Pensacola Update - 21 May 2010

[OldNSalty]

In the Pensacola area:

Doug on the "H2O Below" is still running charters 7 days a week as long he gets 4 or more divers to go - he's dropped his minimum to help get folks out.

Dr. Dive, Y-knot, and the Wet Dream, are still running trips as well.

So anyone want to do a trip during the week this week? I've tried 3 of the 4 and hadn't gotten anywhere.

 

[Puffer Fish]

the business won't instantly return. The condo bookings are WAY down. Beach wedding booking for new events are "non existent". Restaurants will lay off staff, etc... this extends a lot further than the dive industry.


but I have noticed on the local news on the gulf coast that BP has "Public Affairs" representatives in place for any issue to give TV Interviews to put that "BP Shine-o-la" on it.... they seem to try to gloss over stuff in the interviews... (as expected).



They had to sign a contract with BP or someone saying they wouldn't go out on charters and would remain in port "on call" in case they were needed to lay boom.

This is the most unbelievable Loose -Loose situation.

If you don't go under contract with BP..

1. You will most likely have less business.. not good after the last few years.

2. If the oil gets close, they will close the waters....so you will get zero money if that happens.

3. BP is one shady company... they may pay a claim... they may not... and if you wanted to sue, get in line, a very very long line. Even if they do, don't expect anything for a year or so....just live on shoe leather and small rodents in the mean time.

4. So far, anyone that got paid, had to sign release forms, which means that is all you will ever get.... so get a little money soon, or maybe more later, way later..

If you are under contract, you have to have special insurance. The numbers I have heard are between $5,000 and $10,000.. up front. You get paid by your boat length....you may get 5 days, you may get 3 months... they get to decide. It could be, after they sign you up, you get insurance and then they drop you before the insurance is even paid... that is the risk you take.

After signing up the initial boats, there was talk this last weekend of them only paying everyone for every other day...nice... and the boat captains don't have a choice.

Whichever one you pick, there are as many down issues as up issues... and if you sign up for the BP contract, you cannot claim lost money later.

It sucks.

 

[JnScott]

I"m going out on a boat in Panama City on Sunday, and Scubatech will be running a boat in Destin on Monday. I'll be on that one as well!

 

[mike_s]

Scubatech will be running a boat in Destin on Monday. I'll be on that one as well!

I'd ask what boat you'll be on.

very possible they are still sub-contracting their charters out to the Miss Teak from Scuba Emporium. They were last weekend.

 

[MRXRAY]

I was at the Oriskany last Saturday and Sunday aboard the H2O Below, and the conditions were perfect. No oil to be seen or that you could smell. No oil below water either. Try calling Capt. Doug Hammock of the H2O below if you're trying to get out....

Charter Boat H2O Below     Pensacola Florida

 

[JnScott]

I'd ask what boat you'll be on.

very possible they are still sub-contracting their charters out to the Miss Teak from Scuba Emporium. They were last weekend.

Yep your right, they are running Miss Teak on Monday. Scuba Emporium has her booked out all this weekend, so Scubatech is a no go for Saturday and Sunday. Thats why we are going with Panama City Dive Charters on Sunday. I will say that we really wanted to Dive on Saturday and Sunday in Destin.

Thanks BP for screwing that up for us! Good thing I could change our hotel plans. To bad Destin lost tourist hotel dollars though! At least Nancy will still get a few bucks from us on Monday!!!!

 

[mike_s]

Yep your right, they are running Miss Teak on Monday. Scuba Emporium has her booked out all this weekend, so Scubatech is a no go for Saturday and Sunday. Thats why we are going with Panama City Dive Charters on Sunday. I will say that we really wanted to Dive on Saturday and Sunday in Destin.

Thanks BP for screwing that up for us! Good thing I could change our hotel plans. To bad Destin lost tourist hotel dollars though! At least Nancy will still get a few bucks from us on Monday!!!!

well at least Monday it won't be as crowded. putting two shops passengers on it on a weekend trip on a boat as small as the Miss Teak would have not been much fun.

You'll have a great Trip with Cap Pat at Panama City Dive Charters. He runs a good operation.


I still think it's kinda lame of them to stay in port over a Holiday weekend. but I guess if their overall bookings are down, I can't blame them as they've got to make payments like the rest of us.

 

[Puffer Fish]

well at least Monday it won't be as crowded. putting two shops passengers on it on a weekend trip on a boat as small as the Miss Teak would have not been much fun.

You'll have a great Trip with Cap Pat at Panama City Dive Charters. He runs a good operation.


I still think it's kinda lame of them to stay in port over a Holiday weekend. but I guess if their overall bookings are down, I can't blame them as they've got to make payments like the rest of us.

Pat a great guy and his boat is very nice.

I'll be on the Miss Teak on Monday also...just have to figure out the Sunday dive...

Anyone on the BP contract cannot use their boat... it has to sit there until they end the contract or call the boat do do something....pretty stupid actually. But going day to day would be difficult to plan for a dive shop...

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

...or they could have opted not to go contract, not dissappointed customers looking to go on the boat, and could file for any losses against BP later.

 

[Hetland]

...or they could have opted not to go contract, not dissappointed customers looking to go on the boat, and could file for any losses against BP later.

That's real easy to say when you're not dependent upon that income to keep a roof over your head.

You are assuming that the operation can live off of it's savings, or charity perhaps until their case is resolved. There is no way of predicting how long a settlement will take, it could be six months, or twenty years, and you can't even calculate true damages, because we don't yet know the full impact of this incident on anyone's business.

The water is fine for fishing and diving TODAY, but no one knows what it will be like in a week, a month, a decade. Yes, it's important to keep customers happy, but if you're living on the street, and your boat has been repossessed your customers will still be unhappy.