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STEPHAN's SCUBA STUFF

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVING

Diving in Southern California is considered cold water diving with temperatures ranging from the 40s to 70s (varies upon depth, season, and location). Most people do not use dry suits (although they are increasing in use!), but instead use 5-8 mm wetsuits with a hood. Often times the wetsuit is a two-piece, as in a "Farmer John" with a jacket, or as a one-piece with an inner or outer tunic. In the summer time when the water is warmer, many people just wear a one-piece wetsuit.

The main "attraction" of Southern California diving are the giant kelp forests. The kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) are latched to rocks at the bottom by "holdfasts" which serve to anchor the kelp, and have gas filled bladders to allow the kelp to float and grow upright until they fall over at the top. Swimming through the kelp is one exciting aspect of California diving. El Nino weather patterns typically kill the kelp, but as the fastest growing seaweed in the world (up to 61 cm/24 inches in a 24 hour period), it typically recovers after the water temperature cools.

Channel Islands

Catalina Island

One of the most famous places for diving in Southern California is Santa Catalina Island, the most populous of the Channel Islands. Just off the coast of Los Angeles, Catalina is accessible by ferry from several points in the Los Angeles area, including Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. Ferries leave multiple times a day and arrive at Avalon, the main harbor for visitors to Catalina Island. Below are several useful links for Catalina Island.

Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce A great overview of Santa Catalina Island with links to Catalina ferries, other transportation, dive shops, and hotels.
Catalina Divers Supply and Scuba Luv An established PADI 5-star dive center in Avalon that also runs the Scuba Cat.

Anacapa Island

Another Channel Island, Anacapa Island is another interesting dive-site. Essentially three separate, rocky islands that are uninhabited, Anacapa is a relatively pristine site. Most diveboats leave out of Ventura Harbor, but some also leave from Santa Barbara, and occasionally out of Oxnard's Channel Islands.

Anacapa Island The "official" Anacapa Island site from the Channel Islands National Park website. It has mostly information on visiting the island, but it does have photos and maps.
Cold Water Images. A good site for what you can see underwater, I started following Kawika Chetron back in the early 2000s. Unfortunately Mr. Chetron is presumed dead since March 17, 2007 after disappearing on a solo scuba boat dive trip. His ColdWaterImages.com website is still preserved online and occasionally goes down (there are also Pinterest photographs of his), but his underwater photographic legacy remains...
Diving Catalina Photo Gallery This photo gallery from the Diving Catalina guys, has a link to their gallery and Dave Lieberman's photo gallery. Pretty impressive stuff.

Below is a link to NOAA (National Ocean Service) YouTube video on giant kelp:

Other Southern California Diving Sites

California Diving News Has the complete monthly schedule for when dive boats are leaving and where they are going from San Diego to Santa Barbara. If you are going to be in Southern California for a limited time, this is the best way to find out where and when to dive.
The "Official California Dive Boat Page" Once you've found out which boats are going where and when, then you can compare each boat via this site.
Scuba Diving in California" List books on California diving and the "Adventurers Dive Log" which contains info on divesites throughout the world.
Scuba Divers Net Links to maps, equipment pages, and weather info with links to other Southern, Central Coast, and Northern California diving pages.

Dive Shops/Centers/Boats

Catalina Divers Supply and Scuba Luv In Avalon on Catalina Island, Scuba Luv is a PADI 5-star dive center, with Catalina Divers Supply. Unfortunately a storm in December 2014 tragically ended the life of Tim Mitchell and destroyed the King Neptune boat. The Scuba Cat is the newer boat, which leaves from Avalon. + 1 310 510 0330

Dive Boats Only

Explorer Info on Explorer, which leaves from Ventura Harbor.+1 805 890 1142

Peace Info on Peace, which leaves from Ventura Harbor.+1 805 650 3483

Raptor Info on Raptor, which leaves from Ventura Harbor.+1 805 650 7700

Spectre Info on Spectre, which leaves from Ventura Harbor.+1 805 486 1166

Other Diving Sites

Aquanaut One of the oldest scuba diving sites.