Channel Island liveaboards?

[Vicente]

I am coming down from Davis at the end of April to LA. Thinking to dive the Northern Channel islands and looking at liveaboards. I've never dove anywhere in SoCal. Local opinions?

The Peace looks good although their website is very poor. Although, what dive operation doesn't have a pretty crappy web site? Anyhow had a couple of people locally express negative opinions about the Peace citing some at-sea incidents. I believe these may have been a couple of years ago and under previous management though.

I have looked briefly at Truth Aquatics but doesn't look like they are doing multi-day trips at the end of the month that are weekend-centered. I found one trip on the Vision that is 3-days but it sets out on Wednesday night which is not so convenient for me. I could get down there by Thursday April 26th.

My backup plan if I can't find a good liveaboard is spend a few nights on Catalina and dive the Park there.

 

[drbill]

Personally, I like the Peace and guess I'm unaware of the incidents your friends spoke of. I usually dive the Truth Aquatics boats as well when doing the northern Channel Islands.

 

[Divmstr223]

The Peace is a great boat! you can't go wrong with them... Not sure what you heard about them that was negative...but I would totally disregard that info.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone posting something negative about them in this forum. I've never had anything but great experiences with them, and I've only heard the same from everyone else.

good luck! :14:

 

[Vicente]

Don't want to fixate on one boat. Anyone have other recommends? I want a good liveaboard experience if possible, will have plenty of opportunities later in the year to do day-trips in SoCal.

 

[Codyjp]

the rumor has it is that the peace is the best dive boat in the area. go for it!

 

[headhunter]

In my opinion, the Peace is probably the best boat for a live aboard in Ventura County.

I have yet to hear anyone complain about that boat or its captain and crew. They are known for having great food.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better boat anywhere up and down the coast, but there are many that have their own charms.

Christian

 

[moyali]

Another option is the Spectre out of Ventura which offers a day trip is a great boat. I went out with them 2 weeks ago and had a fantastic time. Top notch service, great B-B-Q lunch and a hot tub on board to boot!

 

[Leejnd]

Here's another local vote for the Peace! We'll be out on her on Thursday, in fact. The food is the best I've had on a dive boat anywhere...not that the food is the most important thing, mind you! Oh, and the Peace has a hot tub too.

If your choice is between doing a boat vs. staying on Catalina and diving the park, I'd definitely do the boat. The dive park can be limiting...on a boat you can get out to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and you'll see so much more than just that one small spot.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Archangel]

The Peace is a top notch boat. I also throw in my hat for the Sundiver Captain'd by Ray Arntz. He is a top notch Captain that knows Catalina intimately. Also you have Kyaa as a Co-Captain, and Lori as the DM with the mostest.

Exemplary operation.

www.sundiver.net

Tell em' Tevis sent 'ya. . . I charter the boat regularly.

 

[orangelion03]

Both Peace and Spectre will let you spend the night on the boat for free. I've done a weekend on Spectre a couple of times...drive out Friday night, dive saturday and back to port, spend the night, go out again Sunday.