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Oil Rig Diving Some of Southern California’s most diverse scuba diving can be found just 10 miles off the Los Angeles coast. These active oil platforms are home to a variety of fish, invertebrates and pelagics. Hovering 200 feet above the surface and descending to over 300 feet to the ocean floor, these manmade structures have become massive artificial reefs. There are two reasons why diving the rigs is so special. First, the rigs are located in open ocean, in hundreds of feet of water, so pelagic encounters are not unusual. Divers have encountered thresher sharks, mola mola and jelly fish. You are guaranteed to have sea lion encounters as they inhabit the platform. While pelagic encounters are special, what lives on the rigs is awesome. The beams that support the rigs are abundantly covered with marine life. Corynactis, Metridiums and aggregating anemones, hydroids, brittlestars, bryozoans, crabs, nudibranchs, mussels and scallops are seen on every dive. Rich in color and diversity, diving a Southern California Oil Rig will expose you to an underwater experience you will never forget. Platform Eureka, Elle and Ellen These are three of the many active oil rigs found off our California coast. With permission from the parent Oil Company, we are able to take you to visit them. With no collecting of any kind (oil rig protocol) this is the most dynamic and prolific dive site in Southern California. Located 10 miles off the California Coast, these rigs sit in deep, nutrient rich waters that feed an underwater ecosystem you have to see to believe. Regarded by many, myself included, this is the top dive spot in California. Olympic and Palowan Wrecks The closest of the wrecks, Olympic (3 miles out of the harbor) is an old 258 foot coastal steamer that served its last years as an anchored fishing platform. T-boned by a Japanese freighter in 1940, she sits in 90 feet of water. With the bow and stern still prominent, she makes a great fish habitat and an excellent photo subject.
Catalina Island Recognized by many as one of the top dive destinations in the world, Catalina is a scuba divers paradise. From kelp diving to lobster diving, Catalina has this and more. Each site is represented by it own unique qualities. Blue Cavern Point is a marine reserve, so with no anchoring allowed, makes for a scenic drift dive. Blue Cavern is a large cavern, typically teaming with lobster, found in 70 feet of water. Surrounded by lush kelp beds, makes this a very popular dive site. Ship Rock is a small rock outcropping located one mile from the shore of Catalina. Sitting in deep water, this site is prolific for its fish activity, kelp beds and depth. As with Blue Cavern and Blue Cavern Point, we conduct this as a drift dive, allowing you to simply surface where ever you are and be picked up by our boat and crew. Arrow Point is a beautiful cove that is popular with our photographers and lobster divers. Lush kelp beds and huge boulder structures make this a very special dive. Farnsworth Bank is considered by many to be one of the top 10 sites in all the Channel Islands. A pinnacle that rises from 400 feet to 50 feet of depth, this site is known for its marine life, pelagic fish and purple hydrocoral. Catalina Island Kayaking Come aboard the 65’ Magician for your Catalina kayaking experience. You will be provided with a two person kayak, safety vest and paddles as well as breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. Paddle among the beautiful coves, over the lush kelp beds and clear, calm waters of Catalina Island. Sightseeing could include sea birds, pelicans, bald eagles, sea lions, and possibly even buffalo. The channel crossing often includes encounters with common dolphin and pacific whiteside dolphin. During the whale migration and in late spring and early summer we often see grey whales, blue whales and humpback whales. And did we mention the clean air and the serene setting of Catalina Island. Ideal for friends, families, young and old, a Catalina Kayaking experience is just what the doctor ordered. Call us at 310-714-0548 to book your next adventure. Giant Black Sea Bass A seasonal visitor to the Southern California Islands is the Giant Black Sea Bass. Nearly hunted to extinction, they have been protected for the past 30 years and can now be found inhabiting all the Channel Islands. Ranging in size from 50 to 500 pounds, these docile, inquisitive creatures and their return to our local waters after decades of decline is a blessing for all divers. The benefit of diving with Psalty Adventures is that by taking small groups of divers, and not disturbing the fish, we routinely see 10 to 20 fish on each dive. For an experience you will never forget, make it a point to come with us for a Giant Black Sea Bass encounter you will never forget. Santa Barbara Island Popular for its sea lion rookery, SBI has a variety of sites to include walls, arches and kelp beds. Located 50 miles off shore, it is easily impacted by weather. Due to its relatively small size, there are no protected coves. Swell of any size can turn the visibility to zero, which is why this island gets very little diver impact. So, when we do get there, it is special and something to remember. San Nicholas Island Lying 25 miles southwest of Santa Barbara Island, this island is owned by the military and is occasionally closed to sport diving and fishing activities. When it is open, the water are abundant with fish, lobster, scallops and abalone. The dive sites most popular are Dutch Harbor, East End, and 3-Mile Reef. It is not uncommon to sea electric rays, with depths ranging from 30 to 90 feet. During the season, this island has been known to produce large lobster for the accomplished lobster diver. San Clemente Island. Since 1973, SCI has belonged to the military. Housing a contingent of 5,000 military personnel, it is a perpetual war games arena. Although no one is allowed on the island, diving is still authorized with prior consent. Sea Lions, Giant Black Sea Bass, Mola Mola and Angel Sharks are all possible sightings here. The underwater topography is some of the most spectacular of all the Channel Islands. Due to its distance from the mainland, water clarity is typically excellent year round. Notes on Diving Outer Islands Due to the distances to these outer islands, and the current price of fuel, be aware that although reachable in a single day or on multi day trips, our prices will reflect the fuel burn. When booking a trip, we will present different options and prices for your consideration. We are striving to give you the best experience for your money and want you to be satisfied with your decision to do business with us. California Shark Diving Diving with sharks has become an ever popular experience. As the myths created by films such as Jaws have slowly been answered and divers have become more educated by shows such as Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, shark diving is becoming more popular. Although many divers are keen on diving with Great White Sharks, we at Psalty Adventures focus our experiences with the California Blue Shark and Mako Shark. These predators are pelagic in nature (they roam the open ocean) and follow the food source as it moves about. We have some sites that naturally attract bait schools. These offshore seamounts typically rise from very deep water to within a few hundred feet of the surface and are a bait fish haven. By chumming these areas with ground up bait, our goal is to draw in the food hunting sharks. Since sharks are afternoon feeders, we typically start chumming early to make sure we have a nice chum line for them to follow back to the boat. Since we are chumming from the surface, the first arrivals are quickly spotted by everyone on the boat. With and occasional fish thrown in the water to keep them interested, the divers gear up and enter the water. Although a cage is provided, it is not uncommon for the divers to be out free swimming with the sharks. Safety lines are provided to maintain depth orientation and to stay around the boat, but the experience of being in open water with these majestic creatures is an awesome feeling. Shark masters are provided for in water safety and to make sure your Psalty Shark dive is everything and more than you dreamed. Click here to read more on Shark Diving. Call or E-Mail us with your request. We can give you a quote. Telephone: 310-714-0548
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