Dive N' Surf

California, United States

The team at Dive N' Surf are a true slice of California dive culture. If you’re looking to get certified, or level up your PADI creds, this is where we’d send a friend. They’ve been at it since the 50s, a testament to their roots in the local surf and dive scene. We love that old-school surf shop vibe, smelling of neoprene and salt, even though they’re a few blocks from the actual ocean in Redondo Beach. Head out for a day trip with them and you’re likely hitting up local favourites like Malibu’s County Line, where the kelp forests sway thick with garibaldi and bat rays glide by. Or maybe you'll venture down to Catalina Island for a weekend, dropping into sites like Casino Point. The real treat there is the sheer scale of the kelp, an underwater cathedral, especially on a sunny day when the light filters down. Visibility can swing wildly in California, but when it’s good, it’s truly special, a cool, emerald embrace. Our favourite insider tip: ask them about the conditions at Palos Verdes; on a calm day, it’s a beautiful, less crowded dive with some impressive nudibranchs if you look closely. They’re a full-service shop, so gear rentals are sorted, and their instructors know these specific, often challenging, California conditions inside out.

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