2004:NorCal or SoCal diving trip??? (AUGUST)
#16
Posted 15 February 2005 - 03:13 PM
I could definitely be up for SoCal if the timing is right. We plan on going to SoCal to visit grandsons in late July or early August and I've been looking for someplace to dive. It would be so much easier if we had a group of people we trust!
Anthony
#17
Posted 15 February 2005 - 03:21 PM
SoCal has lots and lots of fabulous diving, especially in the Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa (Northern Channel Islands) and Santa Catalina, San Clemente, San Nicolas and Santa Barbara (Southern Channel Islands). For an SD trip, a 2-3 day liveaboard trip would probably be a great trip, though getting a block of motel rooms somewhere and making several day trips interspersed with some beach dives would also be fun. A long weekend in Avalon (Catalina) would be the most fun, but can be expensive in the "on" season, as Randy noted. Worth checking out, though. There are some diver-friendly hotels that often offer package deals (which include the ferry ride from/to the mainland, lodging and a couple of boat dives).
I can recommend the dive boat Sundiver out of Long Beach for 2-3 day liveaboard trips to the Islands. Comfortable boat and great crew. The Pacific Star is another nice and very roomy boat out of Redondo Beach.
More links:
Illustration of Channel Islands
Catalina Island's Official Site
Examples of dive packages with Scuba Luv dive boat in Avalon
And of course, my very own San Diego is a great option too. We've got a little bit of everything: island diving (with sea lions almost guaranteed) at Los Coronados; lots of wreck diving in Wreck Alley, including the Canadian destroyer Yukon; and plenty of decent shore diving. (Not to mention a great topside lifestyle.)
My dive report from Los Coronados
Wreck Alley
C'mon out to Cali!
#18
Posted 15 February 2005 - 03:37 PM
#19
Posted 15 February 2005 - 03:59 PM
Hey, if Shamu himself recommends it, how can you go wrong? I, too, think that a multi-day trip is the best option, especially given that many folks don't have a lot of experience in rough beach diving, and some of the summer swells can be intimidating.
Edited by jextract, 15 February 2005 - 04:01 PM.
"Love is blind but lust likes lacy panties" -- SanDiegoCarol
"If you're gonna be dumb, you'd better be tough." -- Phillip Manor
"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly." -- Donald Rumsfeld
#20
Posted 15 February 2005 - 04:49 PM
#21
Posted 15 February 2005 - 05:03 PM
If you're talking about something like the Truth Aquatics boats out of Santa Barbara, I'll echo the recomendation! Nice boat, good food, probably not half-bad company --what more could you ask for?SoCal!!!
Hey, if Shamu himself recommends it, how can you go wrong? I, too, think that a multi-day trip is the best option, especially given that many folks don't have a lot of experience in rough beach diving, and some of the summer swells can be intimidating.
“Life is measured not by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
#22
Posted 15 February 2005 - 05:03 PM
Can anyone explain why this area:
Within 30 seconds looked like this:
#23
Posted 15 February 2005 - 05:34 PM
#24
Posted 15 February 2005 - 05:41 PM
An obvious change in direction. Anchor lines in one shot, not in the next. Even a slight change in direction, with a little current and or surge, and the scenery will change.Can I go too?
Can anyone explain why this area:
Within 30 seconds looked like this:
#25
Posted 15 February 2005 - 06:19 PM
I don't what caused all them fish to appear... I was not trying to present a slight of hand on the board by using two different angles. I was trying to make a visual point.Diver cracking open a sea urchin, bag of bread/tortillas, or other fish "goodies"....?
What I do know is that suddenly we had fish everywhere, my daughter was close to hysterics, she was crying very hard, she kept batting away the fish from her face mask (this was our first ocean dive after training here in New Mexico) and they kept coming after us. Maybe that is not the right term to use, but that is what it seemed like. We had been down about 30 minutes when this happened. We did not have food on us.
I have always puzzled over the memory.
Edited by mvillanueva, 15 February 2005 - 06:20 PM.
#26
Posted 15 February 2005 - 06:54 PM
Sorry your daughter didn't enjoy it... I love it, but if you're not used to it, or a little uncomfortable underwater, I can see how that could be disconcerting or downright scary.
Where did this happen?
#27
Posted 15 February 2005 - 06:59 PM
BTW, printed your BP ... taking it home tonight.
"Love is blind but lust likes lacy panties" -- SanDiegoCarol
"If you're gonna be dumb, you'd better be tough." -- Phillip Manor
"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly." -- Donald Rumsfeld
#28
Posted 15 February 2005 - 07:19 PM
Catalina. In that underwater park right there not 20 yards off shore from the parking lot where the domed building is.They were probably used to being fed by divers, so they mobbed you thinking that you had food. And it could have been like seagulls.... a couple come by scrounging, then a few more see the first ones, and then a few more see those few more, and so on, and so on.... before you know it, you've got a huge school of fish begging for food.
Sorry your daughter didn't enjoy it... I love it, but if you're not used to it, or a little uncomfortable underwater, I can see how that could be disconcerting or downright scary.
Where did this happen?
I was surprised.... but then they kept coming and coming... and the more she pushed away the fish the more they came up to her mask. In hindsight it was cool.... but our entire experience prior was 3-4 tiny gold fish at Blue Hole.
I have to hand it to her though, despite the tears, she survived... and within a minute or two or less or more, they were all gone.
#29
Posted 15 February 2005 - 07:48 PM
Would be interested in a SoCal divesite. Something preferably off a boat. Trudging down the rocks/ steps, then the surf/ swells surge etc with all the rubber, weights and tanks just ain't fun for me.
#30
Posted 15 February 2005 - 07:50 PM
Well, there you have it.Catalina. In that underwater park right there not 20 yards off shore from the parking lot where the domed building is.
I was surprised.... but then they kept coming and coming... and the more she pushed away the fish the more they came up to her mask. In hindsight it was cool.... but our entire experience prior was 3-4 tiny gold fish at Blue Hole.
I have to hand it to her though, despite the tears, she survived... and within a minute or two or less or more, they were all gone.
(1) You were at Casino Point Underwater Park, where the fish are protected, numerous, tame, and used to being fed.
(2) Once the fish started scrounging, thinking you guys had food, your daughter's hand motions probably made the dumb fish think she was distributing food.
(3) When the dumb fish finally realized there was no food, they quickly dispersed.
Hope she enjoyed it after the initial shock. Did you otherwise enjoy the diving? Casino Point is beautiful....
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