Santa Monica for 3 days, worth bringing gear?

[nenrandir]

As topic says, I'll be going to Santa Monica for three days. Are there nice accessible dive sites? Will be there at the beginning of August, so I'm also wondering about water temp (aka which wetsuit?).

 

[nenrandir]

Ok, bumping this. Hard to find info on freediving, but I found this Scuba-site:

http://www.ecodivecenter.com/content/southern-californias-best-beach-dive-sites

Does anyone have info on the freediving-friendlyness of these sites?

 

[Natural Selection]

Are you spearfishing or just freediving? Most people down south use a 7 mil but you could use a 5 mil.

 

[nenrandir]

Just freediving. Nothing advanced this time, but it'd be nice if it's possible to find some nearby divespot with kelp forest or so.

I'll go light and use my swimsuit (1-2mm) and dive CNF-style, won't be able to bring more gear.

 

[Fish-hunter]

nenrandir, I use 5mm wetsuite now as for snorkeling as for spearfishing. Sometimes it is quite cold underwater but it is more important what temperature is at the top. For example in San Diego several days ago I was hot in my 5mm. But in LA area it is quite good. 7mm could be hot for me. My friend, he is a SCUBA diver, uses 7mm suite. But he is underwater all the time during he dive. I recommend you to use 5mm. If you go to San Diego you can use even 3mm (depends on how long you'll be in water and how deep as well).

 

[Natural Selection]

Fish hunter, how has the fishing been in so cal?

Yes since you will spend a lot of static time on top, that's the more important temperature. However I always like to err on the warmer side, because its easy to cool down by flushing your suit if your warm. If your cold, there's not much you can do.

 

[Fish-hunter]

Fish hunter, how has the fishing been in so cal?

I was at spearfishing just one time there and caught nothing But going to correct that situation. Hopefully on this weekend if find a partner.