Channel Island Live-Aboard

[v--Locke--v]

I am looking for a nice and reasonably priced Channel-Island Live Aboard. If anyone has any information I would be appreciative. I know there are a few that go out that way.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[v--Locke--v]

actually to be more specific, at least 3-4 days.

 

[DiverLS]

Northern or Southern Channel Islands? For the North there is Truth Aquatics in Santa Barbara. Fine boats but they don't pump Nitrox. Out of Ventura the Peace Boat, my favorite. In the South - Horizon Charters out of San Diego.

All these boats stack you in like cord wood to sleep. Horizon has rudimentary cabins but not like any liveaboard I've been in in the tropics or cold water.

There are other boats that go out and have over night accomodations but these are my favorites.

My BF and I are diving the Peace Boat Labor day weekend. Cost is about $500 for three days and that includes all fills, all your food and dive to your hearts content. Nitrox is extra, about $70 for the three days.

Hope that helps. All the boats have web sites so you can see more about them.

 

[CaliforniaDivingNews]

If you are looking for something out of LA, then the Sand Dollar runs multi-day trips as well.

Diving Charters, Inc. - California Scuba Diving on Liveaboard Dive Boat Sand Dollar

 

[v--Locke--v]

thanks for the heads up, It hard to find this stuff searching online. I really don't care north or south. If I do one this year maybe next year I can do another.

 

[fnfalman]

The Great Escape boat also does some multi-days dives now and then. It's a great big boat with lots of room.

However, for the Northern Channel Islands, the Peace boat is the one that runs multi-days trips the most, and it's the best equipped with a spectacular galley cook. Every meal is a gourmet meal when you're on the Peace boat.

I've never been on a tropical live-aboard so I don't know how that is though I've heard of stories ranging from the deck crew does everything for you including rigging your gears, having big beds, et al. The Peace boat isn't like that. The beds are comfortable enough for you to zonk out afte a day's worth of hard diving, but it isn't 5-Stars Michelin Hotel rating. At night, the crew would launder and dry your clothes for you. The divemaster and deck hands would help with taking off your fins when you return to the boat and give you a hand donning your gears, but they don't exactly babysit you. The divemaster also stays on deck and not accompanying the divers either. If you want a dive guide, then that's an arrangement need to be made well in advance.

The Peace boat is also equipped with a hot tub that can probably accomodate up to 6-people if they squeeze in tight.

Out of all the SoCal dive boats, the Peace is my favorite both for single day trips and multi-days trip.

Did I mention that they have a great galley cook? Joe used to be a gourmet chef for several hoity toity restaurants in the Ventura/Santa Barbara areas until he got sick of it and became a galley cook for the Peace boat. His scrambled eggs and soups are to kill for.

 

[robint]

here is a good website for you to check out:

California Dive Boats : The Official Page

all the dive boats along the coast, their websites, etc. There are liveaboard boats going to Channel Islands from Santa Barabara, Ventura, Oxnard, Redondo, San Pedro, Long Beach and a few in San Diego. Some do only day trips, some do multi-day trips. Some run every day of the week, some only on weekends.

We have done the Spectre and Peace out of Ventura to northern islands, and the Great Escape from Long Beach to southern islands. All 3 boats are good, different but good.

The Great Escape is running a great trip to San Clemente and Catalina (Southern Channel islands) over Labor Day weekend. Two days of diving and all food and air fills for $295. We will be there, our 3rd year in a row doing this trip.
Photos and Videos from last year: California on the Great Escape - August 2008

All my California videos: California, Channel Islands on Vimeo

robin

 

[fnfalman]

The Great Escape is running a great trip to San Clemente and Catalina (Southern Channel islands) over Labor Day weekend. Two days of diving and all food and air fills for $295. We will be there, our 3rd year in a row doing this trip.

robin

It's too far out for me to schedule, but if possible, I think that I will hit this trip with the Great Escape too. It would be sweet to be able to dive with fellow New Mexicans. There's a reason why my wetsuit is red & yellow.

 

[TSandM]

I did my first liveaboard experience on the Peace. I can't say enough good things about the boat, the crew, the diving, or the FOOD. You do sleep in little bunks, but you're tired enough to want to. There are lots of electrical outlets to charge various batteries. The crew is quick and observant and helpful. The boat is well laid out and offers plenty of room to gear up and get in the water (we had 23 divers and 19 scooters). And if Joe's in the galley, the food is unreal.

 

[RonFrank]

Another plug for the Peace! I did my first live aboard just a week ago on that boat. Food was awesome, the crew was great, and the boat had only 12 divers (can hold 30). Trip costs were $525. If you want Nitrox add $8 per tank, or $75 unlimited. We did a 3 day trip, and I can't say enough good things about the boat, the diving, and the crew.