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There are some
incredible diving opportunities ranging from beginning to advanced on
Catalina. The Catalina Dive Park is an excellent area to dive or to
learn diving. This park is located out on the small peninsula right at
the base of the Casino. You can access the water via a walkway with
slippery steps (very slippery!) that lead down to the water. This dive
park is enclosed with floating buoys connected to each other by rope. Be
careful not to leave the dive park if at all possible as there are many
boats anchored and traveling back and forth on the water. Know your
compass and depth. The visibility in this park is quite good often
between 35 and 50 feet. For visibility, it sure beats some dive spots
along California’s central and northern coasts.
Depth ranges from about 15 feet near the shoreline to about 100
feet out at the far buoys.
Dave has taken several
dives at this park. One particular dive was a deep wreck dive to 95 feet
to a boat named “Sue Jack” that sunk in 1980. Be sure to pick up a
dive map of the park. There are several sunken ships in depths ranging
from 70 to 130 feet. This dive is well worth it if you have some
previous experience diving.
Dave enjoys filling up
empty water bottles with frozen peas. Once the peas are in the bottle he
then fills it up to the rim with water. These bottles are taken on dives
and provide an excellent method for feeding the fish, especially in
depths of 15 to 40 near the shoreline. Removing the cap and squeezing
the bottle produces a flurry of green peas, which the fish absolutely
love and go crazy over. Initially squeezing the bottle attracts several
small fish, which attracts many more fish. Soon you have a crazed school
of multi-colored fish attacking the peas and sometimes your fingers and
even the bottle. The Garibaldi’s (orange colored fish) are
particularly aggressive. While feeding the fish I have often seen large
fish (up to 6 feet long and quite heavy) lurking in the background.
Fortunately they don’t seem to interested in the peas, only in the
smaller fish.
There are several dive
supply companies in Catalina. They are listed below. I recommend using
Catalina Diver’s Supply for renting or purchasing equipment or for
getting your tanks filled.
Catalina Divers
Supply offer guided snorkeling tours, introductory scuba dives ($85
for the gear and personalized instruction – NOTE: – this class does
not certify you for SCUBA diving), and diving from a boat (the Cat Dive
boat). Catalina Divers Supply is conveniently located about 2/3 of the
way down on the left side of the main pier. You can’t miss the “blue
shack.” For availability you can’t beat their other location at the
dive park near the Casino. In this location they operate out of a
portable trailer. They have extra gear and it’s a short walk from the
water to have your air filled at this location.
You can reach them at
toll free 800.353.0330 or view their website: www.catalina.com/cds
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