Hope you will have fun. Be ready for cold cold water. I am taken lessons in
Fla later this month. Come back and tell us how your dive went and if you
would do it again? Looking forward in reading what others have to say about
San Diego dives.

One who hates cold water!
Laurel

Plan to bring your regulator and computer with the mask, fins and snorkel as you
will be much more comfortable with your own life support gear. Interface is K
valves. I have not seen many DIN valves here at all. I am not sure what you all
use in the UK. I carry my regulator, mask and ditties aboard the aircraft
whenever I fly to dive locations. Pack wrenches and tools in your checked bags
if you bring them. (TSA will confiscate them if you don't.) Wetsuit, boots and
hood will be the uniform of choice. This time of year the water temps are just
around the 17 to 20 C range but I am sure a UK diver will find this temperature
acceptable. Temps at depth are typically 64 F this time of year. If you are used
to drysuit diving you may find it a bit cold. You can usually do two dives on a
day trip boat with a possible 3rd dive that day before heading back to harbor.
If you feel chilled after the 2nd dive it's not unusual to pass on the 3rd dive
and just enjoy the afternoon sun and amenities on board. Beaches tend to be
warmer but more turbid and if you would rather go for more casual scheduling
then this may be preferable to reserving a space on a boat in advance.

I am not sure what gear is available for hire on boats if you did a one-day boat
dive trip down there. (I am in Los Angeles) A boat trip is the best way to dive
So. California. The beaches require more exertion for poorer visibility IMO.
Dive shops that run scuba schools often have the best selection of hirable gear.
The boats always have spare weights but let the dive shop supply you with a
minimal recommended compliment of weights for your body and wetsuit type.

Water temperature info. http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac.html

Don't let the Floridians scare you. It's not cold, I like to think of it as
brisk. Not at all like that bath water they have in the gulf.

Hi,

In July I dove with Dive Connections in San Diego.  They're docked by Sea
World just north of the city and
have two boats that go out every day.  You can get their information and
even reserve a slot online at
www.gottadive.com.  They also have full rental gear (though the wet suits
did look a bit worn (I brought my
own)).  I did two, two-tank dives (the Yukon, a sunken Canadian destroyer in
the morning and the Kelp
forest in the afternoon).  Be aware the vis was only around 25 feet and the
water was 51-53 degrees so while
it wasn't COLD, it was cold (I dive in these temps in the Northeast U.S. so
I had on a 7mm one piece and
3mm hoodie and gloves but most people dove with full 7mm outfits or dry
suits).  If you have further questions
feel free to reply to this and I'll give you additional information.

Randall