Truth Aquatics 3-day liveaboard trip - packing advice

[saf_25]

I am so excited! I've been signed up for our dive club's upcoming (mid-August) 3-day trip on the Conception for a few months now, but now that it's getting closer, everyone was talking about it at last night's meeting. After hearing all of the talk about the comfy accomodations, great food, and amazing diving, I can't wait for the trip to be here!
I've done a couple of boat dives before, but they've only been one-day trips, so since this will be my first actual liveaboard experience, and I know that a lot of you have dove with this fleet before, I wanted to get your suggestions for the trip, specifically as far as what items I'll want to bring with me. I've read past threads on packing for a liveaboard, but those usually are geared towards the "warm-water, stateroom, week-long" type trips, and I was hoping for some advice more specific for this trip. Ok, I know the basic gear that I'll want to bring (bc, tank, weights, mask, snorkel, fins, drysuit (also planning on bringing my wetsuit, just in case), etc...) but what other things do you suggest I bring? Any feedback you can offer will be appreciated - I'm so excited, I'm already starting to put aside things I'm going to want to bring with me!
Thanks a lot!

 

[rickyd]

Conception's a great boat.

Brint ghorts, jeans, sweats ( gets kinda chilly a little at nites ). A BIG appetite. Towels and stuff for shower/bathroom. Medications. Remember sun block, hat and sun-glasses. You are going to be spending a lot of time on deck.

Bring all your gear. There's plenty of room for gear bags along the side of the boat. Last trip I brought a plastic crate to store all my loose stuff ( gloves, fins, weights, etc.) in and kept it under the bench.

If you want anything special to drink ( either the hard stuff, or something non-standard ), bring that also. There is plenty of cooler space. Also, talk to them about special diets - very accomodating.

There is a dryer on board, so you can dry anything like towels, clothes, swim suit etc. No washer though. There is also a large room below deck that is heated to use to dry a wet suit. VERY NICE to wake up in the morning, and don a warm and dry wet suit!!!. Or, just to hang a dry suit out of the way.

There is not a LOT of room in the bunks to store stuff - there is a smallish storage area for most of the bunks though, above or below. So, keep it to a minimum. No tuxedo's needed here!

You may also want to bring a sleeping bag. They provide a blanket and pillow, but a thin sleeping bag makes the bunks more comfortable.

If you hunt, they will store/freeze your catch. They'll also cut up fresh sashimi for an appetizer if your'e a hunter!!!!

Note that these are not private "staterooms". But, as bunks go, very comfortable compared to the other boats I've been on. There is a small changing room in the bunk room, so, you don't have to contort yourself in the bunk, or go up to a bathroom.

There are no bathrooms in the bunkroom. You have to either go up to the main deck, or up, and back down another staircase to the shower room.

I'll be on the Conception Aug 3-6 again. Can't wait!!!!!!

I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

 

[scubasean]

I'm going on the Truth, and I'm headed out at the end of July and first two days of August....

Look here for some info...

http://www.aquasafaris.com/pages/travel/channelislands.html

 

[Arnaud]

Make sure that you take some meds the night before. Even if you're not sea sick, sleeping in a window-less bunk-room when the swell is strong can be challenging.

If you can't sleep while the boat is moving at night, you may be tempted to sleep during the day, in-between dives, when the boat is anchored in a quiet spot. This is not recommended as it slows your metabolism and can create some off-gassing complications...

Along the same line, don't try to break the record of dives per day. If you wear a wet-suit, and since there's no EAN on that boat, you're likely to feel some fatigue after the second tank of the day. Take it slow and don't push your limits.

 

[rickyd]

As Arnaud said, don't push it. You're on board for 3 or 4 days. You'll start diving at the crack of dawn, and probably have a few nite dives also - Watch out for the flying fish ! ! !

It's OK to pass on one or two during the day if you get tired or cold. You'll get in LOTS of wet time!!!!!

 

[saf_25]

Thanks for the info! That pretty much echos what I was told at the dive club last night, but it's nice to have it in writing and hear it from others.

I haven't done any hunting in the past, but am planning on getting a license in case any scallops come my way - I hear that the game on the islands is pretty abundant, and will be with a lot of very experienced divers who have volunteered to show me the ropes of hunting. I'm not too optimistic about actually being able to take anything, but want to be prepared in case an irresistable scallop crosses my path.

I agree with taking it easy - as was said, this is vacation, and I'm just going to be happy to be surrounded by water and friends for 3 days. I'm definitely not the competetive type of diver that needs to go the deepest or do the most - I just enjoy getting out and doing what makes me feel good, so I will take it easy. Especially since I'm looking forward to the nite dives (I've only done 1 before, and have already secured a competent buddy who agreed to go with me, despite my limited experience), I'm going to want to still feel rested and confident when they come around!

As for the medication, I've already got my box of transderm scop patches, and tried them out on the last boat I was on to make sure that I wouldn't have any bad side effects from them (previously, I've thrown up with Dramamine, even when taken plenty in advance of the boat, so that didn't work too well for me). The only thing I noticed was a bit of a dry mouth, which I hear is normal, and wasn't too bad, anyway. At least, I wasn't dizzy and throwing up like a lot of other people were - dry mouth certaintly beats that alternative.


On that happy note - thanks for all of the replies, and if any of you who are going in the next few weeks realize that there's an item you wished you had remembered to bring or something that you wouldn't have been able to get through the trip without, let me know! Thanks a lot, and have fun on your trips rickyd and Scubasean! Let us know how they are!

 

[drbill]

The Truth Aquatics boats are great. I've been several locations with them although no extended live-aboard trips.

As for taking scallops, my first "taste of Catalina" was a raw scallop. Was great. Since then I've followed some advice Cousteau gave me: "Don't eat filterers" meaning organisms (scallops, clams, mussels) or organs (liver, kidney) that filter food or toxins.

Of course like many "on the wagon" I fall off occasionally (nothing to extreme). What harm could an occasional scallop or a big plate of mussels do anyway. Heh heh.

Enjoy your trip.

Dr. Bill

 

[JustAddWater]

Don't forget a "save a dive kit"; o-rings, zip ties, extra batteries for your lights... Bring a good c.d. ( one that you think others would like too) the crew will usually have music on, and are willing to take requests. I have a small pair of binoculars that I take for whale or porpoise watching. Plastic baggie and lime (they'll have tabasco sauce on the boat) to "marinate" your scallops.
I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[kelpmermaid]

A couple of years ago, I acquired one of those polartec sleeping bags from Target - just the ticket when you don't want to come in contact with bedding. Another idea is a pillowcover, and any other over the counter meds you might even remotey consider...

 

[Arnaud]

I just use a sleeping bag lining. It's usually pretty hot in those bunk rooms and they do provide blanckets.