Night Diving at Casino Point: Catalina Island's Most Magical After-Dark Experience

Days spent on Catalina Island are always a good time. You’re surrounded by the ocean, shops, eateries, and the daily hustle and bustle of an island town. Catalina is known for having a mild climate and lots of sunshine throughout the year, making it a great place for all kinds of fun in the sun. Catalina Divers Supply offers great ways to spend your days on (and under) the water; there are boat dives, guided snorkel and dive tours, and a number of different dive classes. 

Diving around Catalina during the day, you might see the sun shine through kelp forests as bright orange garibaldi swim by you. However, at night, the island waters are a different place. When you’re on land at night, you can dine downtown in Avalon, stroll the streets, and visit the bars. But if you’re looking for a true adventure: the underwater world of the island offers a whole new experience for night divers. The ocean comes alive in ways you have never seen before. Catalina Divers Supply can help to guide you on a memorable night time excursion under the sea. Read on to learn more about night diving at Casino Point: Catalina Island’s most magical after-dark experience. 

A whole new cast of characters: By day, the waters around Catalina Island are full of fishing boats, glass bottom boats, semisubmersibles, ferries, harbor patrol boats, kayaks, paddle boards, sailboats, pedal boats, and even cruise ships. Under the sea, there are tons of different schooling fish and colorful daytime creatures that are visible to divers, snorkelers, and even swimmers. However at night, there is a significant shift in the ocean population. When you go on a night dive, the creatures–known as the hiders and the hunters–tend to be more active. On a night dive, Catalina Divers Supply will lead you around the abundant sea life near Casino Point, and there is plenty to see there. 

Here are some of the things to look for when you’re night diving around Catalina: 

• Bioluminescence: When you’re out in the water at night near Casino Point, turn off your dive light. Use your hands to make a sweeping motion and stir up the water around you. Then, be prepared to be dazzled by a sparkly glow of bioluminescence. This magical effect comes from a type of single-celled marine plankton called dinoflagellates. These tiny organisms have luciferin and luciferase, substances that emit light when they’re agitated. The dark waters of the night time ocean are the best place to see them shine. 

• California Spiny Lobsters: During the daytime, you may see some antennae poking out from rocks or reefs, but night time is when these crustaceans get really active. Typically spiny lobsters make their way in a group from rocky crevices to deeper water. If you’re really lucky, by the glow of a dive light, you may be able to see a spiny lobster do its signature move: a tail flip, to propel itself backwards and out of danger. 

• California Two-Spot Octopus: A night dive presents an excellent opportunity to see a two-spot octopus in action. Look for their iridescent eye-like spots while you’re on your dive. These magical creatures are known to color shift, and maneuver over and through rocky reefs. Around Casino Point, they’re often out at night to hunt for food like small fish, crustaceans, and snails. 

• Sharks: The smaller, more docile species of sharks are typically the kind that tend to swim around Casino Point. Horn sharks and swell sharks tend to be gliding along the sea floor looking for food at night.  

• Giant Sea Bass: By day, with sunlight shining through them, the kelp gardens around Casino Point are ethereal and teeming with sea life. By night, they are shadowy and gorgeous, and sometimes, they’re home to a giant black sea bass at rest. Do not disturb these sleeping giants; the kelp gardens are marine protected areas, and being respectful of all the marine life residents is key. 

• California Moray Eels: Eels are typically tucked into the crevices of rocks during the day, but night is when they’re actively out hunting. These wondrous creatures tend to swim with their mouths open as they prowl about looking for food at night. They’re not coming to bite you; it’s just how they breathe. 

Night dive notes: Catalina is a favorite international dive destination for divers of all levels. Summer water temps tend to hang around high 60s to low 70s. However, at Casino point, there can be pockets of cooler water as well. Visibility is good in the summer and even better in the fall. When you dive with Catalina Divers Supply, we can set you up with wetsuits, tanks, masks, and other gear you may need. Our expert instructors and divemasters know these waters and their inhabitants well, and they can help you to make the most of a night dive. 

Are you ready to explore Casino Dive Park after dark? Check out our website to book, or give us a call at 310-510-0330.