Diving in Santa Cruz/Monterey 30/31JUL

[mossym]

if the conditions permit they will usually head for carmel bay, otherwise they'll stay in Monterey Bay. it'll usually be the day of the dive that thay call it...

that's been my experience anyway, but i've never organised my own charter..

 

[melfox26]

Hey Mel, why not? I've been on both many times and always enjoyed it.

The last time I was on the Express, and it will be the last time I ever go on the Express. The capt. pulls into the dive site, great conditions so I'll give the Capt. props on that one. My buddy and I are the first ones in the water for the dive and the last ones to surface and get back on the boat. All the other divers on the boat have already switched out tanks and are relaxing by the time we get back on board.

We switch out tanks during the debriefing/roll call then go up to the top deck as the capt. raises anchor. A few minutes later he drops anchor on the other side of the big rock that we just dove on and says he wants everyone back on board in an hour in order to head back for their afternoon charter. In order to get another hour+ dive in, my buddy and I suit up immediately and again are the first ones in the water. Total SI time was less than 15 minutes, and that's including time on the surface after the first dive. Completely unacceptable to have such a short SI. The capt. didn't say anything about maximum time on the first dive, it's not our fault that we had the best air consumption of anyone on board that day. A good thing we were on 32% as usual or we would have hit our no deco time really soon into the 2nd dive.

Not a great dive op, I didn't tip them that day nor will I give them my business in the future.


Mel

 

[dsafanda]

How about the MBDC's SilverPrice? Any good or bad experiences to share?

 

[D_O_H]

if the conditions permit they will usually head for carmel bay, otherwise they'll stay in Monterey Bay. it'll usually be the day of the dive that thay call it...

that's been my experience anyway, but i've never organised my own charter..

This has been my experience as well. They'll go to carmel if they can, otherwise, they'll dive Monterey Bay. I don't see how they could predict whether they'll be able to head to Carmel even a couple days in advance, though they might have some idea.

Not bad either way, as there are some great boat dives in Monterey Bay and you'll be back at the dock nice and early.

 

[D_O_H]

How about the MBDC's SilverPrice? Any good or bad experiences to share?

I've done most of my boat diving up here on the Silver Prince. More because I like the folks at MBDC than because it's a great dive boat. It gets a little crowded if the boat is even close to full and can be packed with rusty/new divers, so sometimes the site selection is limited by that, but the friendly staff usually makes up for it.

 

[dsafanda]

I've done most of my boat diving up here on the Silver Prince. More because I like the folks at MBDC than because it's a great dive boat. It gets a little crowded if the boat is even close to full and can be packed with rusty/new divers, so sometimes the site selection is limited by that, but the friendly staff usually makes up for it.

Makes sense. I've had nothing but very good experiences with the staff at that shop. That's what made me think about them. I'll take decent people over a cutting edge boat any day.

 

[bedmund]

Not a great dive op, I didn't tip them that day nor will I give them my business in the future.


Mel

Fair enough, I guess Capt. Tim has good days and bad days, but dude... you also dissed the Cypress Sea! Now come on!

 

[melfox26]

Fair enough, I guess Capt. Tim has good days and bad days, but dude... you also dissed the Cypress Sea! Now come on!

I merely said that I would not recommend either one over the alternatives, no dissing was present in my first post. Maybe a little bit of dissing of the ME in my 2nd post.

Mel

 

[bedmund]

I merely said that I would not recommend either one over the alternatives, no dissing was present in my first post. Maybe a little bit of dissing of the ME in my 2nd post.

Mel

Ok, I splashed cold water on my face so I'm better now.

I don't dive the Express that much anymore. I'm usually on the Cypress Sea. For my $ it's hard to beat 3 dives, lunch, and on-board nitrox fills.

-Bill

 

[CALI68]

2) Anybody dove with Sanctuary Charters - Impressions? Other dive boats you would suggest?

Sanctuary Charters is the Boat Diving outfit attached to Gilroy Scuba. The shop and the boat are both owned by one of the nicest Guys you'll ever meet, Mike Jones. Like Mel said it's a 6 pack with a real "homey" feel. Heck there's even a futon on board

The Escapade is also outstanding. Captain Jim Capwell is as good as it gets and he's a great Guy too! You can't go wrong with either outfit.

Two thumbs up for both.

Oh yea, bring your Dry Suit

-Chris