Whether you’re snorkeling for the first time or earning your dive certification, Catalina Divers Supply helps visitors experience a side of the island many never see.
For many visitors, Catalina Island begins and ends at the mooring.
After tying up in Avalon Harbor, it’s easy to spend an afternoon strolling Crescent Avenue, enjoying a waterfront lunch and browsing local shops before heading back to the boat. But beneath the surface lies another Catalina — one that many visitors never experience.
From towering kelp forests and bright orange Garibaldi to rocky reefs, sea stars and playful sea lions, Catalina has earned an international reputation as one of the premier diving and snorkeling destinations on the West Coast. Divers and snorkelers travel from around the world to experience the island’s clear water and thriving marine life, much of it found just offshore.
According to Sherri Cline, who represents Catalina Divers Supply, the island’s underwater landscape is unlike anywhere else in California.
“Catalina’s kelp forests are the draw,” Cline said. “They are towering underwater forests just off Casino Point, with visibility and marine life you don’t find at most California dive sites. It’s warm enough, calm enough and accessible enough that it works for a first-time snorkeler and a veteran diver on the same afternoon. Every visitor should get in the water at Casino Point Dive Park at least once. It’s a protected marine reserve right in Avalon, and no boat is required.”
As Catalina Island’s only PADI Five Star Dive Center and the oldest dive operation on the West Coast, Catalina Divers Supply has spent decades introducing visitors to the island’s underwater world. Whether someone is trying snorkeling for the first time or earning a professional dive certification, Cline said the goal is to help guests explore Catalina’s waters safely and confidently.
Today, that experience extends beyond the waterfront with Catalina Adventure HQ, the company’s newest location and third home for Catalina Divers Supply. Located at 1202 Avalon Canyon Road alongside Catalina Taxi & Tours, Adventure HQ serves as a retail store, education center and booking hub designed to help visitors experience both the land and sea sides of Catalina in one place.
“Having both businesses under one roof means a guest can gear up for a dive or snorkel and book an interior tour during the same visit, rather than treating the island’s land and sea sides as separate trips,” Cline said. “Adventure HQ is the basecamp that ties the full Catalina experience together.”
Unlike a traditional dive shop, Adventure HQ offers much more than equipment rentals. Visitors can browse apparel, jewelry, gifts, camping supplies and outdoor gear while also booking snorkeling excursions, guided dives and transportation into Catalina’s interior. The facility also includes classroom space where Catalina Divers Supply now offers the full range of PADI training, from Open Water certification through Instructor Trainer programs.
According to Cline, the new location allows guests to do much more than simply rent equipment.
“Guests aren’t just renting gear or booking a guided dive here,” she said. “They can start as a first-time diver and progress all the way to a professional-level certification.”
The outdoor gathering space adds another dimension to the experience, featuring lawn games and social areas that encourage visitors to relax before or after their adventures. Cline said the company also plans to expand programming at Adventure HQ with guided hikes, outdoor yoga classes and movie nights.
For those new to Catalina’s underwater world, Catalina Divers Supply offers experiences designed for every comfort level.
Guided snorkeling tours at Casino Point provide an easy introduction to the island’s marine life without requiring certification. Equipped with a mask, fins and an experienced guide, first-time snorkelers can explore the kelp forest while learning about the fish and invertebrates that call it home.
Guests ready to venture deeper can choose from Discover Scuba experiences, guided dives, certification courses and equipment rentals offered through Catalina Divers Supply’s three island locations.
“The common thread is that guests don’t need prior experience to start,” Cline said. “They just need to show up.”
As the company continues to grow, Catalina Divers Supply is expanding both its educational offerings and its commitment to marine conservation.
Cline said environmental stewardship remains central to the company’s mission through participation in PADI AWARE conservation initiatives, the annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup and a continued emphasis on eco-friendly retail products that help divers and snorkelers reduce their environmental impact.
Looking ahead, Catalina Divers Supply plans to continue growing Adventure HQ as both an educational center and a launching point for new experiences. Future offerings include guided hikes, expanded conservation education and partnerships that will allow visitors to snorkel at some of Catalina’s more remote beaches.
Whether slipping beneath the surface for the first time or returning to explore another section of Catalina’s iconic kelp forests, visitors quickly discover that some of the island’s greatest adventures don’t happen on land at all. For Catalina Divers Supply, helping guests experience that hidden world has remained the heart of its mission for decades, proving that one of Catalina’s most unforgettable destinations begins just below the surface.
