April 15th-Outer Islands!

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Ya know what, we just rebuilt one of the engines in our boat and really need to put some local hours on it before we venture out to Catalina. So if weather permits, I think we're going to explore either the Huntington or Laguna Flats. Has anyone dived there? I'd really like to jump on the boat with you guys but this is also cheaper. When is the next outer-island trip? Will the boat go out even if the weather sucks? How will the diving be if it's raining? Maybe that could persuade my wallet to weigh less.



Billy
 
Empty V:
Has anyone dived there? I'd really like to jump on the boat with you guys but this is also cheaper. When is the next outer-island trip? Will the boat go out even if the weather sucks? How will the diving be if it's raining? Maybe that could persuade my wallet to weigh less.



Billy

This is my first time there. The weather looks like it is going to be perfect for Sat. Come on Billy, it is going to be a great time. I will even buy you lunch on the boat:D

We will have to get together for some diving around Palos Verdes, like we were talking about, soon.

Rick
 
I just called the Conception and they cancelled the dive to to lack of interest. He said they might send out the Truth for a 2-3 dive trip if enough hikers jump on the boat. He was waiting to see if this party of 5 books, if they do the dive is on. Let me know if you're interested, if so, my bags are packed.
 
Empty V:
I just called the Conception and they cancelled the dive to to lack of interest. He said they might send out the Truth for a 2-3 dive trip if enough hikers jump on the boat. He was waiting to see if this party of 5 books, if they do the dive is on. Let me know if you're interested, if so, my bags are packed.

Get real.

Memo to Contraption Dive Boat

Its not cancelled because of lack of DIVER interest - its cancelled because of lack of YOUR interest. If you people would invest moments in marketing these trips (i.e. ScubaBoard, eMail campaigns, dive shop incentives, etc.) you could fill these trips.

I was going to dive this weekend. I've planned this for weeks, and on THURSDAY skippy from the Conviction Dive Boat calls me and cancelled me. So the Peace got the business of me and my buddy. We made one call, got on and had a wonderful four dives to Santa Cruz and Anacapa.

Listen up Convention Dive Boat - I need to drive an hour further to dive your operation. You've cancelled TWICE on me in two seasons. Other divers I've talked to have the same story - you people have a reputation for cancelling boats because you can't fill them. If you expect the largest concentration of divers on the planet (SoCal) to drive past the Long Beach, Los Angeles and Venrura fleets to come dive with you, you guys better step it up. You aren't gonna float your boats pulling from mighty Santa Barbara. Make it worth our time, and we'll drive up. Operate business-as-usual and you're gonna continue to cancel trips and lay off staff.

You're oh-fer-two with me. I'm done with the Contraception Dive Boat. SOOOOOOOO done. You guys are losing customers because you can't fill boats. Throwing it back on the diving community ("lack of interest") is simply your sad way of continuing down the path of deep denial. You can't fill cuz you ain't trying. Get a clue.

Good bye forever.

---
Ken
 
I'm pretty sure it wasn't going through any dive shop. Ken I detect a light bit of discontent in your post, you're not mad are you? The dude told me that a lot of people bailed out because of possible bad weather. Who knows what the story is, all I know is that after making up my mind on going, I was really bummed I didn't. I've never been to the outer islands and have yet to go on a recreational dive of any off of any of the islands.
I'm probably gonna dive a 3/4 day off the spectre on friday, 4/21

Billy
 
Empty V:
I'm pretty sure it wasn't going through any dive shop. Ken I detect a light bit of discontent in your post, you're not mad are you? The dude told me that a lot of people bailed out because of possible bad weather. Who knows what the story is, all I know is that after making up my mind on going, I was really bummed I didn't. I've never been to the outer islands and have yet to go on a recreational dive of any off of any of the islands.
I'm probably gonna dive a 3/4 day off the spectre on friday, 4/21

Billy

I don't know if this was a dive shop trip - but I would bet a hundred match sticks it wasn't. No dive shop lets a trip get "cancelled for lack of interest" without a fight.

The dive shops I book trips thru down here, if things are looking spotty, put on a campaign to save the trip. They call, they eMail, they offer discounts to incentivize people on the fence, etc. In short - there is a sense of urgency and community.

I get none of that from these people.

---
Ken
 
I've never dived the Conception, and it's doubtful now that I ever will. They cancelled 40 hours before departure time, claiming "lack of interest." They did the same thing 2 weeks earlier. The tone of the phone call was that it was nothing out of the ordinary for the Conception to cancel due to lack of sign-ups. Interesting.

OK. If they don't need to build their base of divers, great... more power to them. They obviously didn't need my business this past weekend.

I book dive boats once or twice a month, year 'round. And this trip on the Conception was the FIRST TIME EVER that a boat cancelled on me due to "lack of interest."

THE FIRST TIME EVER. The Conception. I won't forget.

Cancel a boat due to weather...OK. Sometimes the ocean wins.

Cancel a boat due to mechanical problems...OK. Sometimes these hard-working engines give up the ghost.

But Cx'd due to lack of sign-ups??? That puts the Conception in a class of one in my book... the list of boats that apparently don't need my business. Wow. This tells me they either don't market their trips adequately, or they don't have a steady group of divers that are satisfied with their service.

The phone call from Skippy did claim that the weather prediction was poor.

Well, my buddy and I were welcomed whole-heartedly onto the Peace, and we enjoyed a spectacular day of full sunshine and excellent diving with the cheerful assistance of a great crew that showed me they were glad to be there.
There were some swells on the crossing, but far smaller than I've experienced in the past.

I'll be back on the Peace every chance I get.

The Conception? Nope.

I could be wrong. But I work full-time to support my diving habit and I'm NOT going to hang up my diving plans ever again on a boat that cancels on me 40 hours before departure time because they can't fill their own open boat. There are just too many good choices for dive boats, and my time and money go to the boats with the most heart, the best service, the friendliest crews and the most skilled captains.
The boats that have NEVER in 3 years ever cancelled a trip due to "lack of interest".

Peace boat? Every chance I get!

The Conception? No. Not. Done. Good luck to ya.

It's good to have choices.


~~~~~~
Claudette
 
You guys are voicing my opinion of the Deception exactly. I will never plan a trip on it again. I will just rally divers for a different, well deserving boat. I try to get on one or two trips a month, and usually it is with members of the Scubaboard. This board is powerful by way of numbers, and all I can say is:

Deception-You have lost alot of business.

Rick

P.S. You could make it up with a free trip for everyone you have cancelled on in the last month;)

NOT!
 

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