Join REEF for our first field survey to Catalina Island, 22 miles off the Southern California Coast. After taking a ferry across the channel, we will spend 3 days diving in typically clear waters and beautiful kelp forests. You will be led by REEF’s Outreach Coordinator, Janna Nichols, an expert in rocky reef fauna. This beautiful sub-tropical destination is also great for your non-diving companions.

Cost Per Person: $858 (double occ), $1,205 (single occ)

What is included: Your package includes 4 nights accommodation at the Pavilion Hotel, located just steps from the beach and bustling Avalon Pier, 3 days of 3-tank boat diving, roundtrip boat transportation from Long Beach Downtown to Catalina Harbor aboard the Catalina Express*, complimentary hotel breakfast, and lunch on dive boat, tanks and weights. *Price subject to change.

Additional fees: A REEF Program Fee of $150 per diver will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leaders, seminar and survey materials. Nitrox is available 32% - $18/tank or 36% - $21/tank (Nitrox discounts available for multi-day use). Transfers to/from the Long Beach ferry terminal is not included.  Daily dinner not included.

Airport/hotel transfer information: The package includes transportation to Avalon Harbor aboard the Catalina Express from the Downtown Long Beach Landing (approximately 28 minutes from LAX - 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802). Other Catalina Express ports (Dana Point, San Pedro) can be used for an additional fee. Out of town participants can fly into/out Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Long Beach Airport (LGB), or Orange County Airport (SNA), and then arrange for a taxi to the ferry terminal. Trips via the Catalina Express to Avalon, Catalina are approximately 1 hour. Participants should plan to arrive in Avalon by 5pm on November 1 and can depart on any ferry November 5.

How to book: To reserve your space or find out more, email us at trips@REEF.org, or call us at 305-588-5869. A $500 deposit will be collected at time of booking. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules.

About the trip leader: Janna is REEF’s Outreach Coordinator, focusing on member relations, field stations, and working extensively with the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Janna is passionate about underwater photography and marine life identification. She has completed over 800 surveys and is the leader of REEF’s Pacific Coast Advanced Assessment Team. In 2003, she received REEF’s Volunteer of the Year award and in 2013, she received Dive News Network’s Diver of the Year Award.

Catalina Kelp Forest. Photo by Janna Nichols.

 Pavilion Hotel

Avalon Harbor and Casino

The iconic Garibaldi. Photo by Janna Nichols.