Lobo rates going up?

[Keith.M]

The reservation transfers seems to support Cheryl's theory...

 

[GregSaiz]

The reservation transfers seems to support Cheryl's theory...

Raising fees as a way to promote "access" is absurd so it wouldn't surprise me if the CA Park System would consider such a tactic.

I know there are a few "squatters" who snap up reservations and may or may not use them. For the individuals I know who do this, raising the fees won't dissuade them.

There are those, like me, who book and use a reservation every weekend. I typically dive with a variety of individuals and, on the odd weekend I don't use my spot, I offer it up via Facebook or one of the local diving email lists. Will increasing the fees make me dive less often, thus increasing access to a wider group of divers? Doubt it. Lobos reservations will still be dominated by those who plan ahead and want to dive there regularly.

If the park wants to discourage reservation squatters or promote equal access, there are far more effective policies for doing so. Move to a combination of reservation and a lottery system. Require payment at time of reservation. Require reservation confirmation on the day of the dive or forfeit it. Track/ban abusers, i.e. those who frequently book and never show.

 

[raftingtigger]

Fee increases, and the justification for them, should be a matter of public record. It's not worth my time to pursue this...

 

[eelnoraa]

I just had a thought. What does the place look like in the parking lot on the weekends when all the divers are there setting up. Does it look like a flea market of dive gear set up on tables and laying everywhere? Do the divers pretty much dominate the scene to where non divers feel squeezed out?
This may have something to do with it since it was mentioned that it probably isn't a revenue issue, rather it sounds to me like a behavior modification move and or possible reduction of an intrusive species known as divers. Maybe they got some complaints from non divers?
Just speculating. Either way, I don't like the incremental ratcheting up of rules by self appointed and self righteous overseers.
Protesting by not showing up is what they want. If you guys want to protest it needs to go way deeper than that. But is it worth it? I mean it's only point Lobos. There are other places to go. I guess you guys would have to decide.

I would put it like this. In weekend morning to about early afternoon, whaler's cove parking is dominated by divers. But it is no where like flee market, at least it never feels that way to me. Frequent divers there usually are very displine and organized. They are usually very friendly to non divers too.

Myself don't believe for a second the fee increase is due to diving activities. I heard it is because Lobo management wants to prevent those "make reservation first, then see if I will use it" cases. But I believe there are better way to do it than penalized divers in general.

 

[griffon]

I would put it like this. In weekend morning to about early afternoon, whaler's cove parking is dominated by divers. But it is no where like flee market, at least it never feels that way to me. Frequent divers there usually are very displine and organized. They are usually very friendly to non divers too.

Myself don't believe for a second the fee increase is due to diving activities. I heard it is because Lobo management wants to prevent those "make reservation first, then see if I will use it" cases. But I believe there are better way to do it than penalized divers in general.

If that were the case it would only be reservation fee. Instead the doubled the diver fee, reservation or no.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eelnoraa]

If that were the case it would only be reservation fee. Instead the doubled the diver fee, reservation or no.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, it is the reservation fee that is double. As far as I know, when you make the reservation ahead of time, it will be $40 per team (of two), which is still $20. Once you pay that $40, you will have the spot for the day. When you go there, you will only have to pay parking. So it is $20/diver. If you don't have reservation and just drop in, if there is spots open, it will still be $10/diver. So to me, it is clearly targeted for those who "reserve first and see later".

But for those who is genuinely making reservation and will go diving, they are penalized for nothing

 

[griffon]

Yeah, I don't think that is how it works (and shame on them about not being clear). You pay in advance to reserve the spot the full fee, then you pay for your car when you get there. If you drop in you risk being turned away but you wi still pay 20 per diver plus your car fee.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eelnoraa]

Yes. Such a shame in so many angles on this one. I think even people at lobo management may not be clear. I just spoke to the gate keeper today, I just repeat what i was told.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I don't understand why they are getting all upset over serial reservation no-shows. They still pay right? do they get their money back? if not then why the contempt by the Lobos staff? I would think you the divers should be the ticked ones because it screws another team from being able to dive there. As far as the management is concerned I would think they would be happy because that would mean 1 to 3 more car spaces open for day use, plus the free money from the no-shows.

 

[zf2nt]

If you don't have reservation and just drop in, if there is spots open, it will still be $10/diver. So to me, it is clearly targeted for those who "reserve first and see later".

Do you know this, or are you just speculating? For me, this is really key. I'm a decrepit retired old guy, living off Social Security, so I always go mid-week without a reservation and pay my $10. If the fee goes to $20, that means $40 for me because my wife is almost always my dive buddy. I'm too feeble to hump the dunes at Monastery, so Lobos is my only good option.

How does that sound? I'm warming up to take on the State Parks over this. Somehow, I need to find a way to work in the Purple Heart/disabled veteran thing as well. I've heard this is how we ended up stuck with the fisherman at Breakwater after disabled vets told their sob stories during the MPA hearings.