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Courses and Certifications

Dive Program Overview Dates & Rates

Our dive program takes advantage of the best diving in Southern California. From majestic kelp forests to rocky reef, to eel grass beds, to sandy bottom, all our dive sites are fantastic and chock full of marine life.

Shore Diving

Most diving at Catalina Sea Camp is done from shore at Toyon Bay. Campers may enter the water doing a shore/surf entry or from our floating dock doing a giant stride entry. Toyon Bay is mostly sandy bottomed, with rocky reef and emerging kelp forests on either end. Pier pilings and reef balls add structure to the middle of the bay.
Our confined water diving area is a buoyed off section adjacent to the pier.  It has a sandy bottom with depths to about 20 feet (6 meters) with multiple bottom lines and floated ascent/descent lines.

Boat Diving

Boat diving is done aboard the chartered vessel, the SCUBA Cat operated by Catalina Divers Supply out of Avalon.  The boat makes morning and afternoon trips to areas with the best diving conditions on the island.  Common destinations include Twin Rocks, Bird Rock, Ship Rock, the West End Quarry (the Crane), and Ripper’s Cove.

Dive Park Diving

Campers have the opportunity to dive at Casino Point, the oldest protected area on the island.  The Dive Park is open to the public and is one of the best dive sites on Catalina.  Abundant kelp forests, marine life, and frequent sightings of Black Sea Bass make it a camper favorite.  Divers use cement stairs for entries and exits.

Night Diving

Campers can participate in night dives during elective program evenings (3 elective evenings per session).  Participation in a night dive is required for Advanced and Master Diver certifications and is optional for other courses.

Diving Courses & Certifications

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Skin Diving Videography

This course develops skin diver videography skills! Campers can capture their underwater experiences at dive sites all over the island.  Basic of digital video editing will be practiced and a compilation video will be shown on the final night.

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Skin Diving Photography

Great for new and experienced snorkelers. Campers use digital cameras in underwater housings to capture the underwater world.  Campers take home a portfolio of their photos and participate in the final night underwater imaging showcase.

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Advanced Skin Diving/Snorkeling

Designed for experienced snorkelers to refine their skills and extend their limits.  Campers explore Toyon Bay and other beautiful dive sites up and down the coast of Catalina.

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Skin Diver/Snorkeler

This course gives campers the skills and confidence to explore the underwater world safely! A perfect course for those who have never been snorkeling and experienced snorkelers alike.  Campers get to snorkel at a variety of dive sites on Catalina Island!

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Kelp Restoration Diver

Be a part of CIMI’s new Kelp Restoration Project!  Campers will be active participants in the effort to restore kelp forests at Toyon Bay.  Campers will gain experience with multiple data collection and survey techniques, invasive algae removal, scientific underwater photography and videography, data entry and management, and kelp introduction.  These are great skills for divers hoping to pursue scientific diving or those who want to contribute to the health of our local marine ecosystem.  Upon successful completion of the course (dives and exam) you will receive the NAUI Underwater Naturalist certification.

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Underwater Videography & Photography

Designed to give divers the skills to capture the underwater world, our video and photo courses take divers to the most picturesque dive sites on the island. Multiple levels of courses are offered based on camper’s prior experience.

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NAUI Master Diver

This course trains divers to the highest level of recreational scuba certification, ideal for those interested in pursuing dive leadership. Content covers in depth scuba physics, physiology, and environmental principals, as well as a wide variety of dives and dive sites. Prior Open Water, Advanced, and Rescue certification is required.

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NAUI Rescue Diver

This course focuses on diving rescue skills as well as prevention of diving incidents and accidents. First Aid and CPR certification is also included. Prior Open Water and Advanced certification is required.

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NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver

In this course, campers advance their dive skills and certification in a variety of sites and conditions with deep, night, navigation, boat, buoyancy, and rescue skills dives! Prior Open Water certification is required.

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NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver

Through this skills and content based course, campers can earn their open water scuba certification, which can be used all over the world! The course is thorough and rigorous, prior water comfort and snorkeling experience is required.

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Try Dive/Discover Scuba

Try Dive is the perfect course for those interested in an introduction to scuba diving before pursuing a certification. Campers learn basic skin diving and scuba skills, safety rules, and gear handling while enjoying Catalina’s underwater world!

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Snorkeling

Campers learn basic snorkeling (aka skin diving) skills and gain confidence in the water while exploring some of the best dive sites on Catalina Island! Advanced skills and underwater photography options are available for those with experience.

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Catalina Diver

This course is a Sea Camp favorite! Campers gain skills planning and leading their own dives, while working on buoyancy, at as many different dives sites as possible! This is not a certification course, prior Open Water certification is required.

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NAUI Night Diver

Bioluminescent plankton and nocturnal marine life transform Toyon Bay when the sun goes down, opening up a whole new world for divers! Hosted during evening elective nights, campers have the opportunity for three night dives and the chance to earn a Night Diver Certification. Prior Open Water certification is required, night snorkeling is available for those without certification.