California Diving News | The Authority in California Diving

A Curious Encounter: Our California “Octopus Teacher”

Dale Sheckler | Marine Life, Marine Life Identification, Mollusks | No Comments

Chances are, you’ve watched the Netflix original film, My Octopus Teacher, which won the 2021 Academy Award for Best Documentary…

The Whale Shark

Marty Snyderman | Fish, Marine Life, Marine Life Identification, Sharks & Rays | No Comments

For many divers, a whale shark sighting is analogous to finding diving’s Holy Grail. Over the years, untold numbers of…

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The “Big-Winged” Whales: California’s Humpbacks

In last month’s Marine Life column we featured gray whales. This time we’ll spotlight humpbacks (Megaptera novaengliae). Blue whales will…

The Silky: The Blue Shark of Tropical Seas

Sleek, Slender and Stunning: Blue Sharks

A Freak of Nature: Anacapa Island’s Underwater Arch

Divers are familiar with bubbles, so the underwater arch at Anacapa Island should not be such a big surprise to...

Safety Stop Strategies

We all know how important it is to perform a 15-foot deep "safety stop" at the end of a no-decompression...

Kelp Diving 101

Once upon a time, before I took up underwater photography, I was a hunter. Off San Clemente Island one day...

An Old Divemaster’s Guide to Preventing Seasickness

There's an old sailor's proverb that states, "The only cure for seasickness is to sit on the shady side of...

Top Ten Tips to See More Fish

California reefs are full of fascinating critters adorned in living color. Our fish are among the most colorful and interesting...

Getting Schooled as a Scuba Diver: Finding the Lesson in Every Dive

A dear friend, a diver with seven decades of diving experience, once told me something that stuck with me. “I’ve...

The Fun of the Hunt: Discovering (and Rediscovering) Local Dive Sites

California divers thrive on new. We love learning about the latest in gear, the most recent ocean science discoveries and...

Beyond Basic Dive Gear: Gadgets and Gizmos that Up Your Game

When I hit the dive center for tank fills I inevitably find myself cruising the equipment area, marveling at the...

Salty Talk: A Diver’s Guide to Seas and Oceans and Bays and Such

Archipelago. I love that word. While it can mean any group of islands close to each other I frequently hear...

Suit Yourself: What You Need to Know — Thermal Protection for California Diving

The rich California coastline offers a bounty of marine life and a range of dive locations to suit every diver....

A Shore Thing: Tips for Diving the California Shoreline

I have had some of my most incredible diving experiences on beach dives. Many frequent beach divers will...

Better Together: The Benefits of Being a Dive Club Member

A person with a wide circle of friends – one who’s always on the go, attending parties and events...

How To Be A Comfortable Diver

Learning to dive is a lot like learning to drive a car. A certification card, like a driver's license, is...

Solutions for Common Topside Problems

I am very blessed to have Dale as my dive buddy. He is great in the water and makes my...

Benefits and Fun of the Social Aspect of Diving

This is going to sound like blasphemy but there is more to diving than just diving. Of course our primary...

Safe Abalone Diving

Each spring Northern California divers look forward to the beginning of abalone season with the exuberance of children waiting for...

Gear You May or May Not Need

Most active California divers also travel to exotic destinations one a twice or year to dip their fins into warm...

How to Choose A Dive Trip

So you've found yourself with a day or two off and a few bucks and you want to go diving....

Top Ten Tips to Keep Your Dive Gear Working Like New

Remember how your dive gear looked and felt when it was brand new? Your wetsuit was flexible and slipped on...

Top Ten Tips For More Enjoyable California Diving

California offers divers both unique opportunities and challenges. Divers become comfortable and enjoy new diving situations by gaining confidence through...

What to Do When the Sea Turns on You

Dive long enough, with multiple dives under your belt, and sooner or later the sea will turn on you. Surprises...

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A Freak of Nature: Anacapa Island’s Underwater Arch

Divers are familiar with bubbles, so the underwater arch at Anacapa Island should not be such a big surprise to...

The Shallows of Monterey’s Submarine Canyon: Exploring Monastery South

Monastery Beach in Carmel is home to two rather different dive sites. The North end of Monastery Beach has relatively...

Enjoying the East End Pinnacles of Santa Rosa Island

Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I saw that our dive boat had reached the backside of Santa Rosa, the...

Mixing It Up at Santa Cruz’s Quail Rock

It was a strange sensation. It was like one minute we were diving the far reaches of the Northern Channel...

A NorCal Coastal Treasure: Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary By Jennifer Stock

It was 1977 when avid diver, career scientist and intrepid explorer Dr. Robert Schmieder spotted Cordell Bank on a nautical...

A New Discovery Off Carmel Bay’s Outer Pinnacle: Exploring the Horseshoe

What makes a great dive site? Clear water? Varied topography? Lots of fish? Colorful invertebrates? While most great dive sites...

Crowd Control: Now’s a Great Time to Enjoy Catalina’s Cherry Cove

When the crowds of summer have gone, divers can safely get into nooks, crannies and reefs of Isthmus Cove that...

Two-for-One Fun at Anacapa: Goldfish Bowl

Just the name Goldfish Bowl makes you think of a fun, cute dive site. And it is. But there is...

Big Fun, No Matter How You Define It: Enjoying Aumentos Reef

On a good day in Monterey many boat divers hope their captains head south to Carmel Bay. While Carmel does...

Where will your next dive be?

Learn about marine life, openings, pricing, visibility, directions and much more from scuba diving destinations across the United States.

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: California Diving News – January / February 2018

Recipes from the Scuba Chef

The monthly recipe column is a celebration of the bounty of sustainable seafood from the coastal waters off Southern California.

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