FINALLY gonna get wet - going on Spectre Saturday. Anyone else?

[Leejnd]

I've been dry since...<gulp>...DECEMBER! Yes, that's right...six whole months without diving. This is horrifying to me...I can remember when I couldn't go for a week without getting wet at least twice. And then we went and bought our own sailboat in September, thinking we'd get out and do tons of diving off her...but then, well, anyone who's ever owned a boat knows what happened next...

Projects. And more projects. And yet more projects.

So now, after spending virtually ever weekend for the past six months doing boat projects - bottom stripped and re-painted, the interior re-done, the bright-work varnished, all new sails, new roller-furling, gel-coat polished, new winches, new portholes, and I-can't-even-remember-what-else-we've-done-to-the-damn-boat - we are finally planning on taking her out to Santa Cruz Island for a full week, the week of the 4th. And of course we plan on bringing our gear and tanks and getting in a few dives.

But then we remembered...oh crap! We haven't been diving since DECEMBER, when we did a day of diving on Peace! We figured we'd better get a few relatively easy dives in, on a boat with a DM aboard in case we've forgotten all we ever learned .

So we just booked Spectre for Saturday - 4 dives at Anacapa and possibly Santa Cruz. Anybody else happen to be booked on Spectre for Saturday?

I also have no clue how conditions have been lately. I did read that there's been a red tide and other bad-vis issues - how are things these days?

Can't WAIT to get wet again!

 

[Mo2vation]

I've been dry since...<gulp>...DECEMBER! Yes, that's right...six whole months without diving. This is horrifying to me...I can remember when I couldn't go for a week without getting wet at least twice. And then we went and bought our own sailboat in September, thinking we'd get out and do tons of diving off her...but then, well, anyone who's ever owned a boat knows what happened next...

Projects. And more projects. And yet more projects.

So now, after spending virtually ever weekend for the past six months doing boat projects - bottom stripped and re-painted, the interior re-done, the bright-work varnished, all new sails, new roller-furling, gel-coat polished, new winches, new portholes, and I-can't-even-remember-what-else-we've-done-to-the-damn-boat - we are finally planning on taking her out to Santa Cruz Island for a full week, the week of the 4th. And of course we plan on bringing our gear and tanks and getting in a few dives.

But then we remembered...oh crap! We haven't been diving since DECEMBER, when we did a day of diving on Peace! We figured we'd better get a few relatively easy dives in, on a boat with a DM aboard in case we've forgotten all we ever learned .

So we just booked Spectre for Saturday - 4 dives at Anacapa and possibly Santa Cruz. Anybody else happen to be booked on Spectre for Saturday?

I also have no clue how conditions have been lately. I did read that there's been a red tide and other bad-vis issues - how are things these days?

Can't WAIT to get wet again!

Hi Leelee

Report from last weekend (and lots of pics) on the Spectre to Anacapa is here : Linkola

Chica and I did 4 dives on the Spectre. WOW they've done a lot of work on that boat. The trip was great - the crew wonderful, the TriTip still rules.

The diving was snotty. Not much current, hardly any surge, mellow crossing. The water just wasn't very clear.

It was warm, tho.

You'll have a great trip.


-Ken

 

[Leejnd]

Just went and read your full report - wow, a nudi parade, huh? I'll be sure to set my camera on macro before I hit the water. (Not that my crappy old camera can do any real justice.) And I would be totally stoked to encounter some GSBs - all my dives in SoCal, and still the only one I've ever seen was on Chamber Eve at the aquarium!

I'm not surprised to hear it's snotty - everything I've been reading says that's the way it's been all spring. Hoping it will clear up at least a bit - and I would be VERY grateful if it would clear up before we take our boat out to Santa Cruz for the week of the 4th!

Anyway, this is actually our first time on Spectre - not sure why, we just have never done that boat before, even though it's out of our home harbor. We're sorta Peace-a-holics, and have done Raptor a bunch when we wanted to get back early. I talked to the captain of Spectre on the phone the other day, and he was telling me all about the refurb that's taken place (and I so relate, considering all we've been doing to our own boat lately!), so I'm very excited about seeing it. And I've heard many times about the tri-tip - can't wait to finally tri it! (har har...sorry!)

I also appreciate the reminder about that *other* board...I'd forgotten. I'll have to go over there and say hi. There sure isn't much action in this neck of the woods lately!

 

[fnfalman]

I was very happy that I got to try out the refurbed hot tub before I left SoCal for Idaho.

This was back on 11 June. Slightly rough crossing but water wasn't bad with current but viz was around less than 10-ft. Then we moved to Santa Cruz and conditions improved considerably but viz was still crap. Some sweet nudies at Cruz though: McFarlands, white spot sea lemons, San Diego, and of course the ubiquitous Spanish Shawl.

 

[Mo2vation]

I LOVE the Spectre. For a lot of reasons. So many reasons.

I love the Peace. I charter the Peace for a 3-dayer each year - but the Spectre is my day boat of choice.

Its about bottom time for me. All about the BT. And I get more on the Spectre than on any other boat - because they're the fastest big boat out there.

These guys have the fastest anchor set and pull - and that's huge. That means there is less time dropping and picking the hook - so you get Four FULL dives every trip - not 3 and 3/4 dives. They get to Anacapa sooner, they leave later, they have time to go check Cruz if nothing is is diveable at 'capa.

They are big - the boat used to be a Tender to the rigs up there - so its built for the rough channel crossings.

That makes it a little spartan - there is no wood paneling, no fancy flooring, its not a pretty boat. Its utilitarian. And its built for diving.

With the recent remodel there is more room on the deck. There are three heads on the boat (not 2 like most.) There are 3 showers on the boat. The Galley can seat nearly everyone. Plenty of room for our scooters. We each always bring 3 Cylinders (2 130's of Nitrox and a Deco Al40 of O2) - and there's plenty of room. We have them fill while we're on the dive - not on the SI - so we get phatter fills cuz we're the only cylinders they're filling and they are taking their time...

Lunch rocks. Hot BBQ Tritip. Are you kidding? A salad, great beans, a super desert, drinks, a killer breakfast on the way out.

Its about the operation, and Ted and Shannon run a very tight operation.

I love the Spectre. My fav day boat.

Seriously - why would I spend $125 or $140 for a trip to Catalina to see pink rock? I have to get up early, drive to the boat early, board early, set up early - and then crash for a 2 hour trip to Catalina. Then I get 3 dives on urchin barrens or over pink rock, then another 2+ hour ride back.

OR - I can spend less cash, drive to Ventura the night before, set up at my leisure, crash on the Spectre, get 8 or 9 hours of real sleep, wake up, show my C-card, then go back to sleep for 45 minutes. Wake up, dress, and dive in a landscape that has been a preserve for 25+ years - lush kelp, huge fish in large numbers, lobster everywhere, zillions of Nudis, electric Rays, Sealions without number - just a very, very healthy ecosystem. PLUS - I get FOUR dives in, take down, get another 45 minute nap, pull into the harbor 25 minutes later, unload and make a mellow drive home.

I'm so done with Catalina. I only dive Ventura for day boats (or the Rigs) and the Spectre is my boat of choice.

You're going to have a great time.

-Ken

 

[D_B]

Thanks for the heads up Ken

dang .. 3 hours 18 minute travel time each way and $70 total in gas

 

[Mo2vation]

Thanks for the heads up Ken

dang .. 3 hours 18 minute travel time each way and $70 total in gas

From LA or North County, it makes sense.

Not a great option from SD or OCal to be sure.




-Ken

 

[Leejnd]

WOW! What an awesome recommendation! I guess we've been missing out. We live in Thousand Oaks, and have a boat in Channel Islands Harbor where we sleep most weekends, so the Ventura dive boats are most convenient for us. Now I'm REALLY excited!

I totally agree about the difference between Catalina and Anacapa/Santa Cruz. We do most of our diving at Anacapa/Santa Cruz anyway, so thanks for the reminder that we really do have it pretty good up here.

I'll post a full report on Sunday. Thanks for all the details!

 

[blue steal]

Hey Leejnd, how was your trip? give us a report.
Question. I know you can board the Peace the night before, or least after 8pm, but can you board the Spectre the night before?
I think I would like to do some Thursday trips to Anacapa/Santa Cruz, but would like to board early.
Last time I dove with you was on a bug trip, I think you were the only one to get a bug, plus it was your birthday.

 

[D_B]

Leejnd ... best be a talk'n or walk th' plank