Download royalty-free Avalon Bay Catalina Casino Point. Catalina, Avalon Bay on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California. Stock photo 428427704 from Depositphotos collection of millions of premium high-resolution stock photos, vector images and illustrations. The Catalina Casino is a large gathering facility located in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles in California. It is the largest building on the island and the most visible landmark in Avalon Bay when approaching the island from the mainland.
- Explore the Avalon Dive Park with this guided Catalina Island snorkel adventure! It's time to feel the Nature! This guided snorkel tour in the Casino Point Dive Park is a must for any one who loves the ocean. You will be engulfed by local aquatic life, kelp & schooling fish while an informative guide shows off Catalina's fascinating marine world.
- Casino Point, Avalon, Catalina Island Explore the best dive sites in Santa Catalina Island, California with our interactive map. Share your own diving experiences & keep track of your dives online!
Avalon Weather
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| Hotels |
| BEACH ACCESS | ||
Once you get to Casino Point you'll find everything is very 'Diver Friendly'. There's an Air Fill Truck located next to the Casino that's open most Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. You can check with Catalina Divers Supply to see if it's open when you'll be there by calling 1-800-353-0330. You'll find Diver Storage Lockers & Rest Rooms at the Casino as well. The Ocean access at Casino Point is extremely easy now that the steps have been added at the entry point. The only advise I can give on entering is to watch the divers before you as they sink below the water - learn from their entry. The steps make it easy, but be sure to use the handrails (they're there for a reason) - the steps can get slippery! Also, be sure to 'time the surge', so you don't get pushed back onto the steps at the waterline. Two simple bits of advise that should make your a little easier. | ||
| THE DIVE SITE | ||
Casino Point is one of the most popular dive sites in California and deservingly so. The city of Avalon has done a great job making the city and Dive Sites very Diver friendly. The Dive Site itself is easily accessible via the stairway leading directly into the water from the walkway. Once in the water, the surf is usually calm or near calm and visibility is always pretty good (15-100'). Sea life is abundant and generally easily approachable. You'll find a lot of great photo opportunities at Catalina, so bring a camera if you have one. You'll find several small wrecks within easy swimming distance of the stairs and lots of other points of interest throughout the Underwater Park. My advise is to just Dive and enjoy the view, you'll come across many interesting things on every dive! | ||
Casino Point Map | ||
Catalina Aerial View | ||
Courtesy of 'Google Earth' © 2005 - Image © 2005 Digital Globe | ||
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| WHAT YOU'LL SEE | ||
Casino Point (Avalon Underwater Park) is a marine preserve and I could swear the Sea Creatures are well aware of it. Perhaps it's the glass bottom Boats feeding them every day to lure them closer for the tourists...or perhaps it's years of protection that has been instilled in their genetics. Whatever the case, you'll find the sea life very curios and unafraid to approach or be approached by divers. This is great sometimes...sometimes not if you're trying to take pictures. There's a reason people travel from all over the world to Dive Catalina Island and it's Kelp forests, they're beautiful and unique - and often taken for granted by us California Divers! I can tell you personally, based on many years of experience and a healthy resume of world dive travel, that Catalina Island is a World Class Dive Spot and should be appreciated for what it is. I applaud those who have protected this tiny Treasure in the Pacific and you'll not regret diving this tiny Island. One group doing a great job protecting this Island is Catalina Conservancy Divers - check them out by clicking the link. You'll find a healthy dose of Pacific Coast sea life here at Casino Point including; kelp fish, horn sharks, Garibaldi, Bass, Opal Eye, Sea Urchin, Gorgonian, Rock Scallop, Rock Wrasse, Sargo, Senoritas, Spiny Lobster, Treefish, Anemone, Sea Cucumber, etc. | ||
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| FACILITIES | ||
Casino Point is set up especially for Divers. You'll find all the amenities including; restrooms right there at the site, Air Fill station, Food, and anything else you may need within easy walking distance. | ||
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| DIVER FRIENDLY HOTELS | La Paloma Shown Below | |
If you wish to stay overnight in Avalon - Below is a List of some of the Islands 'Diver Friendly' Hotels Hotel Atwater Call 800-626-0720 La Paloma and Las Flores Call 800-310-1505 Pavilion Lodge Call 800-626-1496 Seaport Village Inn Call 310-510-0344 | ||
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To Catalina Express Terminal
DIRECTIONS San Pedro TerminalBerth 95 - San Pedro Parking: $12.00 per day. Cash or Traveler's Checks only. (PCI Parking - (310) 547-4357) |
To Casino Point from Catalina Express Terminal
DIRECTIONS Once you arrive at the Avalon terminal for Catalina Express you have Several Transportation Choices:
Casino Point is at the very other end of Avalon's Cove, so be prepared for a walk. For more Info on Catalina: |
EMERGENCY CONTACT
Emergency Assistance: | Recompression Chambers: | ||
EMERGENCY | --911 (Dial First) | CATALINA ISLAND | --(310) 510-1053 |
DAN | --(919) 684-8111 | NORTHRIDGE | --(818) 885-8500 |
| HARBOR DEPT | --(310) 510-0535 | SANTA ANA | --(714) 973-8777 |
| FIRE | --(310) 510-0203 | LOS ROBLES | --(805) 497-2727 |
| SHERIFF | --(310) 510-0174 | ||
USCG VHF | --CHANNEL 16 | DAN (Medical Questions) | --(919) 684-2948 |
Copyright © 1996-2005 |
Pacific Wilderness, Inc. |
All Rights Reserved |
Snorkeling and diving around Catalina draws thousands of visitors every year from around the globe. They come to explore our clear clean water teeming with life and enjoy the unique kelp forest seascape. The Casino Point Dive park is a key feature unlike any other in southern California. A protected area of coastline that is absent of boat traffic thanks to a barrier created by a series of buoys and floating line. In August, the town of Avalon is bustling. A constant exchange of visitors arriving or departing after experiencing their special time on this magical isle. There is also a constant cycle of life to witness in the marine environment. Juvenile fish mature and seasonal migrations pass by. Much of this can be witnessed from this easily accessible shore dive right in Avalon.
Surface Interval
One thing is for sure, the underwater world is never boring, nor are the topside activities you can enjoy in Avalon. August is the last full month that most islanders will consider to be part of summer. Soon children will be heading back to school and the crowds in town will begin to thin. Life will take on a slower pace and hardworking islanders will again have time to enjoy their island home themselves.
Food and Fun
Entertainment
Avalon’s food and entertainment game has been experiencing some significant upgrades over the past few years. All this month the Cafe Metropole hosts live music every Friday and Saturday night. Do you like to sing, or just enjoy the show and/or train wreck of others on the stage? Either way, there is nightly karaoke available at El Galleon located on what locals call front street a.k.a Crescent Ave.
August 23rd offers an opportunity to sample a variety of local musical talent. Hot off the Range has been a local favorite in Avalon for two decades. They have a unique style & repertoire that encompasses just about every genre. Leaning towards Americana, western swing, folk rock, and bluegrass their sound is one-of-a-kind. A free, family friendly show will be presented by Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce on the Wrigley Plaza Stage from 6:00-8:30pm.
Happy Hours
The Avalon Grille will be featuring several options to wine and dine at a discount this month. A daily happy hour will run Monday through Thursday 4:00-6:00pm, and Friday through Sunday from 3:00-6:00pm. Signature starters are also available daily from 3:00-5:00pm. Wine lovers, check out Wine Down Wednesday to take advantage of half-off select bottles of wine from open to close. They also offer an extended brunch on Saturday & Sunday 11:00-2:00pm. You’ll find them on the corner of Crescent Ave. and Catalina Ave. just before the base of the Green Pleasure Pier.
Dining Indulgence
Not everyone knows about the hidden gem within the Holiday Inn hotel. Off the beaten path, nestled in the canyon above the golf course is the Seaport Bistro. Chef Greg Wenger puts forth a diverse menu and also offers up some great deals. Monday features a take-out or dine in special combo of pizza and friend chicken with sides for $25! There are also a variety of all-you-can-eat nights depending on what day of the week you are ready to indulge your senses. These include Chinese buffet Tuesday, Prime Rib Thursday and Fried Chicken Sunday; all of which are delicious.
Summer Sightings
Avalon is a special place for so many reasons and the Casino Dive Park tops the list. The occasional large bat ray can be found camouflaged in the sandy shallows. There are also schools of young barracuda outside the kelp line frequently spotted on our snorkel tours. Of course, there are the local fish friends that stick with us year round. The agressive Garibaldi darts to and from their algae patch chasing off any possible threat including the passing fins of divers. Schools of blacksmith,Chromis punctipinnisof the family Pomacentridae swim together in large numbers usually towards the eastern edge of the park.
Referral Dives
Referral dives, also known as certification dives, are needed to get your SCUBA diver certification. If you want to get certified but can only come to Catalina for a few days there are options. You can complete your online (or classroom) training and your pool (or training) dives at another location. You can then finish your open water training dives with us in the Casino Point Dive Park! In order to complete your Open Water Diver certification, you need to complete four checkout dives. These dives must take place in an open water environment.
The Casino Dive park is the perfect place for this and SCUBA shops all over southern California journey to Avalon every weekend for this purpose. But remember, these dives can only take place after you have completed your online/classroom training and pool portion of the Open Water certification class. These final four dives take place over two days where you will be tested on the skills that you learned during the pool portion of your class. Once you complete the Checkout dives, you will be issued your Open Water Certification Card. Our staff is certified to teach SSI, PADI, and NAUI Checkout dives. Schedule yours today!
Your Next Step
Casino Point Avalon Catalina Island Vacation Rentals
Of course, we can take you through every step of the process to complete your entire SCUBA course instruction on Catalina Island. If you are already certified and interested in increasing your skills, we offer Advanced Diver certification. You can take specialty courses like night diver or dry suit diver to get ready for lobster season this October! You can take it a step farther and complete the Rescue Diver certification course and gain the knowledge of how to best help others in need. What ever your level or interest, Diving Catalina is ready to help you further your love of the ocean and reach your next goal. Visit our home page for a list of our available services.