What I found out about Catalina Island Dive Park (Casino Point) in Avalon CA, if you tell them at the airfill/tank rental that you are not from California and have not dived in thick Giant Kelp before...they will almost NOT let you dive without a DM Guide on the first dives, the second dives w/DM guides are cheaper, but not so much required. Until you show that the kelp is not gonna freak you out. They told me that on the Pier, that they will dicourage you from going in without prior California Giant Kelp experience!! Down at Wreck Alley they (DM’s) dive to the wreck at times to check on condtions but then come back up.
I know I’m not from other states, I’ve dived on alot of Chartered Boats here in California, I wont name them because Rich-D-Fishes are the best, but they come with the option of DM or Inst Guided dives for free. That’s my 2 cents, even though it didn’t apply to the question!!