Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving in Catalina Island
Imagine exploring a vibrant underwater world teeming with colorful marine life, navigating through enchanting kelp forests, and uncovering sunken treasures beneath the waves.
Welcome to scuba diving Catalina Island, Southern California’s scuba diving paradise. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure that will take your breath away and leave you yearning for more.
Journey to the Dive Sites
Getting to Catalina Island is half the fun! You can take a ferry from:
Each offering a scenic and comfortable ride to the island. As the ferry glides through the sparkling waters, keep an eye out for playful dolphins and majestic whales that might grace you with their presence during the journey.
Upon arrival, you’ll dock at Avalon, the island’s main city and the perfect base to kick off your scuba diving adventure. Most charters take off early in the morning, allowing you ample time to explore the dive sites and return to Avalon by dinner time. Excitement grows as you near the dive sites, aware that an underwater paradise waits for your exploration.
Planning Your Dive Trip: Practicalities
To ensure a successful dive trip to Catalina Island, it’s essential to plan your accommodations, transportation, and dive bookings in advance. Several accommodations cater to scuba divers visiting the island, including:
*NOTE: At the time of writing, the Pavilion Hotel is closed for remodeling.
Navigating Catalina’s Dive Scene
The best time to go scuba diving in Catalina Island is between September and November, offering excellent visibility and ideal diving conditions. Booking your dive trip with a local scuba diving operator, such as Diving Catalina, Catalina Tours and Catalina Scuba, will ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience. With proper planning, your Catalina Island scuba diving adventure is sure to be a trip you’ll never forget.
Gear Up: Scuba Equipment Essentials
When diving in Catalina Island, it’s crucial to have the appropriate scuba equipment to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. Due to water temps, and depending on the time of year you plan to dive Catalina, most divers will want to wear a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit, and perhaps even a drysuit in the cooler months (Some more affordable wetsuits include Neosport, Lemorecn and Hevto. Some more expensive options include the Hollis Semi-Drysuit, Scubapro mens Definition Dry Hd Drysuit and, for those environmentally friendly divers, the Henderson Greenprene wetsuit).
Diving Sites of Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a scuba diver’s dream, offering an incredible array of dive sites, each with its own unique charm. The island’s signature giant kelp forests create a magical underwater landscape that attracts divers from all over the world. The biodiversity and easy access make Catalina Island a go-to spot for scuba diving in Southern California.
Dive sites around the island cater to divers of all levels, from beginner-friendly spots to challenging locations for advanced divers. For example, Two Harbors/Isthmus Cove, on the island’s Northeast side, is home to several exciting dive sites such as:
- Blue Cavern (see below)
- Bird Rock
- Sea Fan Grotto
Each of these dive sites offer unique experiences and diverse marine life. Visibility in Catalina Island typically ranges around 40ft, with the best visibility found between September and November, reaching up to 50-60 ft.
Casino Point Dive Park
One of the most popular and accessible dive sites in Catalina Island is Casino Point Dive Park. Located near the iconic Catalina Casino building, this dive park is known for its rich history, diverse marine life, and the presence of multiple dive operators. The park offers an excellent starting point for your Catalina diving adventure, with a maximum depth of 95ft and easy access to the water.
The underwater world at Casino Point Dive Park is teeming with life, from the mesmerizing giant sea bass swimming through the kelp beds to the colorful garibaldi darting around the rocks. With great visibility and a friendly atmosphere, this dive park is a must-visit location for anyone looking to dive Catalina.
There are also some shipwrecks to explore at the Dive Park. These include the SueJac, a 54ft sailboat that crashed into rocks and sank on November 14, 1980, and a glass bottom boat that is laying upside down in about 65ft of water. Two very cool dives.
The Valiant
And speaking of shipwrecks, Catalina Island is also home to some famous ones, offering divers the opportunity to explore these sunken vessels and the marine life that inhabits them. One such wreck is the Valiant, a luxury yacht that sank after catching fire in 1930. Resting at depths between 70 and100ft, the Valiant wreck is now teeming with mollusks, lobsters, and other marine life.
As you explore the wreck, you’ll also uncover stories and myths surrounding the ship, such as the legend of diamond jewelry worth several thousand dollars hidden onboard. Fun fact, at the time of her sinking the Valiant was owned by Charles Howard, who also owned the famous racehorse Sea Biscuit.
The Valiant and other shipwrecks in Catalina Island offer a unique and thrilling diving experience, adding an element of mystery and adventure to your underwater journey.
Advanced Dive Sites for Seasoned Explorers
For experienced divers seeking a challenge, Catalina Island offers deep and technical dive sites like Farnsworth Bank and Johnson Rock. Farnsworth Bank is a seamount with depths ranging between 65 and over 150ft. A vast array of marine life can be found here, including schools of barracudas, sea lions, giant sea bass and electric rays. This site can be very challenging with rough conditions.
Meanwhile, Johnson Rock feature a series of near-vertical pinnacles that rise from the seafloor and terminate underwater. With depths ranging from 30 to 90ft, these rocky reefs are home to a variety of fish, lobsters, scallops, and other critters. Novice divers can dive here too, but the depth, kelp thickness and surges can make this more of an advanced dive site.
These advanced dive sites offer an exhilarating underwater adventure for seasoned divers looking to push their limits.
Drift Diving at Blue Cavern Point
For those seeking an adrenaline-filled drift dive, Blue Cavern Point is the perfect destination. This pristine dive site offers an exciting underwater landscape filled with caves, caverns, and tunnels for divers to explore. The drop-off at Blue Cavern Point ranges from 30 to 75ft, providing ample depth for a thrilling dive experience.
As you drift through the water, you’ll encounter a Varity of marine life, including:
- harbor seals
- sea lions
- giant sea bass
- soupfin sharks
- calico and sheepshead bass
- lobsters
The strong currents at Blue Cavern Point make for an exhilarating drift dive, allowing you to effortlessly glide through the underwater world and take in its breathtaking beauty. This is not a dive for beginners and divers should have experience in drift and current diving.
The Underwater Wonders of Catalina
As you can tell from the above, beyond the kelp forests, Catalina Island’s underwater world boasts an incredible variety of marine life. Each dive site allows divers an opportunity to encounter different species and underwater landscapes.
While making your way through kelp forests and rocky reefs, you’ll encounter captivating marine life such as black sea bass, octopus, angel sharks, and scythe butterflyfish, in addition to the marine life named above. Humpback whale sightings are also possible, though rare and dependent on the season.
No matter where you dive in Catalina, the island’s underwater wonders will leave you in awe of its beauty and diversity, making it a perfect destination for Catalina divers.
Shore Diving Simplified: Tips & Tricks
Regarding shore diving in Catalina Island, here are several expert recommendations that can make your experience more enjoyable and seamless. First, consider reaching out to local dive shops like Diving Catalina or Catalina Scuba, as they can provide you with up-to-date information on the best dive sites and conditions.
Navigating around dive sites like Casino Point is relatively simple, but it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the entry and exit points, as well as any potential hazards.
By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be well-prepared for a successful and exciting shore diving adventure in Catalina Island.
Preserving the Ocean Floor: Eco-Diving Practices
As divers, it’s our responsibility to protect and preserve the delicate marine ecosystems of Catalina Island. Eco-diving practices, such as participating in underwater cleanups and collecting data for conservation efforts, help ensure these habitats remain intact for future generations. By respecting the marine ecosystem and not disturbing or harming the marine life and their habitats, we can support sustainable tourism and the island’s economy.
Catalina Island’s marine ecosystems face various threats, including over fishing, pollution, invasive species and toxic chemicals like DDT. By adopting responsible eco-diving practices, we can help mitigate these threats and contribute to the conservation of Catalina Island’s underwater beauty.
Other Activities
While diving is a significant attraction in Catalina Island, there’s plenty more to explore on this charming island. Activities such as golfing, hiking, and visiting museums offer a diverse range of experiences for visitors to enjoy.
The Catalina Casino
The historic Catalina Casino, built in 1929, is a must-visit landmark, showcasing the island’s rich history and architectural prowess. Don’t worry if you are not much of a gambler as casino here is Italian for a meeting place.
Outdoor activities
For those who love the great outdoors, Two Harbors offers excellent hiking opportunities, while the island’s golf course provides stunning views.
The annual Catalina Wine Mixer
Of course you can’t forget the Catalina Wine mixer! Yes Step Brothers fans it is actually a real thing!
As the site says, join them for “dancing, fantastic food and lots of fine wine.” There is also a showing of the hilarious movie Step Brothers too. “Did we just become best friends? Yep!” Must have tickets to enter and must be at least 21 years old.
With so much to see and do in Catalina Island, there’s never a dull moment, making it the perfect destination for a well-rounded vacation.
Wrapping Things Up
Catalina Island is truly a scuba diving paradise, boasting diverse marine life, enchanting kelp forests, and a wide range of dive sites to suit all skill levels. From exploring the iconic shipwrecks to challenging yourself with advanced dive sites and drift diving adventures, Catalina Island offers unforgettable underwater experiences.
By planning your trip thoughtfully, adopting eco-diving practices, and making the most of the island’s topside treasures, your Catalina Island scuba diving adventure will be a trip of a lifetime!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catalina Island good for scuba diving?
Catalina Island is an ideal spot for scuba diving, boasting crystal clear waters and an abundance of sea life. Whether you explore the magical kelp forests or swim with playful sea lions, the Avalon Bay area offers a truly unforgettable diving experience.
Where is the best place to dive in Catalina Island?
If you’re looking for the best place to dive in Catalina Island, look no further than the incredible Isthmus Reef, Farnsworth Bank, Little Farnsworth, Church Rock, Seal Rocks, Lion’s Head, Eagle Reef or Ship Rock. All offer unparalleled scuba diving experiences!
What is the best time to scuba dive in Catalina Island?
With visibility at its peak, the best time to scuba dive in Catalina Island is between September and November.
“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay
