Huntington Harbor, California

Atlantis Charters/Pacific Dream, July 1998, Tim & Paula Pastushin, Mission Viejo, CA. The boat has 2 camera rooms with carpeted tables, outlets for charging equipment, low pressure hoses for air blowing, separate covered fresh water rinse tank for cameras. 65 ft long x 35 beam aluminum catamaran. Average speed to Santa Barbara Island from Huntington Beach 14 kts; sea's short and steep so a rough ride. Three hours beats 6-8 on any other boat by a long shot. Most others leave at 10pm the night before. Pacific Dream left at 7am. 1100 sq. ft galley/lounge with camera rooms and underwater viewing wells for the nondivers. 900 sq. ft sun deck with Jacuzzi for warming up after the dive. Two alum 80s per diver so never a wait for a fill to 3500 psi. They provide soft weights too. Santa Barbara Island always fun. First dive at 7 fathom reef, good vis 51-54 ft., cold water, be back on boat w/300 psi. Sea Caves great vis, cold water. Nice overhangs and small walls! Tons of bat rays in the sand, octopus, nudibranchs, rescued a lobster from an old trap. Third dive at the Rookery crappy vis but a hundred juvenile sea lions darting around and tugging on your fins. Skipper/owner Brian Cook always provides a top notch experience. Crew goes out of their ways to ensure that the divers have the best possible time. The trip home was smooth as silk at 19+ knots.

Santa Barbara

Truth Aquatics/Conception, November 1997, Jim Meredith, Grand Junction, CO. Made the mistake of going diving with the full moon. Tidal change of 17 to 19 feet led to ripping currents. First time in 9 trips we didn't get to a night dive. Captain Roger Wood (Woody) did a great job trying to find sites that offered decent vis and currents. Vis: 10-50 feet, water: 70-73 degrees. Boat and crew great as usual. Mostly stayed on the southeast corner of Santa Cruz but also dove Anacapa, which had the most brittle stars I have ever seen. (Ph: 805-962-1127, Fax 805-564-6754, e-mail: taqua@ix.netcom.com)

San Diego

LoisAnn Dive Charter, July 1998, Rick Glider, Tucson, AZ. Three tank dive cost $65. Included tanks, weights, deli-style lunch, snacks, drinks. Good dive briefings. 20 divers. Wreck dive, the Ruby E. Visibility was about 20 feet: Nothing much to see but the coral on the wreck was pretty; it can be entered safely. Second dive: Quast Hole-large rocks, sea urchins, few fish. Strong currents at both dive sites. Third dive had strongest current and only 4 or 5 divers went down. Los Coronados Islands, a 90 minute boat ride south of San Diego: $85 for 3 dives, with weights, breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks included. Came across an ocean sunfish and stopped so we could get a good look at it. Viz 40 feet with some current. Sea lions at the surface but we didn't see them below. Garibaldi, sea urchins, starfish, sea hare, schooling mackerel, stone fish, large moray, trigger fish, large arrow crabs. Good company: friendly and helpful. (Web site: www.loisann.com)

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