Prior to Leaving For Sea Camp
You’ve enrolled your camper, now you and he or she alike are excited for the summer, and the fun, to begin!
We, the Sea Camp Staff, are excited, too! We spend the whole year preparing for camp, we want to ensure that all of our campers have the best possible experience.
Likewise, there are many things that you, as a Parent or Guardian, can do throughout the year, and especially in the days leading up to camp, that will help your camper to get the most out of the Catalina Sea Camp program.
We encourage you to browse this page for useful logistical information you'll need while getting your camper ready for camp. You can navigate by clicking on any of the links below. We also encourage you to browse the Preparing Your Camper for Camp page for suggestions and ideas to help you and your camper prepare mentally and emotionally as camp approaches.
In March you will receive the Sea Camp Syllabus. Within this document you will find logistical information and answers to many frequently asked questions.
In order to help us provide the best possible experience for your child at Sea Camp, we need for you to complete a number of forms. You may already have received some of the forms by email along with your camp registration confirmation. Others are included in the syllabus and some are to be completed online. The online forms are available in your online registration account. If you have lost your online registration password, it can be emailed to you from the camper registration account, or you may call the camp resgistrar.
All information supplied on the forms is completely confidential and will only be shared with the Sea Camp directors, the camp nurse or physician and your camper’s counselor.
It is extremely important that all forms be returned by April 1 so that we can make all of the necessary arrangements by the day that camp begins.
Additionally, please be completely honest and do not withhold any information on any forms, especially the Health History Form. We are in an isolated environment on Catalina Island and it is imperative that we know all pertinent information. Your camper’s safety and well-being are our number one priority. Again, this information is completely confidential and will be handled in a professional manner by the Sea Camp Directors and the on-site camp nurse and/or physician. The camp nurse, Sea Camp Directors and your camper’s counselor will all be available to talk to at camp check-in and by phone throughout the camp session.
Airport Pick-Up and Drop-Off
We are happy to pick-up and drop-off your camper at the airport, about 40% of our campers fly in during the summer. There is a $35 fee each way for this service. In order for us to make the necessary preparations, all flight arrangements must be made by June 1st. Additionally, please follow these guidelines when arraging flights:
All flights must be made only to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Flights must only be made to arrive on the first day of camp between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and to depart on the last day of camp between 2:30 and 5:00 p.m. Please make e-ticket reservations to prevent loss of tickets.
If you are unable to make your camper’s flight arrangements within these time windows, please contact the Sea Camp Registrars to discuss possible alternatives. Additional fees will apply.
Upon arrival, Sea Camp staff members will meet your camper at the gate and escort her or him to the Long Beach Boat Terminal. It isn’t possible for us to determine in advance the particular staff member that will meet your camper, therefore you should tell the airline that our staff members will wear identifiable Catalina Sea Camp Staff clothing and will carry personal identification.
Upon departure from camp, Sea Camp staff will escort your camper from the boat terminal to the airport. The staff will check-in your camper and wait at the gate until the plane has departed.
Please mark all luggage with:
Your Camper’s Name
Catalina Sea Camp
310.510.1622
Signing Up For Courses
In early April you will receive the Course Descriptions and Course Pre-Registration Form. This is the first exciting step in the Sea Camp experience – this form will allow your camper to select their courses before they arrive at camp.
The program schedule is organized in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday format with four class periods per day for each set of days. This means your camper will be able to choose up to eight courses – some courses (such as SCUBA and Underwater Photography) require two consecutive class periods, which reduces the total number of courses they can take.
Your camper, not you, should fill out this form. In order for us to arrange all campers’ schedules, this form needs to be returned to our business office by May 1st.
More information and specific instructions will accompany the Course Pre-Registration Form.
You can view course descriptions for all programs in the Program Section of this site.
Dive Store
Along with the Course Pre-Registration Form, you will receive the CIMI Dive Store Catalog.
If your camper is signing up for a dive class, they may be required to supply their own basic dive gear (Regulators, B.C.D.s , Wetsuits, Weight Belts and Tanks are provided by Sea Camp). See The SCUBA & Snorkeling section of this site for more information.
The Dive Store Catalog contains great deals on basic dive gear – masks, snorkels, fins, booties, dive watches, etc. You may pre-order this equipment by returning the order form to us by June 2. Your camper will then receive their gear when they arrive at camp.
If your camper’s dive course requires that they provide their own basic gear, you are by no means required to order their gear from us. Your camper is welcome to bring their own gear if they’d prefer to.
By ordering from the CIMI Dive Store you are assured of getting the highest quality gear at a discount price available only to Sea Campers – usually far below prices at retail outlets. Gear purchased at the CIMI dive store also comes with an unconditional guarantee, if your camper’s gear breaks while at camp, for any reason, we will replace it.
How To Pack
Please limit luggage to no more than two bags. If luggage weighs more than 30 pounds, it must have wheels. Campers must be able to carry their luggage off the boat on their own.
All luggage should have a visible tag clearly marked with your camper's name and address.
To help with the sorting of luggage on the first day, Male Campers please tie a GREEN ribbon, string or piece of yarn to each piece of luggage; Female Campers please tie a RED ribbon, string or piece of yarn to each piece of luggage.
The campers’ luggage will travel to the island on a separate boat than the campers. Accordingly, medications (which must be turned in to the camp nurse at check-in), a sweatshirt or jacket, lunch and any other items needed for the boat ride to camp should not be packed in main luggage.
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