Catalina Divers Supply, the oldest dive shop on Catalina Island, will soon be moving into a new location in the iconic Catalina Casino.
With room for sales and service as well as gear rental and air fills, the new location will take the place of two of the company’s existing locations. Catalina Divers Supply will continue to operate on the green Pleasure Pier.
“We are looking forward to the new location, which will allow us to offer even more services to the dive community,” said CDS co-owner Christy Lins. “This move will allow us to modernize and streamline our operations.”
The move to the Catalina Casino has a special significance for the company. In 1960, the original owners of Catalina Divers Supply developed and designed a dive area just offshore from the historic building. Since then, the Casino Point Dive Park has become one of the most popular dive destinations in North America. Throughout the year, thousands of divers plunge into its fascinating kelp ecosystem, experiencing the underwater world for the first – or 101st time.
“Having most of our operations at the Casino makes sense,” Lins said. “We’ll have a much bigger area and will be able to offer Casino Point divers everything they need.” The new location will include classroom space for additional dive classes as well as expanded retail space for both dive gear and island souvenirs.
Catalina Divers Supply’s new shop will be in the former location of the Catalina Island Museum and next to the Avalon Dive History Exhibit.
In addition to the new location, Catalina Divers Supply will continue to operate on Avalon’s green Pleasure Pier, where retail services and tour reservations will be available. Catalina Divers Supply also operates boat dives aboard the Scuba Cat.