Researching Charter info for a group Oriskany trip for early June

[tstormdiver]

Hi all,
The owner of my LDS has asked me to research charters for a day of diving on the Oriskany & 2 days of recreational diving. The Oriskany trip would be a mixture of Technical & Recreational divers. I do not have a number of divers yet, but there seems to be considerable interest, so I would say there would most likely be a minimum of 12 divers. I'm looking for recommendations for charters who can handle a mixture of divers & at least a dozen (probably more) divers. I am still in the preliminary information gathering stage. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[wjefferis]

If you are looking to put 12 divers who may be a mix of tec/rec on the same boat than I would say that the H2O Below is going to be your only bet. The H2O Below is a great boat and I have nothing to say but good things about them. The boat itself is a 36' Newton custom dive boat that can carry 24 divers, but the captain limits the number to 16 rec divers or 10 tec divers for everyone's comfort. I am not sure what ratio they use for mixed tec/rec trips, but if you guys have the whole boat I am sure something will be worked out. They book through MBT Divers MBT Dive & Surf Pensacola, Florida (850) 455-7702 and the H2O Below's website is Charter Boat H2O Below Pensacola Florida

For any other info you can look up the all inclusive Oriskany thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/deep-dixie-divers/198536-all-inclusive-oriskany-thread.html

 

[GLENFWB]

Not sure if you have seen this thread yet?

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/deep-dixie-divers/198536-all-inclusive-oriskany-thread.html

I know a lot of folks will give you opinions on here...I am not sure that the two charters I have used can handle 12 divers.

Dr. Dive: Dr Dive Pensacola, FL - Home of the USS Oriskany

Gary's Gulf Diver: Gary's Gulf Diver - Home page

Worth giving them them a holler. They certainly can point you in the right direction.

Good Luck

EDIT: I guess Walter and I were typing at the same time.

Hi all,
The owner of my LDS has asked me to research charters for a day of diving on the Oriskany & 2 days of recreational diving. The Oriskany trip would be a mixture of Technical & Recreational divers. I do not have a number of divers yet, but there seems to be considerable interest, so I would say there would most likely be a minimum of 12 divers. I'm looking for recommendations for charters who can handle a mixture of divers & at least a dozen (probably more) divers. I am still in the preliminary information gathering stage. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Dr Dive]

Thanks GLENFWB,

Appreciate the mention. All good info here and we'd be happy to be a part of the solution. We have had good luck partnering with other 6-pak boats for mixed groups, or groups larger than 6. Get in touch with us and we can talk specifics. We've got lots of resources here in P'cola and we can work a solution for your group. Give us a call, or drop us a note.

Capt. Jim
Dr Dive
www.drdive.com
drdive@drdive.com

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

The only boats big enough for that kinda group will be the H20 Below, Scuba Shacks Wet Dream, and Down Unders Newton.

Like Dr Dive said, most of the operators in the area are more than willing to work together though, so getting a few 6 packs together probably wouldn't be the biggest issue... and you'd get out to the site MUCH faster.

 

[Wookie]

Looks like I will be there with the Spree but not until September/October. Let me know if you want to wait....

 

[wjefferis]

The only boats big enough for that kinda group will be the H20 Below, Scuba Shacks Wet Dream, and Down Unders Newton.

Thanks bugman for posting about the Wet Dream and Down Under's boat, I totally overlooked them , when I heard large boat the only one that came to mind that does mixed tec/rec dives was the H2O Below. Both the H2O Below and the Wet Dream are located in Pensacola. You can book the Wet Dream through the Scuba Shack Scuba Shack I don't know if they allow mixed tec/rec trips or not, I would call them to find out. The Down Under dive shop is located in Orange Beach, Alabama which is a 30-45 minute drive from Pensacola Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Diving, Oriskany Dive - Down Under Dive Shop. Their boat is a Newton like the H2O Below, but it is a 46'. The only down side to the diving with Down Under if you are going to stay in Pensacola is the early drive to get there in the morning and getting back a little late from the drive after the dive. I also don't know if they allow tec/rec trips or not, so I would call to find out for sure.

On a side note if you find out that the do or don't allow tec/rec trips could you post that info on this thread.

 

[PatMyGreen]

I can't imagine anyone has so much business these days as to throw away a group of 12 divers, no matter how they want to dive. We have got to get one of those big draw shipwrecks off Panama City!

 

[algulfdiver]

We have a 6 pk (30' Hydro Cat) the Cat-N-Around and would be happy to team up with another 6pk such as Dr. Dive to accommodate your group of 12 divers Rec. or Tech.

 

[tstormdiver]

On a side note if you find out that the do or don't allow tec/rec trips could you post that info on this thread.

Will do.

Thanks for all the info guys, good stuff. I'll start calling around & see what we can come up with. Like I said earlier, 12 is just pretty much a starting #. May be more, may be less. Until we can give our divers a good estimate of costs, we won't have any solid numbers.