We're taking the boat over in October and I love Avalon in September/October..
The water will be cool and you will need at least a spring suit to snorkel but should be great.
If the winds are blowing a Santa Ana. parts of Avalon will be evacuated..waves come in right over the sea wall..

visitcatalinaisland.com

Besides snorkeling, what activities do you recommend for a day in Catalina in early Nov? Will the water be too choppy for kayaking or boat tours? Are there enough shops/restaurants etc in Avalon to just spend a day vegging out?

Thanks for any info!

I know the Catalina Island Triathlon will be there on 11/4, so crowds should be high that weekend.

I'm not sure what will be open in November, but even in the summer there is not enough shopping there to keep one busy for a full day. You can still have a fun day trip, though.

Rent a golf cart for an hour and follow the map they give you. I believe they only take cash. There is a rental stand right near the ferry docks.

Tour the Casino and have lunch on Descanso Beach.

I wouldn't recommend the glass bottom boat tour, but there is a semi-submersible boat that looks interesting.

Check www.catalina.com for more info.

Yesterday's diving conditions at Avalon as reported in the L.A. Times: excellent, visibility 40 feet, waves flat, wind ENE at 5 mph, sea temp 66F.

It could be overcast in early November, or we could be having a warm spell (still). Gosh, no, not choppy water there but what you might want to do or not do depends entirely on the weather.

I agree doing the Casino tour (which includes the little museum) and the submarines would be the best use of your "tour" time. I'd avoid the golfcarts -- I'm sorry, but it IS all cash, $40 an hour, 2 hr max for a walking/hiking kind of town. So many other ways to spend one's money!

If it's warm and Descanso Beach Club bar is open, it's just past the Casino. They do good Buffalo Milks there, although the El Galleon are pretty nice too (along Crescent, the main drag). O/W I'd just hit up Eric's on the Pier for a decent pier food kind of burger. Coney Island's by the Metropole was closed last August while they finished the new rooms at the Metropole Hotel (they are creating very expensive suites where the upstairs restaurant used to be)(Blue Parrot???).

Anyway, have a really fun time!

Update. Yesterday's diving conditions at Avalon, as report to the Los Angeles Times: good, visibility 15-20 feet, sea temp 66F, wind E at 3 mph, waves flat.

It rained briefly and lightly along the South Bay coast this afternoon. Much cooler temps today.