I've taken scuba certification classes from Alpha Diving Industries from Open Water through Master…read moreDiver. The Instructor and his Dive Masters are a great team and have helped me to become stronger and more capable as a scuba diver. I would definitely recommend Alpha Diving Industries to anyone who has in interest in underwater activities.

I was a part of the NAUI Certification program with Luke and Dan as primary instructors. They are a…read morededicated pair of experienced divers and it shows in their teaching. The introductory portion of the course is the roughest part: Finding contact information for these two instructors, determining necessary gear, and figuring out payment and first meet times. This is a no bullshit program. If you're planing on learning to dive, they will take you through it quickly and efficiently and you must pay attention and do what you need to do to practice and understand what they teach you in the most efficient way possible. There are 4 Pool sessions and 4 open water dives. They do their in class sessions in their Dive Locker, Pool sessions at Arcata Community Pool and they provide appropriate gear: Buoyancy Compensator, Regulator, Weight Belt(s), filled scuba tanks (except for open water evolution), compass Open Water Evolution (OWE) only, and necessities that may arise suddenly. You need to acquire: Ocean Swimming Fins, Mask, Snorkel, Booties, Slate, Gloves, Dive Watch, Dive Knife, Rash-guard & Board shorts (not a bikini or a speedo). You will need to rent a 7mm wetsuit for the OWE (~$85). That being said, these two are a wonderful and caring pair of instructors. Dan can be likened to a grandpa, encouraging and patient, nudging you along through the course, making sure you're okay and helping the stragglers feel safe and encouraged. Luke is a gruff guy and he pulls the course along at a rapid pace and expects a brisk and appropriate response at every turn. He won't coddle you and he expects you to stand on your own feet and figure it out, but will always lend a hand when you need it. Both of these gents are aware, attentive and caring and if any situation comes up they will do their utmost to address it and keep everyone safe and together. I always felt safe around them and comfortable at any point to tell either of them about gear malfunctions, ask for help, or ask questions when they arose. Also, I was a student unable to get into the HSU Intro Scuba course (waitlisted) and when I failed to get into the course decided to get my certification so that I could take the Advanced Scuba and Scientific Diving classes with the HSU program before graduation. If you find yourself in a similar situation, talk to Alpha Diving about this scenario. They were able to provide an extra pool session and 2 extra dives for us (2 other students) to practice underwater navigation and prepare us for the Advanced HSU course and the instructors at HSU will accept this. These guys are a great place to learn to dive and give you a sense for what diving is all about in the real world. If you're looking for a touristy easy program, this is not it so prepare yourself for what you're getting into. (I highly recommend being in relatively decent shape before taking the course.) Try to always remember that Diving is a dangerous skill to acquire but constant vigilance and perseverance and you will prevail.

Humboldt Lagoons State Park is on the Redwood Coast between Orick and Trinidad. There are three…read morelagoons - Big Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and Freshwater Lagoon. These lagoons are a collection of landlocked waters right on the coast but protected from the Pacific Ocean. You can rent kayaks and paddleboards at Stone Lagoon Visitor Center. I stopped by Stone Lagoon to rest after a long day of driving to chill and relax.

We had such an amazing time at the state park. Great scenery with rock formations. The…read morewashed up driftwood was good. We had such a great time looking for agate and different types of rocks. Great stop.

This is a fantastic walk, very easy with stunning views, and both beach access and a lovely hiking…read moretrail with the port on one side and the ocean on the other. The walk is an easy 1.4 mile loop. It has moments of up and down but is level footing even then, and large flat stretches. I recommend taking the loop on the left going uphill as the signage is slightly better from that side. When the trail arrives at the half way point, which is a giant cross marking the place where Spain claimed the land, it is easier to find the trail going from left to right than from the other way. (Google helped though) There are many clearings where one can imagine foxes or fairies in residence--cool shelters made from overarching branches and carved out trees. In many places along the route, the trees make a natural arched covering. There are views of the ocean and port all along the trail, with "spurs" marking small side trips for additional views of the water. There are also frequent benches. This would be a good route to do with children or with other folks who need an easy trail. From the parking lot, there is the trail in the hills behind, and the beach in front. We were there on a weekday in August and we saw about 10 people total in our explorations. Nearby is Katy's smoked fish. Don't miss this. It is expensive but very high quality. It is not your usual fish in a tin, and it is right next door. This is also the location of Cal Poly Humboldt's Marine reserach center.

This is my favorite beach in the region. It's always foggy and misty and sometimes it gets so…read morethick, you can't see the waves clearly from the vantage point of the parking lot, but you can hear the waves crash. It's eerie and beautiful at the same time. My kids like to climb rocks and there is no shortage here. I caution you, they've sustained injuries with small slips. Close by are small shops and a nice clam chowder restaurant. The beach is clean and parking is a breeze here too. It's little town beach vibes and easy access give this spot 5 stars.

Completely agree. We've chartered his boat a few times only when his worker was captain (who was…read morereally cool), but the young guy couldn't deal with the Curt man himself and left for Alaska. Your words are true. He's cheap and affordable for a reason. He'll never know what he's doing wrong. He was rude from the booking to the trip and back. And he wonders why his workers get more tips than him. I'm sure if he was reading this, he's be just fine and dandy we don't rebook, so do him a favor.

Our family has been on a number of fishing and diving trips - our experience with Wildrose is by…read morefar the worst. Our Captain - Curt or Curtis has no buisness leading a chartered fishing trip. He may be an outstanding worker when it comes to being a deck hand on a crab boat or something similar, but his people skills are horrendous. The only thing he pointed out or taught us about was how to put the boat in neutral - in case he fell off. He asked us no questions about us or our expectations, experience, or desires about what we wanted to get out of the trip. He had no idea my sister and brother-in-law worked at the local Salmon hatchery and have more fishing experience or knowledge than 99% of the world. He did not communicate anything to us. His attitude was piss poor, he raised his voice, told my mom to sit down that she was in his way, and told another PAYING CUSTOMER he wasnt helping him at all. He did not let us participate at all when it came to putting the lines in the water, baiting the line, or netting the fish. All we did was reel in the line. If we had wanted to just come home with fish/Salmon and thats all we wanted out of it - we would just gone to the grocery store. He has yet to figure out the world does not revolve around him. All he talk or more bragged about was the owner of the company wants him to take over the crab boat cause no one can turn away 30%. The Wildrose needs to find another Captain or provide some extensive customer training. As of now, If you're looking for an enjoyable fishing trip, try one of the other local operations.