Catalina- Bottomscratcher

[Jefe]

A little review: Went to Catalina on the Bottom Scratcher. This was my first time on this boat. It was only at about half capacity, but I felt crowded. Overall, though a not super clean, not a bad boat. I did find it a little slow.

Here are the things I liked:
The crew was animated. Although the food wasn't exactly gourmet, there was alot of it. (Breakfast and a meal after every dive). There was a chase dingy.

Things I didn't like:
The capt. new there were several student there to get their deep dive in for the advanced course. It 10'-15' of vis with an obvious current (Isthmus reef), an anchor line in the deep water for reference would have been ideal. He chose to anchor shallow. A possible big problem for inexperienced divers.

A short move for the second dive (West side of Bird Rock). I didn't see anyone marking people off as they entered the water. I don't even remember seeing anyone at boat stern. However, everyone was checked in at entry.
Though it seamed customers wanted to try a third site, we didn't pull anchor because members of the crew wanted to remain there. Once again, there was nobody marking off names as divers entered the water.

During the trip, with the exception of the captain, each crew member dove at least once (including the dive master), with two diving trice.
My overall impression of the trip was that the intent of the trip was for the benefit of some of the crew and there desire for lobster. (The bugs, by the way, were measure on the boat, with shorts toss out).
I understand the crew wanting to dive, but not on a trip when they are working. I resent having to pay for a crew trip.

I hope this trip was an exception and I'm sure others have had better experiences. I, however, will not be spending my money there, again.

[JS1scuba]

Crew that does not dive for the most part useless crew. This is the single biggest problem with California boats. They put crew on that do not dive or they don't let them dive.

I was on the BS once. IMO it is a bit of a scow. It's old, it's wet, I despise a boat that let's wetsuits in the main salon. And let's divers leave thier **** allover the place. The heads smelled badly and were designed for vertically challenged people. The air-fill system was ok but nothing special. The food was ok but if you were diving you missed it. Oh well . I would prefer to just bring my own. The deck set up is crowded and designed for single tank numptys with one tank. I prefer a bit more deck space. The stern gates are small and the ladders suck. I dont like taking my fins off to climb up.

The captain was a nice old guy. Most of the crew with the exception of the obnoxiously and stupidly loud cook at 5 am were pretty good. When a boat load of people are sleeping crew should shut the **** up. The rest of the time they stayed out of the way and were there if you need them. The loud cook redeemed herself when she put her **** on and went divng. That kept her quiet and showed she could dive. The rest of the crew dived as needed and I was pleased to see that.

Oh waking me up for no reason cost her a $20.

I crewed a boat in NY for almost 14 years. I dived on EVERY trip. What's the point of being boat crew if you don't dive?

Crew is there to help you not hold your hand.

Cheers

[seasnake]

In my neck of the woods there are NO charter boats. No dive charter operations. You do your best to hire a local fisherman to take you out or you shore dive. Luxuries like food ... forget it. Even if a DM organizes the trip and hires the boat, don't expect him to lug your tanks or hold your hand. You gotta look after yourself. If you are lucky the boat has a head (or at least a bucket), and if he has a ladder you are feeling pretty pampered. One dive shop here, the owner has an old fishing boat that he takes people out on, but it is a scow and not set up as a dive boat. You are on his schedule, go where he wants to go. I can't tell you how many times the diesel starts up and he is pulling away while I'm still climbing over the transom to get back on the boat.
That being said, we probably only pay $25 to $50 for a two dive day. What are you guys paying when you go out on a boat like the Bottom Scratcher?
When I DM I get in the water whenever I can. But I do guided tours or help out the less experienced divers. It's not for me to do my own thing.
Ron

[hbh2oguard]

seasnake it's alot more than you pay. If you find a weekday special maybe $80-90 USD and on the weekend it shoots up to $125-150 USD

[seasnake]

Interesting. That does make it expensive for weekly diving! There was just a post on my local board about this. There is an operator in Newfoundland (North of here, a 15 hour ferry ride) at a popular spot now charging $130 for the day. But he trying to cater to tourism, not the locals, so he has a small resort and pro charter boat with meals and the whole thing. Of course, the "locals" are complaining about the extravagant prices! But sounds like his on par for what he is offering. (The diving is awesome if you like wrecks ... four WWII wrecks sit upright on the bottom in nearly pristine condition, just a 20 min steam from his front door step)

[hbh2oguard]

yea way too expensive for my budget so I just got a used dive kayak and have only been on a charter boat once for my cert. the rest of the dives have been from shore which I feel I get more expierence out of because I don't just jump off and I'm there.

[Sarah]

I think the $125 or so it costs for a Southern California dive boat is an incredible bargain. I Know in Southern California the Whalers Dive Club has Wednesday trips now and then to San Miguel for even less than that.

You get to arrive the night before and go out to dinner with fellow dive friends, sleep on the way there, get up, have hot breakfast, do your first dive, have a snack while they refil yoru tank for no extra $, do a 2nd dive, have a hot sit down lunch, after another free refill do a 3rd dive or lay out and snooze, take a hot shower and put on clean cloths, then nap all the way back.

[hbh2oguard]

plus tip.... and each dive is well north of $40. Park the car walk to the site and each dive is $5. That's an 800% savings! Sure it's nice to hop off and you're there but that's too easy and expensive for me.

[seasnake]

With the lack of dive charter operations where I live, we were just always used to shore diving and hitching a ride with a fisherman. It is only in the last few years I've had the opportunity to dive from a "dive boat" on a charter. It's actually kinda funny, because my buddies and I were not used to someone helping with our gear and helping us out of the water and stuff like that. We were like "hey, quit touching my gear!"
For the most part, I still prefer the least expensive alternative and just looking after myself, because that is what I am used to. But when the time comes and you want all the frills like iDiveChick mentioned, you pay your bucks and sit back and enjoy, and it is well worth it!

[Jefe]

JS1scuba-

Yeah, my station was near the head and it stunk (not to mention, liquid covered th floor). I don't mind the crew diving, as long as the paying customers are taken care of (and I don't mean having our hands held). I do expect somebody to account for everyone going in and out just for safety. And it should be the same person for any particular dive, in my opinion.


I've had better experience on other boats and those are the ones I'll return to.