While some SoCal dive centers offer boat dives to the Channel Islands as a means for new divers to complete their PADI Open Water Diver certificaiton in CA, most NorCal shops do not. While the Monterey Bay and Carmel Bay areas are my personal favorite places to scuba dive on the planet, these areas are also among the most challenging places to dive, especially when diving from shore. For many reasons, I prefer to go to the extra effort and take my students to Ventura, CA so t