1-Tank Guided Kelp Forest Dive At Casino Point

Catalina Island is famous for its rich and diverse marine ecosystem, especially in the protected waters of the Casino Point Dive Park. One of the biggest highlights is the lush giant kelp forest, home to hundreds of species of marine life. As you weave through the towering stalks of kelp, you’re likely to encounter Garibaldi (California’s bright orange state fish), kelp bass, sheephead (which change sex as they age), and blacksmith.

Look closely among the rocks and you may spot octopus, moray eels, lobsters, and even the quirky horn shark resting on the bottom. In the sandier sections, divers often see bat rays, halibut, and angel sharks. Colorful nudibranchs, sea stars, and urchins are abundant too, decorating the reef like underwater confetti. And don’t be surprised if a sea lion swoops by playfully—these curious creatures love to interact with divers.

Catalina Island is located about 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, and the only way to get there is by ferry or private boat. Because your scuba diving tour takes place on Catalina Island (not the mainland), you’ll need to arrange transportation in advance to ensure you arrive on time for your guided dive. Most divers take the Catalina Express ferry, which departs from ports like Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point and lands in Avalon, where Casino Point Dive Park is just a short walk away.

Ferry seats often book up—especially on weekends and during summer—so it’s highly recommended to secure your spot on the ferry before booking your dive tour. Once your transportation is confirmed, you can match your dive time accordingly and ensure a smooth day of adventure.

Catalina Island is one of California’s premier dive destinations, offering exceptional visibility, calm conditions, and thriving marine life just a short ferry ride from the mainland. The island’s surrounding waters are protected as part of the Catalina Island Marine Preserve, allowing marine life to flourish undisturbed. What makes it truly unique is the Casino Point Dive Park—the first nonprofit underwater dive park in the U.S., established in 1964. This dedicated marine sanctuary was designed specifically for divers and snorkelers and is free of boat traffic, fishing, and artifact collection.

The dive park features a mix of rock walls, kelp forests, sandy flats, and even shipwrecks, offering a variety of habitats to explore—all from shore.

You can dive year-round at Catalina Island, but the best time to dive depends on what you're looking for:

• August through October is generally considered the prime diving season. Water temperatures are at their warmest—usually ranging from 70–74°F (21 to 23.5ºC)—and visibility is often at its best, reaching 40 to 100 ft (12 to 30.5 m). These months also bring calmer surface conditions and increased marine activity, including kelp growth at its peak.
• Winter and spring (December to April) bring cooler water temps—down to 57–61°F (14 to 16ºC)—and the kelp forest may thin slightly. However, winter offers fewer crowds, and you might spot seasonal marine life like juvenile fish, nudibranch blooms, or even giant black sea bass in certain areas.

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 12 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 18 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sickness. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. 

Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled ‘non-nano.’

You can dive with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before diving. If you’d prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.

Glasses cannot be worn while diving, but contacts are perfectly fine and recommended for the best experience. Prescription masks are not available for rent, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Additionally, there is an automatic correction effect that occurs underwater due to light refraction, making things appear clearer, but contacts or a personal prescription mask will provide the best visibility.