The Avalon Underwater Park is like the sampler appetizer platter. It has a bit of everything so that the diver can taste what Southern California diving has to offer. There are kelp forests, mini-walls, small pinnacles, wrecks, sand flats, shallows and deep diving all in one place. And all these environs are chock full of critters, big and small. The waters are clear and it is easy to get to, easy to dive and, for the most part, inexpensive. When I am approached by somebody from out of town looking for a sampler of what Southern California diving is all about, I don’t hesitate to direct them to the Avalon Underwater Park.
Casino Point Dive Park, Catalina Island / Avalon, CA. We entered from the harbor side and followed the jetty around to the dive park (thank you Harbor Patrol). Kicking It Catalina Scuba. Avalon Underwater Park Emergency Phone On Saturday July 21, 2012 the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, City of Avalon, and the Santa Catalina Island Company dedicated the installation of an emergency phone near the Avalon Underwater Park at Casino Point. Casino Point Dive Park The Casino Point Underwater Park is located next to the world-famous Casino Building. First established in 1962, this park is the first nonprofit underwater park in the country (and maybe the world), and offers the best shore diving in California!
Antique Slot Machine Price Guide. The only place where you can get up to date price information on slot machines and trade stimulators. How much is your machine worth? Antique slot machines are a fun way to add amusement to your game room or living room. First invented in 1894 by Charles August Fey, many antique slot machines are available on eBay. What are the types of coin-operated antique slot machines? Old slot machines come in a wide variety of categories. Antique Slot Machines was started by Bob Levy, who claims to be one of the largest dealers of antique slot machines in the United States. Levy deals exclusively with vintage machines from the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's and a few from the 1950's. You can get an official written appraisal for your antique slot machine from Mr. Levy for a fee of $50. Here you can also view Bob Levy's private collection of vintage slot. If you find slot machine from the 1930s or 1940s for less than $3,000, the chances are good it has been restored. Now if money is no object, you may want to consider purchasing an 1899 Mills five-cent antique slot machine. https://omgmother.netlify.app/what-are-old-slot-machines-worth.html.
Established in 1962 and made official by the city in 1965, the Avalon Underwater Park is the one of the first underwater parks in the world. https://omgmother.netlify.app/three-count-casino-saints-row-3.html. Avalon, on Catalina Island, is the only municipality on all eight Channel Islands. The park was roped off to keep boats out for the safety of divers, but has been expanded throughout the years to include more underwater reefs and wrecks. It now encompasses the area of about two football fields from just to the west of the Casino, the quintessential landmark of Avalon, eastward to the tip of the breakwater.
A large dive staging area is just ashore and concrete steps with handrails lead to water’s edge. What could be easier? Descending into the water from the steps the rocks drop off quickly to 15 feet and then a moderate slope downward from there. There is a patch of gravel and sand directly out from the steps (usually marked with a small buoy) that a lot of classes use as an area for checkout dives. Visibility here is usually poor due to the activity. Head to the west or east. There is easily enough submarine terrain to explore for two or three dives.
To the east are the most interesting reefs and kelp forests. When the breakwater was created, it was laid over an ancient natural reef that is still largely exposed today. Drop to 35 feet and head west and you will run into the Cousteau Memorial plaque placed in 1997 to commemorate the contributions of the famed underwater explorer. Just a touch to the east are the first of three ridges that extend offshore. This is the largest with a sharp drop off and deep crevices. The rocks are just crawling with brightly colored blue-banded gobies (sometimes called Catalina gobies). This is probably the best area to call for Oscar to come to pay a visit.
Oscar is an exceptionally large male sheephead that calls this reef home. Your calling card will be simple: bang and rub rocks together. Large male sheephead feed by scraping animals from the reef as well as crushing urchins and lobster with their powerful jaws. Scraping and banging rocks together is like ringing the dinner bell! (Do not, however, break open urchins as this is a marine preserve.) Oscar will dodge in and out often, confronting the diver head on and very close.
Swim a bit further on and you might be lucky enough to see another large visitor to this reef, a giant black sea bass that appears every summer. Weighing in at around 300 pounds, this guy runs about four feet long and often allows divers to approach quite close.
As you work your way through the kelp forest look for half-moon fish, blacksmith, señoritas, kelpfish, black perch, opaleye, and many more finned inhabitants that like the life among the fronds. Kelp bass, also known as calico bass, are numerous, big, fat and very easy to approach. And, oh, bright orange garibaldi are, of course, everywhere. The further you head west the more marine life you will encounter. In the crevices are lobster, octopus and moray eels. Orange cup coral and gorgonian sea fans decorate the rocks. While this area is not noted for its nudibranchs, you will almost definitely find a Spanish shawl or two.
On the western edge of the park, just under the outer buoy, is the wreck of the Suejac, a 53-foot sailboat that ran up on the rocks in 1980 and sank. She lies bow down with the stern about 55 feet deep and the nose in 95 feet of water, the deepest part of the underwater park. There are a lot of interesting photo angles on the wreck, so take your time before you head back.
The west end of the park, and directly out from the stairs, are more wrecks and wreckage. At the far outer corner is the wreckage of an old swim platform. While not particularly interesting in of itself, it will allow you to get a variety of interesting photo angles on the marine life that call this home.
In this area are the largest sand flats of the park. Here is an excellent place to spot halibut and bat rays. Head back to the east at 50 to 65 feet deep and you will come across a number of other wrecks including the Eleanor (a small sailboat), the Glass Bottom Boat wreck, the Kismet (another small sail boat) and some others. Some of the smaller wrecks have a tendency to move around during storms so you may have to look around a bit.
Getting to Avalon is easy using the Catalina Express boats out of Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. These ferries land on the opposite side of Avalon Bay so you’ll either have to hoof it around to Casino Point (a pleasant walk along the water front), you can hire a taxi, or you can use the baggage service on in the building next to the ferry dock to transport your bags for a nominal fee. Many divers prefer to leave the heavy gear at home (tanks and lead), walk to Casino Point with wheeled gear in tow, and rent tanks and weights at the air fill van on the point.
Dive Spot At-A-Glance
Location: West end of Avalon Bay at Casino Point on Catalina Island
Access and Entry: Shore dive down steps to usually calm waters
Skill Level: All
Depths: Snorkeling to 95 feet
Visibility: Very good to excellent, averaging 40-50 feet.
Photography: Very good with a wide variety of subject for both wide angle and macro
Hunting: None; this is a marine reserve.
Facilities: Phone, restrooms, lockers and air fill van (rents tanks and weights)
San pablo lytton casino slot machines. Oct 22, 2017 This casino sucks bulls cock! All the slot machines make you press the buttons several times before the reels start spinning. I haven't encountered any rude employees yet but rude customers. Go figure it's in ghetto San Pablo! If you have money to burn and are already in the area then that's your life and your money you do you. You must be 21 or over to gamble at San Pablo Lytton Casino. Guests under the age of 21 may be escorted by a parent or guardian, to The Broiler Restaurant only, between the hours of 8am and 10pm. No one under 21 is allowed on the Gaming Floor. We look forward to your next visit. See you soon! The San Pablo Lytton Casino is owned and operated by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, originally from the Lytton Rancheria. What began as a card room has expanded to a full-fledged casino with Class II Gaming Machines, Poker, Pai Gow and more. We Treat Our.
Casino Point Dive Park
Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California
Casino Point Dive Park
December 28-29, 2006
Pictures by Warren Lo © 2006
What can be said about California's Santa Catalina Island? Simply, it is an oasis in the ocean. Located just off the California cost near Los Angeles, it is a short one hour ferry ride on the Catalina Express to Avalon, Catalina's main port town. Thousands of people flock to Catalina every year to enjoy what the island has to offer. There is a ton to see and do. From seeing the sights atop the mountain to shopping in the downtown area, there is plenty to keep you busy. If you're more the adventurous type, there are a number of tours to choose from, including sea tours, jeep eco-tours, parasailing, kayak tours, and yes, scuba diving.
Right in town, there is a dive park right at Casino Point. Though I do not live in California, I am a regular visitor to the area. My good friends Ken and Jaye play tour guide and hosts when I visit. This year was my third trip to the island for some diving. For over-night stays, you can't beat the value of the Hermosa Hotel, which is where we stayed.
The site itself has a concrete stair entry which allows you to gear up and walk right in. Depending on the tide, you may have to be careful of some shallow rocks. There is also a fill station that operates right at Casino Point, though it is not always open. Fills can be obtained right on the pier in town, but it is a little bit of a walk, so a pull cart to transport tanks is highly recommended. Bring lots of quarters, as there are lockers to store away your valuables when you are diving, but it is 75 cents each time you lock up.
Inside the dive park itself, there is a ton to see. From the colourful marine life to the multitude of ship wrecks, it is a photographer's paradise. Hundreds of California's state fish, the Garibaldi, these bright orange fish can be seen scooting around the reef. As well, lots of kelp typically cover the site, growing from the sea floor to the surface. Depths within the part can get well over 100 ft, but there is lots to see at any depth, so dive planning is very flexible.
There are also a number of wrecks to visit, including the Sue-Jac, Kismet, and the Valiant, which is located just slightly out of the park boundary, so permission should first be obtained to dive the wreck. Nearest casino to el paso tx. Along the way, creatures small and large can be seen, including harbour seals, octopi, fishes large and small, and nudibranchs.
Always a great trip, I will be back for more diving. Count on it!
Casino Point Dive Conditions
All Photos copyright © Warren Lo, 2006