Catalina Island, which is 35 kilometers from the California coast, is a reserve of beautiful life.
From the “mainland” people come here to spend a romantic weekend, walk along the narrow steep streets with colonial houses and play in the Avalon casino, built by the Wrigley’s chewing gum family. And now – also to dive: the island has a reputation as one of the best places for diving in North America.

Along the coastline there are 49 dive sites of varying difficulty. The most famous – Avalon Underwater Park – is located right next to the Casino Ballroom and is an ideal place for beginner divers. This park is dominated by giant brown algae, reaching a hundred meters in length.

Marine life is represented by bright orange garibaldi, California horned sharks (one of the smallest in the world – about 40 cm in length), moray eels, square-headed fathead wrasses and the ubiquitous fur seals.
One of the most interesting, but at the same time difficult places is located one and a half kilometers from the western part of the island. This is a lonely, pointed rock of Ship Rock, from a distance resembling the sail of a ship. The depth at the foot of the cliff reaches 39 meters, but there is also shallow water, where the 30-meter schooner of the 19th century Diosa del Mar sank. On a clear windless day, it can be seen even without bulky diving equipment – with an ordinary mask.

How to get there
Aeroflot to Los Angeles (from $786), then by car to Newport Beach (about an hour), from there by ferry to Catalina Island ($42 round trip)

When to go
May to October