Sunbathe. Shop. Sip. Stroll. Sightsee. There are plenty of on-land activities to do while you’re visiting Catalina Island. Avalon is such a charming island town, and it truly has a little something for everyone. If you’re more of a water lover, there is so much to explore all around the clear Pacific Ocean waters. Whether you’re an expert underwater or you’re looking to try something new, you’ll have a lot of different options to choose from. Read on to learn about 7 Catalina water activities to try this summer.
1.) Go snorkeling. While you can walk right into the water from Avalon’s local beaches, there are some special snorkeling spots all around the island; you can get there by boat! Snorkeling is such a great way to experience the majestic underwater world of Catalina Island. Seek out a sea hare. Find a spiny lobster. Make your way through the kelp forests that grow throughout Catalina’s waters. When you take a snorkeling boat tour with Catalina Divers Supply, your snorkel gear is included. To go on this tour, you’ll need to be able to swim well and be comfortable in deep water. You’ll take a ride aboard the SCUBA Cat, a boat equipped with a sun deck, exit ladders, and restrooms. While a snorkel trip on the SCUBA Cat is not officially guided, a trained Catalina Divers Supply staffer will accompany your group in the water.
2.) Discover SCUBA Diving. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy SCUBA diving on Catalina Island. With Catalina Divers Supply, you can try SCUBA without the major commitment of taking a certification course. There are daily times available for 2.5 to 3-hour instruction and dive sessions, and all SCUBA gear is included. There’s no SCUBA experience needed, but for this adventure, SCUBA divers need to be at least 10 years old and be able to swim well in deep water. This experience takes place in the Casino Dive Park—a place full of a variety of marine life. There’s even an option to book an underwater photographer to capture this memorable adventure.
3.) You can SNUBA. If you’re interested in a different kind of water activity this summer, you can try SNUBA, a great combination of snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Catalina Divers Supply will send you on an adventure with professional guides who will accompany you below the surface of the water. SNUBA takes place in the first 30 feet below the surface where you’ll be able to see plenty of sea life up close. Adventurers ages 8 and up are able to SNUBA, making it a perfect activity for families.
4.) Take a wildlife tour. When you’ve done snorkel, SCUBA, and SNUBA, perhaps a boat ride could be your next great adventure. On a wildlife tour with Catalina Divers Supply, you’ll explore all along the island’s beautiful coastline. From playful dolphins to amazing gray or blue whales, from pinnipeds to seabirds, there is so much to see all around the island. These 2-hour tours are available from Wednesday through Sunday at 4pm, and they’re best for ages 5 and up.
5.) Dive Avelo. If you’re ready for a new kind of underwater diving experience, try Avelo. Catalina Divers Supply boasts the only Avelo Dive Center in the continental United States. Avelo is an open circuit diving system that consists of a Jetpack and a Hydrotank. The buoyancy control device is actually the tank itself. This great new way to dive helps to provide stable neutral buoyancy.
6.) Try night diving. The night time ocean is an absolutely different experience than it is during the day time. These 1.5 to 2 hour tours with Catalina Divers Supply include instruction and dive time. You’ll need to have your open water certification in order to do a night dive. Come see some fascinating nocturnal creatures like lobsters, moray eels, and the ever elusive, intriguing octopus.
7.) Learn something new. There are plenty of specialty dive courses offered by Catalina Divers Supply through the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) that can help you to develop skills and enjoy more time on the water. Just a few of the course offerings include: underwater photography or videography, deep diver specialty, underwater naturalist specialty, night diver specialty, wreck diver specialty, and rescue diver.
Whatever water adventure you choose, Catalina Divers Supply would love to help. As the longest-running full-service diving facility on the island, we bring more than 60 years of experience to all the water activities that we offer. Catalina’s marine environment is full of so many wonders, and the scenery is always changing. You can visit us on the Green Pier in Avalon, or head over to our location on Casino Way. If you’re ready to plan your adventure ahead of time, give us a call at 310-510-0330.
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