Snorkeling off CA coast?

[Robrph]

Taking the Mercury next April down the California coast and into Ensanada,Mexico. Any decent snorkeling sites off Monterey or Catalina Island? Would gladly take our snorkel equipment along if it's worthwhile. Thanks for your input.

 

Rob

[starsjohn]

Catalina Island has good snorkeling from the shore near the Casino. Bring a 7mil wetsuit or rent one from the pleasure pier dive operators. Would advise a hood, booties, and gloves as well.

 

Right now, the visibility underwater is near 60 feet, rated excellent.

 

John

[Lou33]

The water off Monterry is very cold all year. A full wetsuit is a must. It is a great place for Scuba, but maybe not for snorkeling because the visability may be 10-20 feet.

[lbhafen]

John is right, Catalina has a nice underwater park right behind the Casino called Casino Point. There are lots of Gharibaldi, Kelp bass, Sheephead and other fish. Since the fish are protected, they are numerous and not skittish. There are mostly divers there, but some snorkelers as well. There is a dive shop annex right there behind the casino. Here is their web site:

 

http://www.catalinadiverssupply.com/index.htm

 

You will probably want a wet suit as the water will be in the 60-70 degree range, the scuba shop there at the Casino will rent them. I have attached a picture of a sheephead that I took in the park. Don't know whether that will work or not.

 

Keith

[starsjohn]

Keith,

 

Your photo came in nice and colorful.. These sheephead are interesting fish with their gnarly teeth used to pick food from the rocks. Tje Garibaldi are brillant orange and very plentiful and pretty. Might see lots of rock bass in their chekerboard patterns. The underwater park used to have a underwater trail with markers, but I have not done it in years. I just recently scuba dived further south on the island and found giant black sea bass and nice kelp strands plentiful. I am refitting my boat with new twin diesel engines and will be diving the island again on a regular basis.

 

Good diver might inquie about diving with the regrowing population of White Sea Bass that began to appear near the Spring months. These prized game fish grow to over 50 pounds and abound on the other side of the island from Avalon.

 

Cheers, John