Channel islands, anyone?

[clifftondiver]

My girlfriend and I will be going down to the Channel Islands (california) for a 4 day stay aboard the Vision, operated by Truth Aquatics, in 3 weeks. Does anyone have any experience with this outfit? This will be our first live aboard trip and are super-excited We're wondering what we can expect from the staff and from the trip in general.

Thanks

 

[Gombessa]

I was on a similar trip on the Vision last year (3 nights, 3 days). It's an excellent boat with a great crew. The food you're going to get is incredible. I haven't been on any other Cali liveaboards, but I was blown away with what they were serving - freshly made biscuits, roasted turkey (as in what they did to a bird, not what some mystery meat was called), baked brie. Wow.

Oh yeah, you're there for diving right?

When I went (April), the viz was pretty poor all around, but we made do. It's roomy, there's plenty of space for your gear, and you can dry off your wetsuit/undergarments in the engine room. The only complaints I can think of are 1) they're a tad stingy on fills (but who cares when you can dive all you want) and 2) like most boat, the sleeping area (bunks) are cramped and noisy. Bring earplugs.

All in all, a great experience even if the diving wasn't the best.

 

[robint]

bring sweatpants and jacket with hood to sleep in and wear at night as it gets chilly out there overnight. Bring earplugs, some people snore and others just want to talk all night. Remember you are sharing a couple of restrooms with 30 other people so don't go in there with a book or take a long shower. Take extra blankets or pillows if you want. It is very close quarters and can get cramped and people can get cranky. The diving is absolutely worth it though.

Take a save-a-dive kit with you with spare mouthpieces, straps, etc. Take a spare mask! When you are out at sea, something always breaks or gets stepped on, etc. Every liveaboard trip we have ever been on, someone breaks a mask or drops it overboard, another breaks a fins strap.... Take some hangers to use between dives for your gear.

thats a start....... you'll have a great time!
We will be on the Great Escape this coming weekend for 2 days! Woo hoo!

robin

 

[Dan Chua]

We do charters on this boat 3 times a year, plus one on Truth Aquatics smaller boat the Truth. I'm assuming you will be going south, as that's typically what you do on 4 day trips. All the advice listed above is good.

We usually bring our own bedding materials, ie sleeping bag. As for gear, sometimes it can be crowded in the storage areas on the deck. Bring a mesh dive bag to store stuff that you will need on each dive. If you have a large dive bag or plastic tub, stow this down below the wetsuit room or some where out of the way to save space. I'll attach a checklist that we send out to people who come on our trips.

One really nice thing about the Vision now is that they changed to new engines earlier this year so it is a whole lot quieter in the bunk room. I would also request a double top bunk if you can.

Dan

 

[clifftondiver]

Thanks to all the great replies. I'd hate to be going into this thing guessing on how it will go!

Thanks again,
Cliff

 

[drbill]

Great operation. I used to dive them "a lot" when I was teaching at UCSB and living up there most of the time. If Tommy Cappanelli is your captain, tell him Dr. Bill says hi.

 

[clifftondiver]

sure thing!