what to look for in dive boat charter????

[Capt.Ed]

I'm a diver and a fishing charter captain. Here's my 2 cents...

All US boat diving operations will have a USCG Licensed captain, they will have a Master Captains license if they take more than 6 people out. I also look for them to be insured...which is also a commerical requirement. If the vessel takes out more than 6 paying passengers then it will have an inspection annually and will be required to have certain peices of safety gear like fire extingishers, life rafts (or floats), EPIRB, life jackets, radio, anchor and all the other normal boating safety gear. Many dive boats are restricted to certain waters because of the way they are inspected and the safety gear they carry, but this does not make them less safe than another operator with a wider range of operation.

Now, Diving safety gear is another story. Most of the boats I use have emergency oxygen, a BIG first aid kit, and an AED (automated external defibrillator). Some will put a DM in the water on complex dives and make sure there is a contingency tank and reg at 15ft on deep dives...some boats do not. I prefer the ones that do. Shows they are thinking ahead and if I have a problem I stand a better chance at getting through it w/o hurting myself.

Crew and Captain...Most people in this business are very friendly and customer service oriented. I've been out a couple of times with a-holes but it's always a one trip deal because I want to have a good time and not put up with a d1ck. But I have found that most of the boat captains and dive masters are great people and when they correct or reprimand somebody its usually done as gently as possible and they've done so because of a safety issue. Last time I was stopped by a DM was because I was walking around the inside of the boat w/ just my weight belt on...if I'd have gone in then I would have sunk like a rock...I'm glad they made me take it off.

So what else do I look for? When I call to make the reservation I usually ask about the number of divers on the charter, where we will be going, what depths, how long, and I'll ask about anything that they've not covered on thier website. I also usually ask about the weather cancellation policy; I like to have the option to reschedule or receive a refund if small craft advisories are posted or if sea conditions (posted by NOAA hit) certain thresholds. I've been out on days where you have a 25kt wind and 6-8 foot seas and had awesome dives.
If the skipper isn't willing to go then I certainly don't try to persuade him.

Also If I'm going to be there overnight then I ask about local hotels. Many operations may have information on rates and they may also have a deal worked out where thier referals may receive a discounted rate. I'll also ask the crew for restraunt recommendations if I'm unfamilier with the local area. I often get some really good recommendations.

That's all I can think of...hope it helps.

 

[fjpatrum]

Granny Scuba, basically the Coast Guard requires certain things on a boat to approve it. These include proper first aid kits, flotation devices for all persons aboard, and several other things that I don't know off the top of my head. Of the charters I looked at for my upcoming Hawaii trip, all the dive charters had these things listed as available but only one shop I saw actually was listed as "Coast Guard Certified".

Being officially certified means having annual (I believe) inspections of your boat and gear and probably (I can't say for sure) adds a certain fee on top of just having the right equipment. It doesn't mean, necessarily, that the captain or crew are better able to serve your needs as a diver, especially if you seek out charters that have the right equipment but maybe not the official stamp of approval.

 

[captndale]

Passenger vessels are divided into two classifications: Inspected Passenger Vessels and Uninspected Passenger Vessels.

Inspected Passenger Vessels may carry more than 6 passengers, must have a captain with a "master's" license and must be inspected annually by the US Coast Guard. They are issued a "Certificate Of Inspection" (COI).

Uninspected Passenger Vessels are limited to 6 passengers (hence the name, 6-pack), must have a captain with at least an "operator's" license and are not inspected by the USCG. Some states may place additional requirements on them. Here in Illinois, a six-pack boat must obtain a passenger boat license from the state and must pass an annual inspection.

In addition to the legal requirements, a good dive boat should also carry an adequate divers' first aid kit, oxygen and an AED. It should be well rigged for diving, have a good open ladder and a skipper and crew who are expert divers in the local waters.

 

[Krenath]

I look for secure tank holders, a clear deck between my seat and the water, and a nice ladder and handholds for climbing back aboard.

A couple weekends ago, I dove off a boat in the Keys that had none of these things and it was miserable.

First, we had to grab tanks from a big grid-shaped tank holder in the center of the boat.
Then we had to lug these tanks up a short flight of steps to the upper deck where our gear was.
The only tank holders near the seats were BEHIND the seats and held the tanks at DECK level, not at SEAT level. We had to assemble our gear on the deck and then slide our fully assembled gear under the seats as far as possible.
Once at the dive site, you drag your gear out from under the seat, struggle into it without the aid of a seat, and then walk down a flight of steps, around the tank storage grid, and finally fall off the back of the boat.
It didn't help that the crew was pretty hands-off the whole time.

I wouldn't have minded half as much if it was just me and I didn't have my wife along. She's not nearly as willing to rough it as I am, and I'm not willing to force her to do so.

 

[Granny Scuba]

....In addition to the legal requirements, a good dive boat should also carry an adequate divers' first aid kit, oxygen and an AED. .....

I may be having a blonde moment, but what is an AED?

 

[fisheater]

AED = Automated External Defibrillator

 

[Meggie66]

I've dived off a few charters in Sydney where I live, and the one I keep going back to is owned by my local LDS. Its advantages are:
* A first rate captain with back-of-the-hand knowledge of local dive sites and an ability to read the weather like a book (conditions can be changeable here). He will change from the scheduled dive site to a more protected one if he feels conditions would endanger divers trying to reboard the boat. He's also a really lovely person and former diver who'll do anything to help anyone.
* Dive guides on each dive - the boat carries a maximum of 19 divers, and they keep it to eight or nine divers per guide. The guides take the time to get to know each diver and their experience level, and try to divide up the groups according to experience.
* Two two-tank trips on Saturday and Sunday, morning and afternoon, plus morning two-tank trips on Thursdays and Fridays.
* A schedule published up to three months in advance so you know which site they're going to when (although as mentioned, the captain will change this at his discretion if he's concerned about the conditions).
* Oxygen and a medical kit on board, plus people who know how to use them.
* A head which works.
* Tanks and weights included in the price.

The snacks aren't gourmet - packet soup, pies and sausage rolls - but it's amazing how good powdered soup can taste on a surface interval, especially as we're headed into winter here.

At 43 ft, it's a small and very happy boat. I'd encourage anyone diving in Sydney to check it out - would be happy to name the boat and the company which owns and operates it, but not sure that's allowed in this forum. It probably sounds like I work for them but I don't - just happy with the service!

All the best
M

 

[Colliam7]

What should I look for when booking a dive boat?

As several have said, there is a big element of personal preference in any response to this. In fact, the question has two categories of answer: 1) what to consider BEFORE you book a charter operator the first time, and 2) what to consider after a dive experience, when deciding whether to go out with the operator again. Sometimes, the subjective factors only come out during a charter, and you end up with valuable lessons learned, even if the charter operator turned out to be something other than what the reputation led you to believe. Since this is so subjective, like several other posters, I will share what I look for / care about, for whatever consideration you may choose to give it. By and large, I can put up with a lot on a charter. I am on a boat to go diving, not to stay in a 5 star hotel. And, after all, a charter only last a half-day or a day in most cases, after which I can say ‘what a great operation’ it was, or how ‘I will NEVER do that again.’ In addition, I have yet to see a perfect dive boat, so I look for a combination of factors that contribute to the overall experience.

A) Food is a really nice feature but getting to be so uncommon, at least for me, that it is no longer a factor. It used to be that I would see fruit, particular pineapple, offered between dives on a number of coastal charters in NC or in FL. Although I less commonly see that now, fruit between dives is something to ask about and look for. Water available for divers is a must, however. Related to that, having a big enough cooler to accommodate diver drinks (and sandwiches, if possible) is a nice feature.

When the ‘food service’ has been particularly very enjoyable – 1) a charter with Abucs Scuba in Brockville, Ontario last Fall, where the captain cooked hamburgers and hotdogs on a shipboard grill, while we were down on our first dive, ready for us when we surfaced; 2) a charter with Down Under Divers in Gulf Shores, AL where they introduced us to the greatest dive snack I have ever had – crunchy peanut butter on a Ritz cracker, topped with jalapeno pepper slices.

B) Density of divers and gear. I have no problem some degree of crowding. But, increasingly I am more attracted to smaller boats – 6 packs. Even though small, there are only so many divers that are banging around at one time, and I actually find that most 6 packs have enough room for me to gear up (even with doubles and deco bottles in many cases), without having to get in someone else’s way, or wait for someone else to get out of mine. Of course, some big boats when half full are fantastic. I like going out with Ocean Divers in Key Largo on weekday charters because their big boat, even when half full with a substantial number of divers, is still quite roomy. But, a cattle boat, filled to the brim with divers and (too much) gear – is a PITA UNLESS, there is an active crew working to help expedite the gearing up process to keep things moving quickly. Otherwise, the Brownian motion of a herd of divers really can be a challenge.

C) Comfort during the ride – outbound and back - is a factor. I want someplace to sit, other than on the bench with my gear, if at all possible where the ride is long (~2 hrs). I definitely want a shaded area for summer charters in the south. If there is just deck space to sit on, that is fine. If there is a second deck level, where people can stretch out / sit / lie down, even if in the sun, that is a nice feature for long trips. Under no conditions should I have to move between levels with gear during the diving operation.

D) Boat configuration – Safety is a given, plus it is something I can really only evaluate after the fact. So, I look for features that make the diving easier. I prefer open rung ladders, simply for ease of boarding (and 2 ladders are better than one, to expedite re-boarding). When I dive dry, I use Jetfins, that really weld to my drysuit boots. It is much easier to take them off after I re-board, rather than in the water (particularly with current or swells) or at the top of the ladder (particularly with swells). Even if diving wet, I prefer not to hassle with getting my fins off in the water unless the surface is relatively flat. But, I don’t mind doing that, if the crew is available to hand my fins up to, rather than having me sling them over my arm while climbing the ladder. I have seen more than a few fins lost that way when straps separated. Having a good long tag line to catch when surfaced after a dive if there is current, is nice. A down line with a hang bar is nice to spread divers out during a safety stop. A safety stop tank is nice, but I don’t find it necessary.

E) Crew

But I have found that most of the boat captains and dive masters are great people and when they correct or reprimand somebody its usually done as gently as possible and they've done so because of a safety issue.

Agreed, as a group. Generally, I really don’t need a DM or guide for dives, so that isn’t a factor for me. I do want a crew ready to help as needed. A good crew watches divers gearing up and ungearing, stays out of the way for the most part, but steps in quickly to help resolve a problem as needed. You can usually tell when they know what they are doing, and go about doing it in a relaxed, almost unobtrusive, but professional manner. The crew that is too busy talking among themselves to monitor the status of the passengers when on board, or divers when in the water, is not one I care to go out with (that is a pet peeve of mine). If you are crewing, your job is monitoring the divers, NOT running your mouth with a buddy, or hitting on whatever particularly attractive (usually female) diver happens to be on board.

If the skipper isn't willing to go then I certainly don't try to persuade him.

Absolutely. I prefer a reasonable captain. What I really don’t like, and operations that behave this way usually develop a well-deserved reputation, are operators that KNOW they probably aren’t going to make it out to the intended site, or to ANY site for that matter, but are more than happy to load and leave the dock, then change the destination right after departure or (worse) cancel 15 minutes into the outbound leg, and still charge 50% (or more) of the charter fee. A good operator – one that carefully evaluates conditions, and makes the cancel call when necessary, before leaving the dock whenever possible, is my preference. Usually, you learn that by word of mouth, or personal experience. The captain who considers how far they get after leaving the dock before canceling in deciding whether to refund the fee entirely, or partially, is also someone I want to go out with.