Six Pack Recommendations

[arew+4]

Like the title says, looking for recommendations for six pack. Contacted one of the ops that get good reviews on the board, and was a little shell shocked by the prices. There are five of us, and since all of the wrecks would be new to us I asked about a guide. For the guide I would have to buy a seat and pay $60 per person. Am I out of touch it is the pp charge for a guide out of line? I'm not hiring a team of Sherpas, just some one with a little local knowledge to lead us thru the swim thrus and point out the resident critters.

So basically I would be buying outtout boat and be paying a huge premium on top of it. Not what I was expecting based on prior experience.

 

[tbone1004]

who did you contact?
Atlantis IV is the charter that I use, but you won't get on the boat on a weekend until next year... Mid week is usually OK.

 

[kelemvor]

Maybe it's different in PA. The few times I've paid someone to be a guide, there has been a fixed cost for the service. I'm pretty sure I remember paying more than 60 bucks... Obviously you do have to pay the boat for his seat unless you're hiring a guide affiliated with the op.

If I've got 4 or more, I usually just go with the "private charter" option which usually is either half day or full day at a fixed price for the boat. If you do that, you shouldn't be paying "extra" for the guide's seat.

 

[mmerriman]

$300 for the guide. How many hours dock to dock are you talking about? I'd imagine 4-5 hrs? doesn't wound unreasonable to me

 

[arew+4]

Down in South Florida, many six packs will give me the boat for the price of 5. So a seat for a guide (were one needed) would be included. I would not have a problem paying a guide 60 per dive, but 60 per person is $300 for a two tank dive.

 

[arew+4]

$300 for the guide. How many hours dock to dock are you talking about? I'd imagine 4-5 hrs? doesn't wound unreasonable to me

So dive guides generally make $60-$75 an hour with no overhead but tank fills, or is that a separate line item?

 

[tbone1004]

$300 for the guide. How many hours dock to dock are you talking about? I'd imagine 4-5 hrs? doesn't wound unreasonable to me

4-5hrs hah! I wish... It's a LONG way out. Dock to Dock is typically around 10 hours off of NC. The wrecks are a long way out

 

[zider]

Reach out to Capt. Al at SCUBA - MutinyII diving He owns a six pack and the hotel at the slip so its a perfect way to manage your entire group in one place.

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

4-5hrs hah! I wish... It's a LONG way out. Dock to Dock is typically around 10 hours off of NC. The wrecks are a long way out

This. You’re talking 4+ hours just for transit to some sites. It was slightly less transit time for the outfit I went out with (Jet Lag Dive Charter), because they had a fairly quick boat.

It’s a LONG day for NC offshore “all day” dives. The 6 pack prices in NC are a reflection of that fact. We did a three tank dive. So 30 min dive, 60 min SI, 30 min dive, 60 min SI, 30 min dive, and pack up and head back to the dock. It was a long day, but an absolute blast.

Once you dive off a boat like that though, you’ll get what you’re paying for. It’s worth every penny to not be crammed on a cattle boat.

 

[arew+4]

Except in this instance they are taking about taking us on a standard inside shallow double dip.

Just seems a bit pricey to me for a family fun day, approaching 1K, with tips. Could probably get round trip airfare to Ft Lauderdale for the five of us and still have a little left over for the first dive.

Edit, over $1k forgot about the tank rentals not included with the boat ride.