Farnsworth Bank is one of California’s most sought-after dive sites, located on the backside of Catalina where conditions must be just right to visit. It’s made up of several deep sea pinnacles, with the shallowest rising to about 55 feet, and the site often has strong currents and changing conditions. Because of its depth and exposure, it’s recommended only for experienced and Advanced Certified divers with 20+ dives. What makes Farnsworth truly special is its vibrant marine life and its rare Purple Hydrocoral — one of the only hard corals found in our cool California waters. These purple coral-covered walls, along with abundant fish and invertebrates, create stunning scenery and great photo opportunities, making Farnsworth a bucket-list dive when the weather allows.
Who’s Ready?
This dive is best for confident, experienced Advanced divers with at least 20+ ocean dives who are comfortable with depth, current, and open-water conditions. Not Advanced certified yet? Here's a link to earn your Advanced Diver Certification
What Makes It Unique?
Its most unique feature is the rare Purple Hydrocoral that covers its pinnacles—one of the only hard corals in California—and creates colorful, tropical-looking walls you won’t find anywhere else.
Qualifications for Farnsworth :
- Must be Advanced certified with recent diving history or proof of recent refresher course.
- Excellent buoyancy control as these dives are essentially "bottomless site" with bottom depths ranging from 140ft to 200ft.
Departs From: 141 W. 22nd Street landing San Pedro CA 90731
Buying Tickets: Each passenger that qualifies needs to purchase their own ticket either online, or by calling 310-398-5759 or in person at the dive center.
Important Rules:
- Bring your highest level certification card!
- 45 minutes before and look for gear drop-off point, you'll need to be onboard with all gear and your vehicle is parked (if unfamiliar with location 1 hour before is best)
- You must arrive with all of your own dive equipment. No diving equipment is available to rent on the boat. Please plan to rent from your local dive shop the day before.
- If you don't own all your own gear, plan to rent from your local dive shop the day before.
- After check-in with crew, build your gear and test the functionality and performance, and your tank pressure.
- Notify the divemaster if you need a dive buddy. Plan your dive with another certified buddy. (Call the shop if you would like to hire a private guide in advance)
- No spear-guns.
- Separate UW camera buckets should be on deck, if not, just ask.
- Be tidy and stow your large roller bags on the top deck or in your vehicle.
- Practice strict equipment checks before each dive with your dive partner.
- Listen to the crew and captain's briefings and ANY additional tips and suggestions.
Cancellations:
- 7 day Policy: There are no cancellations or re-scheduling of any kind within 7 days from departure, but you CAN give or sell your ticket to someone else, just let us know of the name change.
- Cancellation due to weather though highly unlikely can occur. We do our best to notify you ahead of departure of cancellation due to weather and rain checks will be issued for future trips.
What to Expect:
- Seasick: If you think you might get seasick, buy some motion sickness meds before the trip. (recommended)
- Meals: The food on the boat is called grub, so if you want something special or gourmet, you'll have to bring it yourself.
- Dive Sites: The captain will pick the best place to dive based on a lot of things like how visibility, tides, currents, weather and other factors.
- Gratuity: $20-$30 per person is the norm. If you liked the service and the people working on the boat, it's a good idea to give them a bigger than normal tip.
- Equipment: You have to bring all your own diving equipment, and they don't have any extra to rent on the boat .
- Rental: If you need to rent diving equipment, go to a local dive center the day before the trip. California boats never supply any rentals not even tanks or weights.
- Waivers: There will be some mandatory online waivers to fill-out.
Departs From: 141 W. 22nd Street landing San Pedro CA 90731
