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.
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Claudette