Boat Diving in San Diego

[California Diver]

talked to Capt Bill, Hydrodiver is undergoing repair, should be done in a couple weeks. He goes anywhere you want him too.

 

[Rainer]

Yeah, he gave me a call and said they were laid up for a bit with some engine trouble. I'll ring him in a few weeks and see about setting up some deeper kelp dives. If anyone else is interested, let me know. As of right now, looking at July 22nd (Sun).

 

[scubanimal]

Rainer,
If you are interested in kelp bed diving, dive connections www.gottadive.com goes there frequently. I have not done one of kelp trips in years so I can't tell you much more. But I do use them for wreck trips a lot.

 

[Rainer]

Thanks for the post. Well aware what the Lois Ann is like (have been on a number of trips with them). Just don't see the "convenience" in being charged $5 more for no added value on my end (picking up a phone usually isn't a problem). As for getting more kelp dives, it seems pretty clear they have no interest (one a month?). If they ever returned phone calls or had a working e-mail address (what's with that?) then I'd try (I've e-mailed three times in the last six months with no response; now e-mails get bounced). Don't get me wrong, they run a great boat. At a good price ($5 fee or not). Nicest people, too. For trips to the Coronados Islands, it's hard to beat Lois Ann. That said, they just don't seem to be going to the sites I want now. That, and I'm just not into big boats. It's obviously the norm in SoCal, but for someone used to the 6 packs of MA, it's a pain to deal with 18-35 people. I'll check out the new boat you linked.

 

[Rainer]

Rainer,
If you are interested in kelp bed diving, dive connections www.gottadive.com goes there frequently. I have not done one of kelp trips in years so I can't tell you much more. But I do use them for wreck trips a lot.

Thanks, I'll definitely give them a look. Just looking for a break from wrecks.

 

[CompuDude]

Yeah, he gave me a call and said they were laid up for a bit with some engine trouble. I'll ring him in a few weeks and see about setting up some deeper kelp dives. If anyone else is interested, let me know. As of right now, looking at July 22nd (Sun).

Keep me in the loop!

 

[Captain Carl]

Hello Ranier,

I heard we have a problem, so I'm responding ASAP.

Sorry about the new e-mail system, it's a pain.
It's supposed to block spam, but it looks like it's blocking customers.

We're trying to offer additional services with the DiveTickets.com, we had alot of requests for an online reservation system. If $5.00 is a problem for you I'll be glad to reimburse you personally when you come out. Or, you can take it out of Anita's tips (don't tell her I said that).

When do you want to go to the Ancient Sea Cliffs exactly? I'll be glad to change a trip if I can.

Use my personal e-mail: Walkabout@ricochet.com.

Take care,
Carl Mayhugh
Lois Ann Dive Charters

 

[Archangel]

I am going to Charter a boat for Christopher.

Now. . . who is cool enough to be on that boat?

Lets make it an adventure and go to San Clemente. . . .

4 dives in 100 ft viz with possible pelagics.

Leave at 12 midnight and wake up to beauty an seldom dived sites.

I will limit it to 15 experienced divers.

For Christopher, I will do it at my cost.

So as to not hijack this thread, PM me and I will put you in que.

 

[Rainer]

Well, it was good of Captain Carl to post here, but after I sent him back an immediate PM (e-mail still wasn't working, nor were phone calls), I've yet to hear back. So, it looks like it's back to waiting to hear from HydroDiver once the boat is back in the water. Still hoping to get something set up. Tevis, SCI would be a blast Let me know what you're thinking about, and let's see if we can't get something worked out.

 

[headhunter]

Well, it was good of Captain Carl to post here, but after I sent him back an immediate PM (e-mail still wasn't working, nor were phone calls), I've yet to hear back. So, it looks like it's back to waiting to hear from HydroDiver once the boat is back in the water. Still hoping to get something set up. Tevis, SCI would be a blast Let me know what you're thinking about, and let's see if we can't get something worked out.

I really like the Lois Ann, Carl and Anita. We had some of the ScubaBoard trips with them last year and I was looking forward to booking with them again this year.

Unfortunately, I ran into the same problem when trying to book dates with them for 2007 and couldn't get phone calls returned.

I think that the online system may be an improvement, because part of the confusion with them last year was that they seemed to have difficulty keeping track of who was on the boat, who cancelled, what the deal for that day was, etc. It all worked out in the end, but this lack of organization made for some strained conversations on the morning of one trip, which caused the boat's owners to roust poor Carl out of bed while he was attending a wedding in Hawaii. I can't say enough good things about Carl's willingness to work things through and I felt bad that they had to get him out of bed at what I think was 3 or 4 am Hawaii time. I hope that these were just some growing pains and that we will be able to business again in the future. Of course, not being able to get a call back for the 2007 schedule may just have been their way of letting me know that they didn't really want to do business with us anymore.

So, for 2007 we wound up booking all of our San Diego boats with Barry over at Dive Connections, Inc. (www.gottadive.com) and have had a very good experience with them. Their captains and crew have a great attitude. These are just different types of boats with a different atmosphere than the Lois Ann and they have no onboard compressor, so after 2 dives you have to return to the dock for air fills. We'll be with them again for 2 dives on the morning of Sunday, May 13th on the day after our Wrinkles Dive and BBQ at La Jolla Shores.

Rainer, I hope you get on a boat that you are happy with and that you have a great time diving!

Let us know how it all works out and maybe some of us can join you!

Christian