Dive boat suggestions?

[El Dude]

Hi all:

So I'm hoping to do my first dive trip (that I didn't have to work) for my birthday later in the year. I gotta start saving now. I know there are a TON of boats in SoCal. Does anybody have a suggestion for the most bang for my limited buck? Since my bday is in Oct. I'm hoping to go grab some bugs. Hopefully a 2-3 day trip? Please help me out. Any personal experiences are greatly appreciated.

 

[fnfalman]

For multi-days trips, the Peace in Ventura do it a lot. I believe that in the LA area, the Sand Dollar does a lot of multi-days trips as well. The Great Escape does it now and then but it's not a regular thing for them. Then the three Truth Aquatic boats in Santa Barbara. The Horizon in San Diego does multi-days trips.

We all have our favorites, of course. Mine is the Peace in Ventura. Spectacular food from Joe the galley cook, great crew (most of these boats have great crews so that's kind of a wash), nice accomodation (comfortable bunks and two heads), HOT TUB & NITROX!!!

Nitrox is a big deal to me on multi-days trips because most of these multi-days trips involve the better dive sites which tend to be on the deeper side of 60-ft. Do about three of these dives in a role and you will see your nitrogen loading goes way up. On the first day, you can expect to knock out about 6-7 dives. 4-dives in the morning and afternoon, 5th dive at twilight and then 6th dive as night dive after dinner. Then the next day would be the same.

The Great Escape is a massive boat with lots of room and two big toilets. I don't care what people say, having roomy heads is a big plus. Alas no Nitrox and hot tub. I prefer the Great Escape on single-day trips.

The Truth Aquatic boats in Santa Barbara doesn't have Nitrox, which to me is unfathomable on boats that pride themselves to be multi-days liveaboards.

The Horizon has Nitrox, as is the Sand Dollar. I've yet to be on any of these boats.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

FWIW: The Great Escape does $115 for open boat to Catalina, 3 dives. Includes air and good food. There are lots of options if you want to spend a bit more, but in terms of bang for the buck this one is hard to beat.

 

[Capt. Pete]

El Dude,

There are a lot of great boats in So Cal. We are headed out on the Horizon in March for the last weekend of lobster and I can't wait! Great boat and crew, you get a lot for your money. I have been diving them for years and would highly recommend them for multi day trips.

 

[Leejnd]

Here's another vote for Peace. I've been on many SoCal boats, and Peace beats 'em all hands down, in my book anyway. They do a number of multi-day trips, and their bunks are very comfortable. The food really is the best of all the boats I've been on. They have Nitrox, and that awesome hot tub, and they have a chase boat (something not all dive boats do, and hubby and I had to get fetched by it once when a strong current kicked up mid-dive). The crew is great - friendly, safety-concious. And one thing I really like is that they usually don't give a time limit to the gate - they open it up and, provided you get in the water in a reasonably short time, they don't give you a time limit for your dive.

It's not the fastest dive boat - I'd say Raptor wins for that - but they are the most comfortable. And the most gourmet!

I certainly haven't been on ALL the local dive boats, but I've been on a lot - Raptor, Spector, Sunfish, Magician, Great Escape, Bottom Scratcher, and a couple others I'm just not remembering right now. I've enjoyed every one, and they all have their pros and cons, but Peace has the most "pros" and fewest "cons", as far as I'm concerned.

So that's my vote!

 

[Firewalker]

If you are coming to the LA, OC area, take a look at the Sundiver fleet of boats. Good crews and lots of ways to get wet. Look at there web site for open dates.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

If you are coming to the LA, OC area, take a look at the Sundiver fleet of boats. Good crews and lots of ways to get wet. Look at there web site for open dates.

Have you dived with them, how are they?

I actually just booked a date with Sundiver. I have not tried them before but my favorite Great Escape is off the weekend I had free. Bottom line, with a phone call I found they have a killer deal on 3-tank Friday excursions, I think $95 including air, tanks (LP85) and weights. They seem like nice folks.

 

[JMdiver]

They are not the greatest boat out there.

John

 

[CompuDude]

For multi-day trips, I definitely have to give the nod to the Peace. There aren't a lot of options for multi-day trips, though. The Truth fleet out of Santa Barbara is the most luxurious in the whole SoCal fleet, but no Nitrox is just plain bizarre, there.

Frankly, for single-day trips, the Peace is usually tops in my book, too. Nitrox, decent fills and the hot tub are hard to beat.

The Sea Bass is a great boat for no-frills (well, more like "fewer frills") diving, and it's a fast boat, too, with Nitrox. Probably my second favorite boat, for day trips.

The Magician is slower, and no hot tub either, but they do have Nitrox.

The Spectre, docked a few hundred feet or so from the Peace, is a good boat with a good crew (JMDiver, above, is a DM there, in fact). They do have a hot tub, but it's not as "available" as the one on the Peace, and they don't have Nitrox. Their HP fills (not) leave something to be desired, but it's still a great boat, and often a very good bargain, as well. If I was going to dive the Northern group of Channel Islands and couldn't take the Peace, I'd be on the Spectre in a heartbeat.

The Great Escape doesn't have Nitrox, but it's decent and roomy boat.

Other boats in the SoCal fleet, I'm less impressed with (other than some small charter boats that don't really seem to fit in with the OP's needs), and don't dive on them anymore unless there's a specific reason for it.

 

[TSandM]

I can't say enough good things about the Peace. I've done a one-day trip with them, and a three-day trip. The boat is comfortable and well appointed. The bunks are lovely, and they have these wonderful, soft, Polarfleece blankets. When Joe is cooking, the food is simply not to be believed on a dive boat. The crew is efficient and thorough and extremely helpful. The boat has plenty of room for lots of divers, and the climb from the swim step isn't too difficult. I'll be back aboard in June.