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Dive Review of Catalina Island Diver's Supply in
The Continental USA/Catalina Island, California

Catalina Island Diver's Supply, Aug, 2002,

by LeRoy Anderson, Utah, USA . Report 71.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This was a dive trip to a very well known location, Catalina Island. I just returned from Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, so I expected to experience the dives around Catalina Island to be alot less fun, being jaded from just visiting a location with mind bending diving. However, I found the diving suprisingly very enjoyable, in fact, I think I had just as much fun in Catalina as I did in PNG, maybe because my expectations were lower. The divemaster, Ron, was probably the best and most helpful, as well as the most competent divemaster I've yet seen. The water was calm and bright, we visited a variety of divesites, including Ripper's Cove, the Quarry, Italian Gardens, Little Italian Gardens, and the Avalon Underwater Park. Swimming through healthy and thick kelp forests among schools of fish with sunlight filtering through the kelp was truly relaxing and scenic. Critters seen included schools of surface smelt, schools of medium sized fish of several varieties, an approximately 2 meter giant sea bass, sea hare nudibranchs about two feet long, spiny lobsters, moray eels, sculpins, spotted scorpionfish, ubiquitous juvenile and adult garibaldis, as well as a tiny spetacular flouescent red and purple goby which was found seemingly everywhere and which I had not noticed in previous dives in California. The underwater gardens, apart from the kelp seemed healthy and abundant. My overall feeling about the diving is that this area is probably underrated, inasmuch as it is local and easily reached. A great place, and a great operation.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Palau, Yap, Papua New Guinea, Cozumel, British Columbia, Little Cayman.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, noCurrents
Water Temp 60-70°F / 16-21°C Wetsuit Thickness 7
Water Visibility 30-40 Ft/ 9-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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