Give PEACE boat a chance...

[wetrat]

I still can't believe how good the food is on the Peace! They manage to do on a dive boat what most restaurants can't even do with a full kitchen. And I love the way they take your fins off for you as you exit the water. Awesome. Just awesome.

 

[Empty V]

I just want to thank all of you who have replied to this topic. I was already pretty excited for my first dive off the Peace May 21st/22nd. Now I'm ecstatic. I have some really high expectations of this boat and I'm sure it will live up to them. This trip will be going to San Miguel, I've only dived Santa Cruz and Anacapa. How do they differ? I appologize Claudette if this is too off topic. How come nobody ever mentions the Spectre? Is this boat not considered in the same class? And the Conception sucks!

Thanks to all
Billy

 

[headhunter]

I just want to thank all of you who have replied to this topic. I was already pretty excited for my first dive off the Peace May 21st/22nd. Now I'm ecstatic. I have some really high expectations of this boat and I'm sure it will live up to them. This trip will be going to San Miguel, I've only dived Santa Cruz and Anacapa. How do they differ? I appologize Claudette if this is too off topic. How come nobody ever mentions the Spectre? Is this boat not considered in the same class? And the Conception sucks!

Thanks to all
Billy

I also like the Peace based on the experience that we had with Eric and his crew in January on our monthly Mo2vation boat dive. Hopefully, we'll be able to book more weekends with them in 2007 if they have more open slots for us thoughout that year.

I think that people mostly mention the boats that they have the best or worst experiences on. Anything that is simply average does not get talked about as much. The average boats may not get a lot of praise, but if they really have not done anything wrong, no one wants to throw them under the bus either.

Christian

 

[LAJim]

Peace stands out as my best SoCal boat experience so far. Nothing bad to say about any of the others, but if SB wanted to triage the list and book multiple trips on popular favorites I vote for the Peace. And I'll take that with a bowl of onion soup please.

Jim

 

[HBDiveGirl]

... I apologize Claudette if this is too off topic.... Thanks to all
Billy

No worries! This one was an invitation to share the fun of boat diving experiences. My gloves may be blue, but I'm green with envy of ya'll that'll be on the Peace to San Miguel. You're going to have fun! Did I mention how fond I am of that boat???
~~~~~~
Claudette

 

[flyhigh123]

just wondering, some of my friends have less than 3 real dives under their belt, is it new diver friendly? is there a dm in the water they can follow???

also, these dive sites, what is the depth and vis on these usually?

 

[Frank O]

Newer divers would fit well on the Peace's open boat specials to Anacapa that they run most Thursdays -- these are specifically designed to include easy diving.

Peace boat schedule

 

[Makin Raider]

i would second Frank O's recommendation for the trips to Anacapa for new divers, if you can't make it to the Peace on a Thursday, go for the Spectre on the weekends. You can usually find the Spectre running around Anacapa unless it's blown out then the Captain will take you over to Santa Cruz.

 

[HBDiveGirl]

just wondering, some of my friends have less than 3 real dives under their belt, is it new diver friendly? is there a dm in the water they can follow???

also, these dive sites, what is the depth and vis on these usually?

DMs rarely go into the water unless you make prior arrangements for a guide. Call and ask. The DMs are watching all the divers and are ready to respond if help is needed.

Depth at Anacapa for non-advanced groups of divers is usually 25 to 35 fsw. It's important to listen carefully to the briefing and follow the directions. Some of the areas have steeper drop offs, but the boat will place a stern anchor impressively close to the island, and then motor out to set the bow anchor. Directions are to giant stride off the side, then surface swim to the stern anchor line, then follow the line right to the shallow reef. Mentally take note of the anchor depth, so you can intercept the anchor line when you're ready to return.

Viz is rarely worse than 20-30 feet (if there's a plankton bloom) and can easily hit 60 to 80 feet on clear fall days. 40-50 is pretty common on calm days.

The Spectre takes lots of OW classes, and is good at choosing very protected shallow sites for new divers.

Open boats to Anacapa are great for new divers.

Have fun
~~~~~~
Claudette