| Catalina Island, CA offers excellent diving | | | | and visibility from 20 to 30 feet with quantities of |
| opportunities year around. The following is a snapshot | | | | sea life that you would think is only possible to be |
| of what you may expect when diving Catalina island | | | | seen in an aquarium or on one of those nature |
| in all 4 seasons. | | | | shows on T.V. This is the time of year to see Giant |
| January - March: Expect the water to be the coldest | | | | Black sea bass, huge schools of bait fish, yellow tail, |
| of the year, between 54 to 62 degrees, but you can | | | | bonito, leopard sharks, soup fin sharks and many |
| also expect the best visibility of around 50 feet and | | | | other warmer water fish to many to mention. |
| sometimes much more. The kelp thrives in colder | | | | October - December: As the summer high tourist |
| water so the kelp forest will be lush thick and | | | | season ends, the crowds are smaller and the town is |
| healthy. This time of year you can look for migrating | | | | a little more quiet but the diving is as spectacular as |
| grey whales, jelly fish, white sea bass and plenty of | | | | ever. The water is starting to cool down but with a |
| the usual customers; sheepshead, kelp bass and | | | | good wetsuit it is still comfortable at 65 - 70 degrees |
| Garibaldi. Winter is my favorite time for night diving | | | | and the visibility is improving to 30 to 40 feet and |
| as schools of squid come near shore to mate and lay | | | | sometimes much better. The kelp forest is still |
| eggs. The scavengers are out in full force so expect | | | | teeming with life and there is still a chance to see the |
| to find an abundance of lobster, torpedo rays, angel | | | | giant black sea bass and leopard sharks and some of |
| sharks, horn sharks, sheep crab and much more. | | | | our other summertime visitors along with plenty of |
| Night time turns every dive site into a sea life | | | | the kelp forest locals that we all love to see year |
| wonder land. | | | | around. The Autumn season also marks the beginning |
| April - June: The water starts to warm up to an | | | | of Lobster hunting season when many hungry scuba |
| average of 62 to 68 degrees. This time of year we | | | | divers come around to try to catch these delicious |
| start to see the bat rays out foraging in the sandy | | | | but elusive crustaceans. |
| sea floor and the pelagic fish are starting to come | | | | So, you may need to switch from a 7mm wetsuit to |
| around to hunt as the large schools of bait fish | | | | a 3mm wetsuit as the seasons change but one thing |
| gather near shore. | | | | does not change; Catalina Island diving is among the |
| July - September: Make your reservations early | | | | best diving in the world every month of the year and |
| because this is the best season for diving Catalina | | | | if you have not tried it, you are missing out. Make |
| Island as an almost warm water destination. Water | | | | your plans to visit Catalina Island soon and experience |
| Temperatures range from around 68 to 75 degrees | | | | giant kelp forest diving at its best. |