channel islands, ca. diving

[ScubaLuke]

OK we spoke with Truth Aquatics. ....

Thanks for the update Al.

Luke

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Thanks for the update Al.

Luke

You're welcome. I planned to be as honest about it as I could. It appears Truth aquatics is making quite a few changes based on our trip. Leaving much earlier being one of them. I've had some time to think about it and should we go back out with TA I'm pretty sure I won't go with the Vision, even with the changes they're making. But I doubt very much that anyone will ever have a trip like we did again.

 

[mossym]

i'm back on the vision again in a few weeks, will be interesting to see if there are any changes since i was on it last in august

 

[mdb]

OK we spoke with Truth Aquatics. They've been busy getting the Conception back in the water and this is why they took so long to get back to us. All concerns have been addressed and they're upset as hell. The crew is personally writing us all apology letters and Avalon is now totally off limits. They want to make it right with us.

Al: Thank you for your honest update. Perhaps your follow up will result in some positive changes for Truth Aquatics. Channel Island diving with TA has been a favorite for years.

mdb
www.diveapollo.com

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Let's hope so mdb. Until this last trip it was pretty much as good as it gets.

Hopefully a lesson learned for them.

 

[factor310]

Just been on the Conception. Nice boat, dive was so-so. We went to Santa Cruz Island, where the viz was not great. Anacapa was much better.

 

[jefe]

All my dives to the Channel isl. have been on the Spectre from Ventura. As I've never used a different boat I don't have much to compare it to. However, I have no cause to complain. Good track was kept of the divers, meals were always good, the capt/crew worked hard to get you good diving. Everyone seemed knowledgable. The bunks aren't too bad and the hot tub feels good on the way home.

 

[mech]

I don't get bothered easily on dive trips..infact it's hard to wipe the smile off my face.
I've been on the Peace and the Vision.
The Vision trip was totally cool.
I felt like I recieved great service .I own a service business and have been in the service business all my life.
The Peace trip sucked.
The food was costco food.
We had asian chicken chunks for lunch.I later asked what was for dinner and was told BBQ chicken. WOW BBQ chicken I LOVE BBQ chicken.I then found out it was the same chickern chunks with BBQ sauce on it.
I think we had chicken chunks for 3 meals.
Bunk situation was poor at best and that's a kind description.
My biggest gripe was that my tank (nitrox) was never filled when the gate was opened. always 10-20 minutes late.It even cost me one dive.I tried every nice way to explain this to the guy and then finally gave him the "not nice" version after he cost me a dive.I hate dishing out the "not nice" version because I just want fun on vacation and do my best to ward off bad mojo.
To be fair my poor Peace trip might have been a fluke.
Other than my tank fills the crew did a fair job but I don't see me coming back any time soon.
Them tank fills,poor bunks and costco food kinda ruinded that boat for me.
I'm going to be on the Vision for the 10/16 trip.
Anybody else here going on that trip?

 

[diveborg]

OK we spoke with Truth Aquatics. They've been busy getting the Conception back in the water and this is why they took so long to get back to us. All concerns have been addressed and they're upset as hell. The crew is personally writing us all apology letters and Avalon is now totally off limits. They want to make it right with us.

So yes it was a total screwup but it's being handled.

Would I go back out with that particular crew? Maybe, probably not. But I'd now consider it as I doubt very much they'd screw up twice with us.

I also thank Al for the honest update. I never doubted your story, but I was thinking it must have been an isolated event. I can't imagine a crew being allowed to act that irresponsibly more than once.

BTW, I just got back from a Truth Aquatics trip on the Vision. The boat and crew were very good, and the food was first rate. There was a crew of 7, Eric the captain, 3 guys as deck crew and 3 quite nice young ladies in the galley (or on the sun deck in bikinis during their off hours ). They all were friendly and helpful. I'm pretty sure they were not the same crew Al had.

We got to the dive sites punctually. 5 divers were offered on Thursday, 3 on Friday but it could have been 4 if anyone had expressed a strong desire for a night dive; no one did. Conditions were starting to get a bit rough, so finding a suitable site would have been a little difficult, anyway. No one seemed to object as only 8 out of 24 divers did the night dive the previous day. We did only get in 2 dives on Saturday and I don't blame the crew totally for this because there didn't seem to be much choice of dive site due to the water conditions. Unfortunately, it didn't help that the bow anchor was lost for 1 1//hours because the line broke.

I even got a couple of photos I'd consider sharing, in case anyone is interested.

Truth photos

This group went on the Vision last year in September, and we are planning on going again next year.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Two divers from our shop just did a lobster trip on the Vision even after everything we shared with them. While the crew remained sober it is the same exact crew with the typical snarley attitude from Gino.

We are scheduled to go out on the Conception in July with Jerry as captain. I have no doubt it will be a great trip.