Catalina Island⚠ data unverified
USA · North America · Pacific Ocean
4.2
/ 5
★★★★☆
Wall-and-reef diving with 4 standout species — a great fit for most divers.
Level Intermediate
Marine life
4.5
Visibility
4.0
Accessibility
3.7
Facilities
4.0
Pros
- Excellent visibility up to 20 m
- 4 standout marine species
- Diveable year-round
Cons
Best for
Plan your trip
$$🛏️
Suggested stay
2–3 days
💸
Cost level
Relative cost $$ · ≈ $325/day
Developed dive town, but options are limited and prices average.
🏨
Where to stay
Day-boat diving based at a dedicated dive resort or dive centre. A manageable dive base with a handful of operators.
🧭
Real daily cost in USA
Around $325/day per person · food $96 · hotel $262
Good to know
- Gentle conditions — great for long, unhurried dives.
- An Advanced Open Water certification is recommended.
📷 Aquaimages at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5
Depth
5–35 m (16–115 ft)
Visibility
20 m (66 ft)
Water temp
15–21°C (59–70°F)
Current
Mild
Best season
Year-round
Certification
Open Water
Dive shops
8
Why go
Catalina Island sits in the Pacific Ocean off USA, a wall and reef system where dives drop from shallow tops into deeper water. Dives run to 35 m with around 20 m visibility, gentle currents and sea temperatures of 15–21°C. Marine highlights include kelp forest, garibaldi, bat rays and sea lions. Diving is possible year-round, typically reached by boat. A good choice for divers with some experience. Open Water certification is sufficient for most sites here.
Site type
ReefWall
Access
Boat
Loved it. Getting there by boat was easy, and the water was a comfortable 15–21°C.
Solid choice for intermediate divers. With a range down to 35 m there's room to work without pushing boundaries.
Worth the journey.