Baja California Diving

I am thinking about going diving in the Baja area in early August. I
have never been diving on the west coast before, so I don't know where
to go or what to do. I am going to be visiting a friend in LA, so I
figured I could drive down and do a little diving while I'm there.
Anyway, how far is it, what are some good dive shops to look for, any
particular dive sites to check out, and what kind of marine life can I
hope to see while I'm there.

Thanks for any/ all thoughts!

-M

"Aladdin" <msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8316b135.0307140456.6f4ce06b@posting.google.c om...
> I am thinking about going diving in the Baja area in early August. I
> have never been diving on the west coast before, so I don't know where
> to go or what to do. I am going to be visiting a friend in LA, so I
> figured I could drive down and do a little diving while I'm there.
> Anyway, how far is it, what are some good dive shops to look for, any
> particular dive sites to check out, and what kind of marine life can I
> hope to see while I'm there.

It's only about a thousand miles or so, good for a quick side trip. Try
Baja Diving and Service out of Pinchilingue, about 10 miles north of La Paz.
Hammerheads, mantas, even whale sharks.

There's diving near Ensenada, but you'd be better off diving north of the
border.

I didn't realize it was that far. I'm only going to be there for a
weekend, fly in on Friday, leave Monday morning. So 1000 miles is a
bit of a hike for such a short trip. Where can I go that's a little
closer to the LA area?


"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message news:<vh6fna89gq9aa@corp.supernews.com>...
> It's only about a thousand miles or so, good for a quick side trip. Try
> Baja Diving and Service out of Pinchilingue, about 10 miles north of La Paz.
> Hammerheads, mantas, even whale sharks.
>
> There's diving near Ensenada, but you'd be better off diving north of the
> border.

If you are looking for a day trip on a boat out of San Diego,
www.gottadive.com and http://www.loisann.com both run trips to the
Coronado's. Sea lions, California Moray, horn sharks, and lots of macro
life. The trip from San Diego takes about an hour and a half, depending on
the boat. Both crews are competent. Have a good time.

TS
"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:vh6fna89gq9aa@corp.supernews.com...
> "Aladdin" <msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:8316b135.0307140456.6f4ce06b@posting.google.c om...
> > I am thinking about going diving in the Baja area in early August. I
> > have never been diving on the west coast before, so I don't know where
> > to go or what to do. I am going to be visiting a friend in LA, so I
> > figured I could drive down and do a little diving while I'm there.
> > Anyway, how far is it, what are some good dive shops to look for, any
> > particular dive sites to check out, and what kind of marine life can I
> > hope to see while I'm there.
>
> It's only about a thousand miles or so, good for a quick side trip. Try
> Baja Diving and Service out of Pinchilingue, about 10 miles north of La
Paz.
> Hammerheads, mantas, even whale sharks.
>
> There's diving near Ensenada, but you'd be better off diving north of the
> border.
>
>

"Aladdin" <msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8316b135.0307151343.28c41dc9@posting.google.c om...
> I didn't realize it was that far. I'm only going to be there
> for a weekend, fly in on Friday, leave Monday morning. So
>1000 miles is a bit of a hike for such a short trip. Where can
> I go that's a little closer to the LA area?

Take one of the LA dive boats out to one of the California Channel Islands.
You can find more info on your choices at californiadiveboats.com .

"Aladdin" <msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8316b135.0307151343.28c41dc9@posting.google.c om...
> I didn't realize it was that far. I'm only going to be there for a
> weekend, fly in on Friday, leave Monday morning. So 1000 miles is a
> bit of a hike for such a short trip. Where can I go that's a little
> closer to the LA area?

Yeah, California may not be Texas, but it's still damn big, especially so if
you include the Baja portion. From your schedule it sounds like you want a
one-day trip to the Channel Islands (probably Catalina) on Saturday.

The boats leave out of the south L.A. harbors (Long Beach, San Pedro,
Redondo Beach, etc.) usually around 7 a.m. (get to the boat at 6 a.m.) and
come back around 5 p.m., allowing for 3 dives. You will need to either find
a boat that provides tanks and weights (some do, but most don't as they
mainly cater to local divers) or arrange for those ahead of a time with a
dive shop. You will also need a 7mm wetsuit (or drysuit) as the local water
is hardly tropical.

DMs stay on the boat out here, so diving will be unguided for the most part.
If you're not used to that, and the semi-cold-water conditions here, try to
find a buddy that knows what he or she is doing. You won't get the warm
water, corals, and tropical critters like you would in the Sea of Cortez,
but you will experience the kelp forest and its denizens and if the
conditions are right, the diving can be just as satisfying as a coral reef.

http://www.californiadiveboat.com/ is the link to check. Those boats that
don't have open boat trips on your date are likely chartered to a dive shop
or club that may have openings and you can get their phone number or e-mail
address from the boat. If you're not familiar with the geography (and it
sounds like you aren't, due to your comment about diving Baja), you are
interested in the portion of the chart beginning with Redondo Beach and
going down the list as far as Dana Point. The other locales (Oxnard and
north, and San Diego to the south) are pretty far from the L.A. metro area.
It all depends where you're staying, though. For instance, if you're
staying in the west Valley, it's probably quicker to drive to Oxnard/Ventura
and get on a boat to Anacapa Island.

The boats listed in Two Harbors and Avalon are on Catalina Island. To get
there, you have to take another boat (passenger ferry) to the island. Some
people like to do this, and there is good shore diving available on the
island, but it's more time and cost effective to get on a diveboat from the
mainland. The difference is that at least some of the Avalon boats are
geared more to tourists and actually provide gear, tanks, and weights, and
even guided dives. The dive shop/boat operator on the island can make the
necessary reservations on the ferry for you or at least give you assistance
in arranging your trip to the island if you decide to go that route.