlockyer.tripod.com/

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DW - 12 Aug 2004 19:00 GMT

Rich- I am not 100% sure of the current operational status but I seem
to remember that about 25% of the water in Avalon comes from a local
desel plant. Its located just past Lover's Cove and the heli-pad.

>>There are no desalinization or purification plants on the
> island.<<

I agree that if your ONLY goal is diving- better to make the run out
on one of the local boats, like the "Island Time' but if you are
visiting SoCal- its a great get away. Not cheap but how many tourist
spots are....

Drew

> >I am planning to visit southern California, specifically Catalina
> >Island, at the end of Aug, and have hooked up with Scuba Luv on the
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> --- Rich
> http://richlockyer.tripod.com/

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