Dive Schedule

Dive Schedule

NOTE: Dives are planned well in advance, but are dependent on weather and ocean conditions. If in doubt, contact the Dive Coordinator. If you are not a club member yet, you will need to sign a waiver in order to dive with the group. This can be done at the dive site.

Aug. 08 - By popular demand and approval from the board of directors the club beach dives are being move to Sunday mornings instead of Saturday mornings, on a trial basis.

October 2008

10/25 - Spectre
date: October 25 (Saturday)
boat: Spectre (Ventura)
contact: Sport Chalet (800-348-3794, Chris Graetz)
destination: Anacapa/Santa Cruz Islands
board time: 11 am
departure time: 12 noon
return time: 10:30 pm
cost: $103.50
notes: 3 afternoon dives + 1 night dive; food + air fills
details: We will be heading to Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands for 3 afternoon dives and a night dive! This is just a month into lobster season, so I’m sure we’ll be heading to a spot where you can catch your own dinner. Anacapa and Santa Cruz offer diving for all abilities and interests. You may board after 11 am for a 12 (noon) departure. We arrive back at the dock at 10:30 pm. Contact Sport Chalet (800-348-3794, ask for Chris Graetz) to book your spot. Mention your membership in the Pacific Explorers to reserve this super value: only $103.50!
10/19 - Malaga Cove
The October beach dive is at Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes on Sunday October 19 at 9AM. The walk down to the beach is very steep but the road is paved. This is a fairly protected beach with usually small surf this time of year. You have the choice of entrances either over rocks or sandy beach. Depths are typically 20-25 ft. Directions are a little complicated; take 405 south to Hawthorne Blvd. Right on Hawthorne to Via Velmonte (Via Velmonte is just past PCH), right on Via Velmonte to Palos Verdes Drive N, right on Palos Verdes Drive N to Palos Verdes Drive W, left on Palos Verdes Drive W to Via Almar, right on via Almar, right onVia Arroyo then right on Paseo del Mar. Look for Gazebo on bluff and you’re there.

September 2008

9/13 - Sundiver
date: September 13 (Saturday)
boat: Sundiver (Long Beach)
contact: Dolphin Dive Center (626) 447-5536
destination: Catalina
board time: 6 am same day; after 8 pm the night before
departure time: 7 am
return time: 6 pm
cost: $130
notes: steel 85 tanks and weights provided; 3 dives + meals
details: Catalina is a classic Southern California dive destination. Catalina has it all: walls, pinnacles, rocky shallows, and sandy bottoms. It also has a wide variety of sealife. You might see the uncommon scythe butterflyfish or the giant black sea bass that is becoming a frequently-seen fish. September has the warmest water of the year in the Southern California Bight, so don’t miss this opportunity to dive! Mention to the dive shop that you are a Pacific Explorer to receive the club price.
9/7 - La Piedra
The September club beach dive is scheduled for Sunday September 7th at 9AM. This is a spot I am sure most of you have never tried. La Piedra beach is just west of El Matador on PCH. Take PCH west past Zuma, Broad Beach and El Matador, La Piedra is the next beach just after El Matadore and it is plainly marked. There is plenty of parking for a fee, $4.00. Craig Hoover who scoped this spot out for me and considers this a better spot than El Matador. This is an advanced dive and is quite a hike down to the beach with a rocky entry and a bit of a swim to the reef but well worth it. If the conditions are good you will not be disappointed. Hope to see you there.
9/27 - Leo Carillo LOBSTER!!!
The bonus club beach dive will be a night lobster dive Saturday evening September 27th at Leo Carrillo north. We will meet west end of the parking lot at 6:00PM, sunset is at 6:39PM. Take PCH west past Zuma to Leo Carrillo parking lot entrance on right. Parking is $10.00. I can almost guarantee that you will get some bugs here. See you guys there.

August 2008

8/23 - Great Escape
date: Aug 23 (Saturday)
boat: Great Escape (Long Beach)
contact: Reefseekers (310) 652-4990
destination: Santa Barbara Island
board time: 9 pm Friday – 1 am Saturday
departure time: 1:30 am (1 and a half hour past midnight) Saturday
return time: 6:30 pm
cost: $150/160 (early price if booked and paid at least 2 weeks prior to trip)
notes: NO nitrox or mixed gases; NO rebreathers
details: Santa Barbara Island offers a terrific variety of dive sites. There are many opportunities for sea lion and seal encounters since they haul out at SBI. A number of sites have the uncommon purple hydrocoral, quite a stunning sight. Other sites have thick kelp forests. It’s a long trip to SBI, but well worth it! Be certain to mention that you are a Pacific Explorer when you book the trip for a 10% discount.
8/16 - Leo Carillo Club Picnic
Well it’s that time again, Saturday August 16th at 9AM is the annual beach dive and picnic. It will be held again at Leo Carrillo. Take PCH west to Leo Carrillo and make a right into the parking lot, after paying $10.00 fee take road all the way to parking lot and you’re there. Last year we had a turnout of 50, this year let’s top that and I won’t make you dive if you don’t want to. It is a potluck and there are BBQ’s for hot dogs and hamburgers. So bring your sunscreen, easy-ups, lounge chairs and there should be a good time for all.

July 2008

7/26 - Great Escape
date: July 26 (Saturday)
boat: Great Escape (Long Beach)
contact: Reefseekers (310) 652-4990
destination: San Clemente (backside)
board time: 9 pm – midnight Friday
departure time: 12:30 am (half hour past midnight) Saturday
return time: 7 pm
cost: $150/160 (early price if booked and paid at least 2 weeks prior to trip)
notes: NO nitrox or mixed gases; NO rebreathers
details: The backside of San Clemente is infrequently visited due to its exposure to the open ocean. This means that the diving is very pristine. I was wowed during my last visit to San Clemente. The diving was lush – abundant and diverse variety of different species of animals and plants. If weather is good, this could be a fabulous trip. The Great Escape has super food, comfortable bunks and cabins (extra fee for these), and a very roomy deck. Be certain to mention that you are a Pacific Explorer when you book the trip for a 10% discount.
7/19 - Nicholas Canyon
July’s club beach dive is Saturday July 19th at Nicholas Canyon beach at 9AM. Directions are as follows; take PCH west past Decker Canyon Road, Nicholas Canyon is on the left just before you start down the hill to Leo Carrillo. There is plenty of pay for fee parking. It is a bit of a walk to the beach but well worth it. It is a strong reef with lots of life, in fact a few years ago on a club beach dive we saw an electric torpedo ray, please don’t touch. Surf permitting this is an easy sandy beach entry and exit. This year we have had excellent turnouts for our beach dives, let’s do it again and I promise water temperatures in the mid sixties.

June 2008

6/15 - Cee Ray
date: June 15 (Sunday)
boat: Cee Ray (Long Beach)
contact: Reefseekers (310) 652-4990
destination: Catalina (Italian Gardens/East End)
board time: after 9 pm Saturday, or before 6:45 am Sunday
departure time: 7 am
return time: 5-6 pm
cost: $130/140 (early price if booked and paid at least 2 weeks prior to trip)
notes: NO nitrox or mixed gases; NO rebreathers
details: Italian Gardens is well-known for its resident group of Giant Black Sea Bass. These fish are easily approached and quite a sight to see. Boats visit the East End of Catalina less often. It is very close to open ocean, so there is a higher chance of seeing pelagic fishes. Be certain to mention that you are a Pacific Explorer when you book the trip for a 10% discount.
6/7 - El Pescador
The June club beach dive is scheduled for Saturday June 7th at 9AM. This is a spot I am sure most of you have never tried. El Pescador beach is just west of El Matador on PCH. Take PCH west past Zuma, Broad Beach and El Matador, El Pescador is the next beach just before you hit Decker Canyon Road and it is plainly marked. There is plenty of parking for a fee, $3.00. I consider this a better spot than El Matador. It is quite a hike down to the beach and a bit of a swim to the reef but well worth it. If the conditions are good you will not be disappointed. Hope to see you there.

May 2008

5/18 - Peace Dive Boat
date: May 18 (Sunday)
boat: Peace (Ventura)
contact: Ocean Safari (626) 287-6283
destination: San Miguel and outer Pinnacles
board time: 10 pm Saturday
departure time: 12 am (midnight)
return time: 7 pm
cost: $170 (4 dives, meals, air)
notes: advanced dives; nitrox available
details: San Miguel is the northern and westernmost Channel Island. The remote location provides pristine diving conditions. San Miguel sits in an ecological transition zone between the Southern California Bight and Central California, so you'll see species not normally seen at other Southern California dive sites. San Miguel is one of my favorite destinations. The diving is spectacular and I have seen a much greater variety of animal life than elsewhere in So. Cal.
5/30 - Deer Creek
The May beach dive is at Deer Creek. We will meet there at 9AM on Saturday May 30. Directions are as follows: take PCH west past Neptunes Net restaurant, all the way to Deer Creek Road, just past Deer Creek Road make a U-turn and park near the staircase to the beach. The staircase is about twice as long as the one at Casino Point with only about a 15 step walk to the water. This is a strong reef with lots of life. At this beach there is no fee for parking so this is truly a free beach dive, there should be no excuse for not attending.

April 2008

4/19 - Spectre
date: April 19 (Saturday)
boat: Spectre (Ventura)
contact: Sport Chalet (800) 348-3794
destination: Santa Cruz/Anacapa Islands
board time: 6 am
departure time: 7 am
return time: 5 - 6 pm
cost: $115 (meals, air)
notes: great novice diving
details: Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands have a variety of dive sites ranging from sandy bottoms to extensive kelp forests. Sea lion encounters are frequent. Since the islands are so close to the harbor, usually 4 dives can be done in a day. Mention that you are a Pacific Explorers member to get the club's 10% discount.
4/26 - County Line
April's club beach dive is Saturday the 26th. We will meet at 9:00AM at 40000 PCH (aka County Line, Staircase or Harrison's Reef). Directions are as follows: take PCH west just past Leo Carrillo, the entrance is a gate just past the county line marker with a large black mail box marked 40000. If you start down the hill towards Neptune's Net restaurant and see the blue roofs of the condos you have gone too far.
There is a fee for parking but it is only 2-4 dollars. It is a bit of a climb down to the beach (about the same as old Marineland). It is a sandy beach making for an easy entry and exit. It is a fairly short swim to an excellent reef. So far this year we have had outstanding beach dive participation, let’s keep it up.

March 2008

3/30 - Truth Dive Boat
date: March 30 (Sunday)
boat: Truth (Santa Barbara)
contact: Truth Aquatics (805) 962-1127
destination: SM-1 and Gosford wrecks off Pt. Conception and Santa Barbara
board time: 8 pm - midnight
departure time: 4 am
return time: 5:30-6 pm
cost: $119 (meals, air)
notes: no nitrox; up to 4 dives are possible, conditions permitting
details: The Gosford is a 4-masted wooden sailing ship wrecked in 35 - 55 feet of water. There is a large debris field around the wreck, great for exploring. There is often a kelp forest covering the wreck. The SM-1 is also known as the Oil Barge Wreck. It is upside down, in 80 feet of water.
3/8 - Malibu Road
The March beach dive is scheduled for Saturday the 8th at 9AM. This dive spot is commonly known as Malibu Road. The directions are as follows; take Las Virgenes to PCH then left to Webb Way, at bottom of the hill, make a right at Web Way and at end make another right. The dive will be at the third beach public access gate, the address is 24604. Surf permitting this is an easy dive with a very short hike. See you there.

February 2008

2/23 - Avalon Underwater Cleanup
destination: Avalon Harbor
cost: $35 if registered before Feb 1; $45 Feb 1 and after
start time: sign-in 7:30-9 am; dive briefing: 9 am; dive: 9:30-11 am
reservations: http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/ecology/underwater_cleanup.cfm
The Avalon Harbor Clean-up is a unique opportunity to dive the harbor at Avalon. You enter from one of several different locations and can dive under the green pier and under the boats in the harbor. There are fish and critters to see, including mantis shrimp (watch your fingers!), in addition to the junk that you bring out of the water. There are awards for unique items retrieved from the water. Also, there is a raffle.
You can dive Casino Point afterwards or hang out and enjoy the scenery. There is even an inexpensive shower facility midway between town and Casino Point so you don't have to stay salty all day.
The registration packet for the clean-up includes a discount coupon for the Catalina Express. So register early and make your reservations!
2/9 - Corral Beach
The February club beach dive is Saturday the 9th at 9:00 AM. Surf permitting this is an easy dive with a short hike and short swim to the kelp bed. Directions are as follows; take Las Vergenes Road (Malibu Canyon) to PCH and turn right, take PCH to just before the 76 station make a U turn and park along the highway just past the access road to the beach

January 2008

1/12 - Escondido Beach
The club beach dive for January is Saturday the 12th at 9:00AM at Escondido Beach. Directions are as follows; take Las Virgenes Road (Malibu Canyon) to PCH and turn right, take PCH past the 76 station to the Escondido bridge at the bottom of the hill. The beach entrance is next to the bridge and parking is up the road a bit on the beach side. If the conditions are good this is an easy dive, hope to see you there.
1/19 - Great Escape
destination: Catalina
cost: $125, includes food and air
boarding: the night before (Saturday) or after 5 am on Sat morning
departure/arrival: the boat departs at 7 am and returns at 5-6 pm.
reservations: 866-488-3262
note: Please mention that you're with the Pacific Explorers. According to Captain Tim, after 8 paid divers we will all receive a 20% discount. This is not a Sport Chalet charter; you will be booking directly with the boat.
Lately the Great Escape has been serving a terrific made-to-order omelette and other fixings for breakfast. They've also been cooking up some fancy lunches including succulent shrimp creole.