Wanting to dive Wreck Alley

[wedivebc]

I am looking to dive some wrecks specifically the Yukon. As a former crew member I should go for a dive on her. Also any other decent wrecks in the area. I was given a tip by a SB member about the Lois Ann which looks like a good boat but there were some flags raised when I checked the web page. I am looking for a boat driver not a dive nanny. I will be coming down with several other RB divers. We will need O2 fills between dive days other than that a boat ride to the wrecks will do fine.
When is the best time of year to get a good seat? Who are the good operators?
Any suggestions?

 

[dwaters]

Dave, here is a list of other boats out of So.Cal.
http://californiadiveboats.com/
Sorry how you feel about the LoisAnn. I've have alway felt just the opposite every trip
I've been lucky to be on her. But I guess I'm just a noob still.

 

[limeyx]

I am looking to dive some wrecks specifically the Yukon. As a former crew member I should go for a dive on her. Also any other decent wrecks in the area. I was given a tip by a SB member about the Lois Ann which looks like a good boat but there were some flags raised when I checked the web page. I am looking for a boat driver not a dive nanny. I will be coming down with several other RB divers. We will need O2 fills between dive days other than that a boat ride to the wrecks will do fine.
When is the best time of year to get a good seat? Who are the good operators?
Any suggestions?

Lois anne is a good boat, but unless it's possible to charter the whole thing, I doubt they are going to be too ken on you bringing RB's (especially with the multiple deaths last year in SoCal on rebreathers -- whether that's a justified response or not is not really relevant I guess)

If Danny is running the yellow boat (sorry -- I dont really have a link, and I think he was in alaska last I heard), there *might* be a chance, but I think you are going to have to look at chartering a boat yourself in all likelihood.

Also, the yukon is easily within recreational depths (maybe 105 if you bring a shovel) -- why not just dive open circuit and nitrox ?

 

[MissyP]

I am looking to dive some wrecks specifically the Yukon. As a former crew member I should go for a dive on her. Also any other decent wrecks in the area. I will be coming down with several other RB divers. We will need O2 fills between dive days other than that a boat ride to the wrecks will do fine.
When is the best time of year to get a good seat? Who are the good operators?
Any suggestions?

Dave, I remember you mentioning that you were a crew member on the Yukon, so thats pretty cool that you'll be diving it after all of this time!

Other wrecks around here that you might be interested in are the Hogan ( http://cawreckdivers.org/Wrecks/Hogan.htm ), the P38 http://www.cawreckdivers.org/Wrecks/P38.htm , the missile tower http://divebums.com/Wrecks/MissileTower/index.html and the more "simple" ones like the Ruby E, El Rey, etc on this site ---> http://cawreckdivers.org/SanDiego.htm

Lois Ann is actually a really good boat to use- probably one of the best here..
For O2 fills, SDUA is probably your best bet.

 

[D_B]

another is gottadive, aka Dive Connection Inc. ... http://www.gottadive.com/
I hear that there were some folks with RB's out last Sunday .. as long as you have a buddy, and are competent, you should have no problems with "hand holding" and if there are enough of you going you can probably pretty much can dictate the dives.

I too think that Lois Ann is a fine operation, with a fine crew, I did not feel that there was any hand holding when I went

 

[JeffG]

I am looking to dive some wrecks specifically the Yukon. As a former crew member I should go for a dive on her.

That is very cool. I hope you get to dive it.

I was given a tip by a SB member about the Lois Ann which looks like a good boat but there were some flags raised when I checked the web page. I am looking for a boat driver not a dive nanny.

I would love to give you a honest "tech" review as I did like them, but I did the dives as a single tank numpty OC diver.

 

[David P]

Ive been on the Lois Ann once... cattle boat. Ive been out with DCI (www.gottadive.com) several times. The boat DND2 is not the biggest or the best maintained (it has recently been MUCH approved) but the crew is nice and they let you do pretty much whatever you want. Ive been on a boat with a bunch of single tanks, 3 of us in doubles, and 1 or 2 in rebreathers. So I know they allow rebreathers, just ask about bottom times as they usually do 1 dive on the Yukon and then move over to the Ruby E (MUCH smaller but a very pretty wreck thats totally encrusted) and see if you can find the wandering toilet...

 

[MissyP]

they usually do 1 dive on the Yukon and then move over to the Ruby E (MUCH smaller but a very pretty wreck thats totally encrusted) and see if you can find the wandering toilet...

I've dived both Lois Ann and DCI boats quite a bit and have had the freedom to do my dives as I saw fit, without hand holding from either. Lois Ann seems a little newer.. cleaner... better snacks... And I've been on it when people have been diving rebreathers. DCI has soup and lots of snacks too- but always seems a little short on space. Both are accomodating as far as your dives, but just let them know ahead of time what your dive plan is...

Rubys wandering toilet, lol
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/SoCalDiveGirl/?action=view&current=yukonDbls015.jpg (had lighting issues in that pic. :sarcasm: )

 

[scubanimal]

WeDiveBC,
I use my RB off the DCI boats fairly regularly. A couple of considerations to think about though. If you sign up for trip that is doing 2 dives on the yukon, then there is generally no issue doing a single long RB dive. If the plan though is to shift to a new site, let them know, prep early, so you get in the water ASAP after tie up, that way you'll be exiting shortly after the rest of the folks.

Finally, depending on when you are arriving, there are a couple of new boat outfits coming on line soon that be more 'tec' friendly. I'm sorry I too do not know the "yellow" boat contact info, but they are small and Tec friendly.

I sure hope you publish a report after diving the Yukon, a former crew members view would be very interesting.

As far as O2 fills, you may want to consider driving up the coast to Camp Pendleton and seeing Ray at The Scuba Center www.escubacenter.com. I've heard that SDUA may not be able to turn around O2 tanks in a day; that may have changed though since I last inquired.

 

[D_B]

This is one of the new SD boats , Marissa Dive Charters

... http://marissadivecharters.com/the-marissa