How old do I need to be?

Students can be as young as 12 years old for referral training, but minors under 18 must have a parent on site during instruction.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes — you must be comfortable in and around water and able to complete basic swim requirements for certification.

Are these private courses?

Yes — the program is private and limited to up to two students per class for focused instruction.

Basic gear, tanks, and weights are included; bring any personal items like a mask or wetsuit if preferred.

What happens if I haven’t completed e‑learning?

E‑learning and exams should be completed before arrival; without them you cannot finish certification during the referral dives.

Can dives be canceled?

Instructors can cancel dives for safety reasons, including if a student appears intoxicated or unfit to dive.

Catalina Open Water Referral — Private Dive Training at Casino Point

Adventure Brief

Finish your PADI or NAUI Open Water certification with private, shore-based dives at Casino Point Dive Park on Catalina Island. Small groups, sheltered kelp forests, and up to three dives per day make this an efficient and scenic way to complete your training.

1–2 days

moderate

From $812.00

Casino Point Dive Park on Catalina Island, California, offers one of the West Coast’s most celebrated shore dives, and it’s the classroom for the Catalina Open Water Referral — Private Training. Meet at Casino Point in Avalon and spend one to two days completing the open-water dives needed to finish a PADI or NAUI certification. This program is designed for students who have already finished classroom and confined-water training and need supervised sea dives to log skills and earn certification. The dive site is famous for shallow kelp forests, rocky reefs, and clear water teeming with temperate marine life. Key features include the broad kelp canopy that ripples in current, rocky ledges that shelter garibaldi and kelp bass, and the gentle concrete stairs that make shore entry straightforward even with full gear. Geology here is marked by Catalina’s volcanic and sedimentary rock outcrops that create swim-throughs and small pinnacles ideal for practicing buoyancy and navigation. Classes run in small private groups of up to two students so instruction is focused and tailored. Typical days begin at eight a.m. in the Casino Point parking area where instructors review skills, gear setup, and dive plans. Expect two to three shore dives per day; if you need only two or three dives the course can finish in a single long day, while students requiring additional dives usually spread training across two days. The operator provides tanks, weights, and standard scuba gear; students should bring completed e-learning, certification paperwork, a light jacket, sunscreen, water, and a packed lunch. The waters around Catalina host more than seven hundred fifty marine species — watch for bright orange garibaldi, kelp bass hunting among the holdfasts, opaleye cruising rock faces, and a bounty of nudibranchs and small reef fish. With protected coves and manageable surge, Casino Point is consistently rated a top U.S. shore dive and is a practical option for new divers who prefer shore entries to boat rides. Avalon’s long history as a recreation hub for Southern California dates back to the early twentieth century, and Casino Point Dive Park represents decades of local commitment to public access and marine recreation. Safety is emphasized: students must be comfortable swimming, able to carry heavy gear short distances, and able to follow safety briefings delivered in English. Minors under eighteen require a parent on site during training. Ferry tickets, accommodations, and meals are not included. For travelers staying in Avalon, the site’s proximity to shops and the ferry dock makes logistics straightforward. Whether you are finishing certification or refreshing skills, private referral training at Casino Point pairs focused instruction with immediate access to one of California’s richest kelp forest ecosystems, delivering efficient, memorable dives close to shore. Book with confidence.

About Scuba Women

Scuba Women, based in Avalon, California, runs scuba diving courses and guided dives on Catalina Island. The operation offers a range of Catalina-centered programs, including specialty courses, hands-on workshops, multi-day training, and guided kelp forest dives. Course options listed include Catalina Deep Diver Specialty (private course), Catalina Advanced Open Water, Catalina Nitrox Specialty (dry and two-dive options), Catalina Rescue Diver Course, Catalina Trim and Buoyancy Workshop, Catalina Dry Suit Specialty, Catalina DSMB Workshop, Catalina Sidemount Training, and Catalina Guided Dives.

Programs emphasize practical skills such as deep diving to 130 feet, Nitrox computer setup and log review, dry-suit buoyancy and cold-water techniques, delayed surface marker buoy deployment, sidemount configuration and gas control, and rescue and emergency skills. Several offerings provide hands-on training and small-group guided dives through Catalina’s kelp forests and underwater scenery. The business provides both dry training options and supervised open-water dives where applicable, with structured courses aligned to specialty training objectives.

Scuba Women is featured on The Adventure Collective, which lists the business and its Catalina experiences. The listing highlights the available specialty courses and guided dives from Avalon, California, for divers seeking technical skills, safety training, or recreational exploration around Catalina Island. Prospective participants can review specific course summaries and select private or small-group formats where indicated. All program descriptions specify the training focus and the practical skills covered, enabling informed selection of courses and guided dives. Detailed course summaries and booking details are available through the Adventure Collective listing and direct contact channels for divers.