catalina Island snorkeling

[jetlady]

can someone please tell me why you need a wetsuit to snorkel here?

[cruzegirl]

Because the water is cold...... We may be "sunny southern California" but our water is not tropical warm....lol.... We use full wetsuit gear (hood, gloves, 7mm wetsuit) to dive.... Now we've had warmer than normal temps but your still looking at water below 70's for the most part.....

[PHXscuba]

Jetlady:

I would second cruzegirl's comment. My DH and his brother dove Catalina just after Labor Day (Aug and Sept being the warmest water temps of the year there). His computer logged surface temps of 72F, down to 65-68F at depth.

Remember, the Pacific currents run south from Alaska, unlike the East Coast, where they come from the Equator. Catalina is usually slightly milder that the mainland water temps in So. California. Growing up in SoCal, we celebrated when the water temps got above 70F!

Good luck snorkeling!:)

PHXscuba

"You can't have everything -- besides, where would you put it all?:D "

[jetlady]

Thanks, I would have never thought the water was cold in California. My first new thing I learned today!!