Limited load California Channel Islands live aboard, including the south Islands, July 20th through the 25th (5 days of diving, the 21st through the 25th). The boat is the Conception, see http://www.truthaquatics.com/ for more information about Truth Aquatics and the Conception.
This will be my sixth year for this trip. This is not a dive shop trip, Im the one leasing the boat from Truth Aquatics in order to hold the headcount down to something reasonable and offer the spots at cost (dont believe me? Ill show you the contract!). The boats built for 35 divers. I put 21 on board for $860 each. Yes, I could put 30 divers on the boat for $600 each and itd be cheap and wed all be miserable. I like lots of elbowroom. Believe me, it makes for a much more enjoyable trip.
Dives range from mild to wild, depending on weather and current conditions. All divers must be able to plan and execute their own dives, since this is not divemaster-lead-tour type diving. The captain gives an excellent briefing when we arrive at a new site. Typical dive depths are around 40-60 feet, with deeper, if you want it much deeper dives available. This is not advanced-only diving in the least (unless you want to make so). Confident beginners on up will have a great time. We may even have a couple people doing some Trimix diving. I will warn you that if youre still uncomfortable in the water, this trip is not for you.
I know a number of places that are must dives, but I run the trip by where the divers want to go, when they want to move, etc. Very laid back trip, everyones been a happy camper on previous trips.
Here are the details:
Leave Santa Barbara on Saturday, July 20th at about 10pm, motor to San Clemente island (rich kelp forests, not as beat up as Catalina). We usually stay at San Clemente for two or three days, then motor up to Santa Barbara island where we dive off a seal and sea lion rookery (Georgi Turek, scubatureks wife, got hugged by a seal pup last year). We then motor up to one of the Northern islands for the last day and are back in Santa Barbara at about 6pm on July 25th. Things weve done in past years are Farnsworth Banks and the Grace Oil Platform (I never dove in water that was over 300 feet deep before!).
What do you get for $860?
 Five nights lodging, five days of diving. As much diving as you want to do and your computers will allow. We try and offer a night dive every night, conditions permitting. Usually amounts to two or three night dives.
 All the compressed air you can breathe. Sorry, no Nitrox on board yet.
 All the food you can eat (and they have *great* food!).
 A bunk, blanket and pillow (I suggest you bring your own pillow and a sleeping bag, however).
 And new this year, I just have to finalize it, well have our very own marine biologist. She used to be an instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, and most recently was an instructor at Colorados Ocean Journey. Shell be giving one or two lectures (totally optional, this is for fun) in the evenings, and will be there for all your whats this fish? questions. Her payment is a free spot on board, but she works for all those aboard.
 Last year (again, totally voluntary) we did the fish count organized by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Well try and do that again this year.
Whats not included:
 Transportation to and from Santa Barbara (I can run a shuttle from the Santa Barbara airport to the boat Saturday afternoon, so feel free to fly in).
 Any dive gear you might need to rent (tanks and weights are *not* included, this appears to be the California way).
 Tip for the crew.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to send me mail (roakey@underctek.com) post a reply to this note (if its a question that might interest others, Id prefer that) or call me at 719-332-9085. Please remember Im on Mountain Time!
Now accepting deposits on a first come first served basis, a $400 deposit will reserve your place on board, balance of $460 due by May 1st (the early final payment is because of Truth Aquatics' contract).
Roak
This will be my sixth year for this trip. This is not a dive shop trip, Im the one leasing the boat from Truth Aquatics in order to hold the headcount down to something reasonable and offer the spots at cost (dont believe me? Ill show you the contract!). The boats built for 35 divers. I put 21 on board for $860 each. Yes, I could put 30 divers on the boat for $600 each and itd be cheap and wed all be miserable. I like lots of elbowroom. Believe me, it makes for a much more enjoyable trip.
Dives range from mild to wild, depending on weather and current conditions. All divers must be able to plan and execute their own dives, since this is not divemaster-lead-tour type diving. The captain gives an excellent briefing when we arrive at a new site. Typical dive depths are around 40-60 feet, with deeper, if you want it much deeper dives available. This is not advanced-only diving in the least (unless you want to make so). Confident beginners on up will have a great time. We may even have a couple people doing some Trimix diving. I will warn you that if youre still uncomfortable in the water, this trip is not for you.
I know a number of places that are must dives, but I run the trip by where the divers want to go, when they want to move, etc. Very laid back trip, everyones been a happy camper on previous trips.
Here are the details:
Leave Santa Barbara on Saturday, July 20th at about 10pm, motor to San Clemente island (rich kelp forests, not as beat up as Catalina). We usually stay at San Clemente for two or three days, then motor up to Santa Barbara island where we dive off a seal and sea lion rookery (Georgi Turek, scubatureks wife, got hugged by a seal pup last year). We then motor up to one of the Northern islands for the last day and are back in Santa Barbara at about 6pm on July 25th. Things weve done in past years are Farnsworth Banks and the Grace Oil Platform (I never dove in water that was over 300 feet deep before!).
What do you get for $860?
 Five nights lodging, five days of diving. As much diving as you want to do and your computers will allow. We try and offer a night dive every night, conditions permitting. Usually amounts to two or three night dives.
 All the compressed air you can breathe. Sorry, no Nitrox on board yet.
 All the food you can eat (and they have *great* food!).
 A bunk, blanket and pillow (I suggest you bring your own pillow and a sleeping bag, however).
 And new this year, I just have to finalize it, well have our very own marine biologist. She used to be an instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, and most recently was an instructor at Colorados Ocean Journey. Shell be giving one or two lectures (totally optional, this is for fun) in the evenings, and will be there for all your whats this fish? questions. Her payment is a free spot on board, but she works for all those aboard.
 Last year (again, totally voluntary) we did the fish count organized by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Well try and do that again this year.
Whats not included:
 Transportation to and from Santa Barbara (I can run a shuttle from the Santa Barbara airport to the boat Saturday afternoon, so feel free to fly in).
 Any dive gear you might need to rent (tanks and weights are *not* included, this appears to be the California way).
 Tip for the crew.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to send me mail (roakey@underctek.com) post a reply to this note (if its a question that might interest others, Id prefer that) or call me at 719-332-9085. Please remember Im on Mountain Time!
Now accepting deposits on a first come first served basis, a $400 deposit will reserve your place on board, balance of $460 due by May 1st (the early final payment is because of Truth Aquatics' contract).
Roak
