Looking at doing some Snorkeling at Catalina Aug29th

[theweddingparty]

We will be on the Paradise and my father brother and myself are thinking of doing some snorkeling. I hear that there is a park behind the casino that has good snorkeling.

 

One big question is what is the water temp around that time of year and will we need wet suits?

 

Also are there places near by that we can rent the gear when we get off the ship, not sure if we want to do a excursion, just do some on our own from the beach.

 

Any and all help is great, and thank you in advance.

[CruisinCoach]

There are two main areas to snorkle: Lover's Cove and Casino Point. Lovers Cove is a protected area and is very near where the ship will tender. I always have my own gear, but I am pretty sure they rent gear (can't tell you how much though). Casino Point is obviously next to the casino, and is more for SCUBA divers (it drops off rather quickly). You could snorkle there, but its on the other side of the Harbor and really not worth the walk. Stick with Lover's Cove. The water temp should be around 68-70 in late August. Enjoy.

[theweddingparty]

Thank you very much, I found the place that rents at casino point, and the cost does not look to be to bad, they also said they work of the peir as well. We may just have to try lovers cove and then maybe head over to casino point if there is time.

 

Thanks again.

[cruzegirl]

I have not been to Lovers Cove but have been diving in Casino Point.. It really is more for diving. You'll understand when you get there... Or google Casino Point or Catalina.... But make sure you take your wetsuit.... The water temps are still cool.... They are in the high 50's-low 60's......brrrrrr.......:rolleyes:

[davis_high]

We're going to Catalina in November. How's the water temp then? Is it even worth the bother of snokeling there? I've also heard that you can kayak there. Does anyone have any experience with this?

THANKS!!!!

[CSloan]

We were there a couple of years ago.... I took my own gear, but rented a 1/2 wetsuit right there at Lovers Cove. The snorkeling was, ok - but not great. There is a tourist "submarine" that passes by the snorkeling area frequently. When it comes by you have to swim back toward the shore, which was kind of annoying.

 

We were there just a day trip from Long Beach (land vacation). Not sure I'd make a special trip there again just to snorkel, but, if it were a port stop on a cruise, then I would definitely do it. If you do a google search for snorkeling lovers cove catalina you'll find some info like this one. When I researched it before, I found a great map of the snorkeling areas - but can't find it now. As I recall, there are other snorkel spots, but Lovers Cove is the best known. The Casino area had tons of scuba divers.. didn't notice any snorkelers there.