Casino Point Underwater Dive Park is California's classic shore dive: a protected marine reserve at the north end of Avalon Bay, entered down a stairway off the seawall next to the Casino. Expect giant kelp forest, bright-orange Garibaldi, calico bass, sheephead, and often bat rays — depths run from the shallows near the steps to roughly 90+ ft further out. It's a no-take reserve: nothing comes up with you. September is prime season — typically the year's warmest water and best visibility (label: typical, not a forecast — check conditions that week).

Nobody is hauling tanks on the ferry — rent at the point. Reserve rentals/guided dives ahead for a September Friday:

Four adults, one 4-month-old, buddy-pair diving: dive in two shifts. Shift one dives while shift two has Lily at Descanso Beach or the flat Casino-walk promenade (both are an easy stroller push from the point); swap for tank two. The dive park has benches and shade at the seawall — comfortable base camp for the non-diving pair.

Both directions are booked — nobody else needs to buy ferry tickets. The crossing to Avalon runs about 60–75 minutes. The exact operator, terminal and departure times will be posted here once confirmed; until then, check with Eric before locking in your drive to the mainland terminal. Dive gear counts as luggage; keep it in one bag per diver.

No visitor cars — Avalon is a walking town and everything on this itinerary is within about 15 minutes on foot from the Airbnb, on mostly-flat streets that handle a stroller fine. Golf carts rent by the hour for the hill loop; taxis exist for luggage runs between the boat terminal and the house if the bags win.

Pack shade: a clip-on stroller umbrella and a sun hat beat anything you'll buy on the island. The front-town promenade and Descanso are the easy stroller zones; the dive park seawall has benches and shade for base camp. Restaurants in Avalon are casual and fine with a baby at early-dinner hours. Ask the host about a pack-n-play before packing one onto the boat.