Question regarding Catalina/ Bottom Scratcher

[vansmack]

Will be going on the bottom scratcher on Saturday to Catalina...Question for those who have been on this ship...what dive sites do they usually go to? Is it 3 different sites? How's the vis been as of late? Thanks

 

[Codyjp]

Captian Greg almost always goes to 3 different sites. If he can get an ageement from the group he will sometimes stay at the same spot for 2 dives.

Now, how about that vis anybody?

 

[SoCalMike]

Will be going on the bottom scratcher on Saturday to Catalina...Question for those who have been on this ship...what dive sites do they usually go to? Is it 3 different sites? How's the vis been as of late? Thanks

You going with a class or friends? I will be on the same boat!

 

[MntbikerBamBam]

YOUR ARE GONNA LOVE IT! Great boat, Great crew! When i went for my class, we went to two sits, site 1 dive one, site two dive 2 and 3. Food was great, and sites were great, Form what i understand, the capt will choose the sites with the BEST viz on the island, so u cant be confident you will have the best situation possible. when i went Viz was Great!. Word of advice ( dont know if this is ur first boat trip but it was mine) Get there SUPER early, sign in, and GET A BUNK. it will be good to have a bunk and somewhere to put ur dry gear. and sleep on the way there. and by getting there early u can claim a good dive gear spot.

 

[drbill]

Dove the Isthmus and West End area yesterday (Eagle Reef and Indian Rock (Emerald Bay). Vis fairly good 20-30 ft shallow, 50 ft at 100 ft. Will be diving there again today so I'll try to remember to post a report.

 

[Leejnd]

I was on Bottom Scratcher two days ago, on Chamber Day. Great boat! The vis at the sites we went to was very good - not the best I've seen in the Channel Islands, but a whole heckuva lot better than it was at Anacapa last Thursday.

Has anyone told you about Capt. Greg playing the bagpipes? You are in for a treat. I'd heard of this, but I wasn't prepared for how much I just loved listening to those mournful notes right before I went in the water. Gave me chills.

Oh, another tip -- don't leave your mug out when you go diving -- hang it up in its spot. Otherwise it'll end up in the hall of shame!

 

[vansmack]

Thanks to everyone for all the info...Hopefully the conditions are nice tomorrow

 

[vansmack]

Great trip..a little choppy near the on the way out/back...but not enough to cancel the dive which 2 other boats did...one being the cee ray...We did 2 dives at bird rock and 1 at the rock quarel...got to spend about 15 minutes with a couple of sea lions at bird rock...they seemed to pose for pics...also the food/staff are top notch on the bottom scratcher..would highly recomend them

 

[SoCalMike]

I was on the same boat with you. Great trip all in all. Two complaints I have about the Bottom Scratcher though. They always seem to put the dive platform and ladder right in the middle of the kelp which makes entry and exit difficult, especially when the ladder rungs are covered in kelp leafs. Second is the deck is a bit cramped because of the bunks on the aft portion. We were staged right next to the head, and you had to wait for the divers along the bunks to go first so we could make our way to the dive platform. The crew is great, and the food was good.

Looking forward to diving the great escape again soon.

 

[Codyjp]

those are also my thoughts on the bunks in the back but i have to remind myself that atop those bunks is that quick little runabout ready to catch a diver in need and then I don't mind so much. I think that is one of the best features on any socal dive boat! To bad the head is where it is though. oh well.

I was on the same boat with you. Great trip all in all. Two complaints I have about the Bottom Scratcher though. They always seem to put the dive platform and ladder right in the middle of the kelp which makes entry and exit difficult, especially when the ladder rungs are covered in kelp leafs. Second is the deck is a bit cramped because of the bunks on the aft portion. We were staged right next to the head, and you had to wait for the divers along the bunks to go first so we could make our way to the dive platform. The crew is great, and the food was good.

Looking forward to diving the great escape again soon.