Questions regarding luxury charters on Oahu

[Hakuna Matata]

As I am sure many of you know charters can leave a little to be desired. Big reason for this in my opinion is a fairly large amount of people and tight schedules that keep the boats running more like cattle boats. I have some friends who are master divers and also own a dive biz here on the island and my experience with charters comes from the San Diego long range sportfishing fleet. The San Diego sportfishing fleet provides a level of charter comfort unmatched anywhere in the world.

I am looking at starting a luxury dive charter with the shortest charter being two day trips. Of course these trips will cater to the clients similiar to long range trips but limited to four passengers only. I am talking everything inclusive, all meals and pupus, (snacks) and we are talking quality cooked food, all drinks, water, sodas, beer, wine, cocktails, toiletries and linens, and anything to provide the most memorable trip possible.

My boat is a 48 foot sportfisher with two staterooms to sleep the four guest while the crew still has the compainway bunks, two heads with showers, a huge genset, 400GPD water maker, big LCD TV with a surround sound entertainment system and an air conditioning system that almost rivals snowmaking equipment at Southern Ca ski resorts. Of course the boat being a sportfisher will be able to fish for sashimi and fresh seafood meals while in route between dive spots and doing interisland trips with targeted fish being Ono/Wahoo and Ahi. In the event of a Marlin being caught all emphasis will be put toward a quick and healthy release of the fish.

I have seen trips advertised by companies like Aggressor for two thousand per person for the week. I am sure these trips are great but at the same time they are big boats and could handle in excess of twenty some passengers. I am figuring at this time around two thousand per day for up to four divers with most trips being in the two to three day range. Of course with advanced booking trips of five days or longer could easily be arranged.

Two day trips could include north shore dives with the night being spent, during the summer

in beautiful Waimea Bay. The leeward side of Oahu where I am at has very calm waters and almost 20 miles of shoreline to explore.

Trips of three days or longer would target Molokai and Lanai. These two islands from what I have heard are very sought after dive spots but very few trips seem to go to these islands.

Of course night dives under the boat lights are always part of the night time festivities if so desired, or just relaxing under the stars or watching a movie inside, it is your choice.

I hope to hear from many of you with ideas and the little things that are so easy to provide but so often seem to get overlooked.


Jack

 

[Cacia]

I think it is a great idea, I am not sure it will be profitable. If you can write some things off, it could subsidize your vessel nicely though. I would look at getting some tax breaks through doing some eco-tourism tasks, like counting turtles or Indicator Species, fish counts, etc and get affiliated with someone at the University of Hawaii, Marine Biology program.. The high end clientelle like doing that kind of stuff anyway, it is more interesting to them to have a mission and a manageable task. There are huge tax advantages.

Wish you could go to the NW Hawaiian chain....kinda far, but I'd pay to do that.

The only person I know who has done similiar occasional charters for fellow "enthusiasts" is Alex, of AAA diving. We have taken his boat to the north shore (seacliffs of Molakai) and various non-commercial spots.
I think his take was that there was not enough of a market. He still has many exclusive sites where he placed bouys. Now, we take our own boat, but I am still a little hesitant to go as far as Kauai or further.

I have been on some sailing charters and the amount of drinking and the close quarters were not to my liking. Nothing luxury about sharing a head with pirates.

I'd also advise to get hooked up with the movie business out of LA and shows like "LOST"...I think there is not much to offer them here that is available consistently. The big canoe races pay 800 day to escort from Molakai to Oahu...we did that once.

 

[friscuba]

I've often thought a 3 day liveaboard could potentially do well. The big trick is whether you intend to make money right off the bat or if you can float it for three to four years to where you can have a client base. There's been a company in Kona http://www.dive-sunseeker.com/ that's offered this for years and I hardly ever see them out of thier slip - I don't know if they actively seek clients or not, but having a boat, a good idea and a website is no guarantee of success.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Thanks for your reply. You have many interesting points to look into. First and foremost is to get it off the ground. Hopefully with such a limited load the pirates will be on better behavior

Kauai trips would be great. Only being 70 some miles across the channel and my range well exceding that makes it no problem, now the seas at times in the channel are a different story. The short trip to Molokai and then the downhill ride home is much nicer.

Anyways thanks again for your reply, hopefully we can dive together sometime.

Jack

 

[justleesa]

Sounds like a great idea, hope it flies!!

A few questions: Will you have a compressor on board too? What does your dive deck look like? Ease of entry and exit? Tank/gear stowage possibilities?

That's what comes to mind off the bat

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Sounds like a great idea, hope it flies!!

A few questions: Will you have a compressor on board too? What does your dive deck look like? Ease of entry and exit? Tank/gear stowage possibilities?

That's what comes to mind off the bat

Oh for sure. I am looking into a Bauer compressor. Being a sportfisher the cockpit is very large. It has a teak deck and the square footage is over 120 square feet. Access to the water is through a large transom door and I am looking into either making or purchasing a custom dive ladder. I could add a swim platform but that would have to be down during a haul out.

Between the large flybridge, cockpit and staterooms there will be plenty of storage, but wet and dry. I am planning for roughly twelve tank holder around the cockpit. I have done some nice custom features to the cockpit to provide sitting and an area for equipment cleaning.

Jack

 

[Cacia]

I'm ready to book...maybe I should trial test it?

That ahi sushi from Costco will be just fine....a little wine, and a down duvet please. Maybe I should come along and take pictures of the guests?
A nice natural history library, of course.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

I'm ready to book...maybe I should trial test it?

That just may be doable

I hope to have this up and going in a month or so. I bought the boat in San Diego last October and since then decided to do what I do with boats and go through everything :shakehead I should have her completely buttoned up within the next month.

I intended to have her as a private boat for cruising and fishing. I dont care for the Oahu sportfishing scene so fishing charters was never an option. For years I have fished out of San Diego and aboard my 31 foot Bertram. It was time for much more comfort and the ability to do interisland trips with amenities.

Having friends who are serious divers here has brought this to the forefront. I also felt that a dive charter could provide an atmosphere much more pleasant and relaxing the fishing all day.

Jack

 

[Hakuna Matata]

I'm ready to book...maybe I should trial test it?

That ahi sushi from Costco will be just fine....a little wine, and a down duvet please. Maybe I should come along and take pictures of the guests?
A nice natural history library, of course.

Oh but some fresh seared blackened Ono is right up there too

Jack

 

[justleesa]

Just re-read your original post

I have some friends who are master divers

are your friends Dive Masters or Master Divers?