Page 107 - California Diving and Surfing
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Catalina Island Scuba Diving
Catalina Island is roughly 30 miles from San during an El Nino and has stayed and populated
Pedro and has a stunning array of dive sites, one particular dive site.
some historical, some newly discovered, and
one whose beauty and bio-diversity has been The “front side” is the leeward (sheltered side)
re-created in an exhibit at the Aquarium of the of the island and offers some of the best
Pacific in Long Beach. The island’s favorable water clarity (30’ to 80’+) and the best diving
location gives it water that is usually warmer conditions in Southern California. This is where
and clearer than the that found at Santa Barbara Cousteau filmed his famous “Night of the Squid”
and San Nicolas islands or the Northern Chan- and “Those Magnificent Diving Machines” TV
nel Islands. The water on the island’s front side episodes. Currents are generally mild and there’s
is normally quite calm. The dive sites on the always a calm and clear site to dive. There is also
island are as varied as the species that we find good lobster and scallop hunting. Several dive
there. There are patches of hydrocoral scattered sites are ideally suited for open water or advance
among the many vibrant kelp forests that bring SCUBA training as well as deep or night dive
many divers to California. In the last couple of training. A favorite site is Ship Rock, a nearby
years the Giant Black Sea Bass (up to 600 pounds) small rock of an island surrounded by 300’+
has made a comeback to several dive sites and depths. This is one of the few sites that you will
joins the garibaldi, mola, nudibranches, bat rays, see the rare, yet docile, Angel Shark. This friendly
moray eels, octopus, lobster, and many other shark can grow up to 6’ in length.
species. Among them is one particular oddity,
the tropical scythe butterfly fish that came here
