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1957 Construction begins of Catalina Divers Supply the first dive store located on Catalina Island!
1960 Carl & Maggi Koehler of Catalina Divers Supply provided first ever island-based dive boat (later becomes a cover story for Skin Diver magazine).
1962 A section located along the Casino jetty was roped off by Carl Koehler of Catalina Divers Supply. The area located on the outside harbor and was called the Avalon Underwater Park. C.D.S. provided the line, weights, buoys, markers and labor.
1962 In celebration of the Avalon Underwater Park, Jacques Cousteau and Tommy Tompson, then U.S. head of U.S. Divers, donated a portable recompression chamber to the City of Avalon. Catalina Divers Supply operated the unit under the supervision of Dr. Robert Staff. This chamber led to the larger more sophisticated chamber which is now operated by U.S.C. and is located at Two Harbors, CA (Catalina Island).
1965 The Avalon City Council approved the design of the dive park and designated the area to be set aside for sport diving. This became the first City-authorized non-profit underwater park in the United States (and maybe in the world!).
1965 A barge operated by Catalina Divers Supply was moored in the Avalon Underwater park. The barge was supplied with sales, rentals, air fills and repairs.
1967 Catalina Divers Supply is featured on the cover of Skin Diver Magazing. The first Scuba Cat is pictured with owners Maggi & Carl on board.
1977 Marks twenty year anniversary for Catalina Divers Supply.
1977Catalina Divers Supply opens a shore-based operation at the Avalon Underwater Park. The "Air Van" provides sales, rentals, air fills and repairs.
1980 The Avalon Harbor clean-up begins it's first year! The effort is spearheaded by Avalon resident Dennis Reitinger with the help of local and mainland divers. Catalina Divers Supply supplies divers with free air.
1982Catalina Divers Supply opens a third location at the Lovers Cove Marine persrve. Mask, Snorkel and fin rentals at Lovers Cove becomes the new focal point for C.D.S.
1985 John and Susan Mello enter as new owners of Catalina Divers Supply.
1986 Catalina Divers Supply open it's doors daily year-round, one of the first attraction businesses in Avalon to do so.
1991 The charter vessel Cat Dive begins operation through Catalina Divers Supply.
1993 Marks the thirty-sixth year that Catalina Divers Supply has been responsible for maintaining the dive park.
1997 This marks the 40th yearCatalina Divers Supply has been located on the Pleasure Pier proudly serving the diving world!
1999 Catalina Divers Supply continues to make history and contributions to the SCUBA diving world. Our commitment to you, the diver, is evidenced in our efforts (in conjunction with the City of Avalon) to provide improvements to the Casino Point Underwater Park. Already, the steps are completed for entering the water. Shower facilities and changing rooms exist on the road into town, and rest rooms are on site.
2000 The SCUBA CAT is introduced in the summer to initiate the year round operation of a dive boat for Catalina Divers Supply. Especially made for dive style charters the Scuba Cat delivers the smoothest ride around Catalina Island. This 46ft fiberglass hull is a sleek, streamlined machine much improved from its namesake from the 1960's. Decked out for day or evening charters you ride in luxury when you dive from the Scuba Cat!
2001 The demolition of the original building on the Pier takes place in late winter as the entire Pier is refurbished with new wooden planks and pylons are inspected. A new building for Catalina Divers Supply was built off site and crane lifted from a flat bed on to the original site on the Pier.
2002 Easter brought the re-opening of the Pier location after a new building was placed on the original site. The new building is a larger, more modern version of the original shop on the pier but still provides the best location for SCUBA and Snorkel rentals or sales.
2008 Catalina Divers Supply Celebrates 50 Years of business on Catalina Island. A noteworthy anniversary for any dive shop, and our crew members are ready for the many great years of diving to come!
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