Recently, the beauty of Catalina, just off of Southern California, was brought to my attention because one of my sons likes to scuba dive there. He was telling me about an event that happens every year on the island, which is pretty much a combination of a cleanup day and a scavenger hunt. Hundreds of divers gather at this island for the Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater Clean-up. It’s the only day of the year when scuba diving is permitted in this bay. Incredibly enough, divers from all over the world show up for this event. What a tribute to preserving a natural environment. Awards are given out for exemplary trash, most unusual trash, biggest piece of trash. The Underwater event benefits the Conservancy Divers and the USC Hyperbaric Chamber, the life support recompression chamber for scuba divers in nearby waters.
Catalina Island – The Island of Romance and So Much More
By Joanne Greco Rochman
Scuba divers collect as much garbage as they can on this day and some of the things that they find in the water are rather amazing. What the divers found this year was really quite shocking. In the list that my son rattled off were the following: fishing poles (many of them); beer cans and bottles (many of them); tires (bike and car varieties), diamond rings, and this year one of the divers pulled up a “Play Station.” What is so shocking about this is that Catalina really is a rather pristine island and it’s really shameful to think that people would throw such things into the crystal clear waters of this paradise.
According to Catalina’s Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, for thousands of years people have exploited the resources of the sea here “from abalone and other mollusks, to small and large fish, and marine mammals such as sea lions.” Reports of merchant ships from New England and England brought manufactured goods to the island and plenty of smugglers would stash goods on the island.
At one time considered the lost continent of Atlantis, what has really put Catalina on the map is the Hollywood filming industry. More than 500 movies, television shows, documentaries and commercials have been shot on this beautiful island. The reason it is such a desirable location for filming is because of its unique natural beauty and accessibility. Production crews and sets come to the Island by barge and because the island has so many “untouched mountains and beaches,” Catalina transforms into just about any place in the world.
The island has naturally clean and clear water, that alone is worth a trip to Catalina. In addition to this, it has colorful and plentiful marine life. It is considered the #1 dive destination in North America and ranks in the top destinations of the world. In addition to Hollywood and scuba divers, Catalina attracts visitors to Casino Point Marine Park, its first “city-designed underwater park.” Catalina is marine protected and the city of Avalon was officially declared a reserve in 1965. Miraculously, houses have not sprung up and people by the thousands have not settled here.
Destination weddings and honeymoons gravitate towards this unspoiled place. However, the Chamber of Commerce does point out that the island’s uniqueness makes for some challenges that couples need to be mindful of. The Chamber provides an online manual to help couples make their special events possible.
Because the island is protected on land and sea, it is a real gem. That doesn’t mean you won’t find golf, or biking trails. It means that you will see some of the most beautiful sights on this mountainous island. You’ll also find day spas and will likely bump into a celebrity or two. There’s something for everyone here, just don’t throw things in the water.