Avalon Underwater Park
It is perhaps the single
most popular dive site on the west coast of North America. The Avalon Underwater
Park was the country's first city designated underwater park. Established in
1962 by the then owners of Catalina Divers Supply, Carl and Maggie Koehler, the
underwater park is visited by thousands of divers yearly.
All within the boundary of the park you'll find wrecks, kelp, ledges, drop-offs, walls. Definitely more than you can find in one dive elsewhere.
Extending out from the Casino Point is the man-made Casino Groin or Breakwater, built many years ago on an ancient reef. The underwater park extends from in front of the Casino to nearly the end of the groin and out about 50 yards. The entire park is marked off with buoy and rope to keep out boat traffic, although a considerable amount of boats travel very close to the park's boundaries.
Entering the park is easy for the sure-footed. The huge
boulders used to make the breakwater make great stairs, and you can slip into
the water from a ready made dive platform. Over the years unnamed divers have
been adding concrete to the rock formations, allowing an easier entry.
As you slip beneath the water, you'll find yourself in a quick drop-off of 10 to 12 feet. The slope is not gradual, and you can find yourself in 40 feet in a few fin kicks. The park depth averages about 40-45, but you can easily find yourself in 90 feet at the edges of the park on all boundaries.
The waters are almost always calm, as is much of the frontside of Catalina Island. The entire park is clearly marked off with buoys and ropes. No boats are allowed within the park confines, eliminating one possible dive danger. The entire park is a preserve. Nothing may be taken, disturbed or speared; consequently, marine life within the park boundaries is large, plentiful, and very approachable by divers.
On a recent dive I came across two female sheephead fighting for dominance. They were out in the open, away from the reef, hovering just above the sand. Their mouths were gaping wide almost touching. For a brief moment I thought my mind was playing tricks, and I was looking into a mirror placed on the sand. I was able to move within two feet of this "catfight" and watch up close. The advantage of being in a preserve is that fish definitely know they cannot be disturbed.
As we observed this encounter a shadow passed over us.
Thinking the sun had just moved behind a cloud, I glanced over my shoulder to
check and make sure it wasn't a shark instead. Close enough to reach out and
touch was the largest school of fish I had ever encountered. This ball of moving
scales was just off the sand bottom and appeared to reach the surface, a
distance of about 40 feet. The width was only a little narrower than it was
tall. The fish swirled and changed direction and I moved up inside. I can't even
find the words to describe how I felt. I spent my entire diving years chasing
schools of fish; now I was one.
The entire dive was spent finding one magical experience after another. The fish were huge and up close, the kelp beautiful, and growing healthy. The visibility on this day was in excess of 60 feet. Previous to El Niño, you could not appreciate the spectacular visibility because it was obscured by the abundant kelp (as if that's a problem!). With the kelp thinned, you can see more of an expanse of the park and see ledges and drop-offs from a different perspective. With the cooling waters of winter upon us the kelp is getting thicker by the day and starting to obscure some of the hidden treasures of the park again. Try and dive the park soon to experience all mother nature can send us.
Around the corner on the outside of the Casino are restrooms and a phone. Pay lockers are also available. If you don't feel like lugging your gear, taxis are readily available, or you can rent tanks and weights at the air fill van that is open on weekends. Some hotels offer free shuttle service to divers staying with them. Carts are also available for rent from the two dive stores in town. If you are in Avalon for just the day, hot public freshwater showers are available (at a cost) along the road between the Casino and town.
Dive Spot At - A - Glance
Location: On the northwest end of Avalon Bay, Catalina Island.
Access and Entry: A few steps over rocks to a generally easy rock entry.
Skill level: All levels. • Depths: 15 to 95 feet. • Visibility: Excellent.
Snorkeling: Good, but most Avalon visitors prefer to snorkel Lover's Cove on the other side of Avalon Harbor.
Hunting: None, the park is a preserve.
Photography: Excellent, especially good for wide-angle work due to the wide variety of subject material.
Currents: Almost always present, but almost always weak.