 Printer-Friendly | Back I thought this was going to be rough trip; not rough in terms of bouncy seas but a tough balancing act for the crew amongst the varying interests of the divers. Onboard were hunters (mainly lobster and scallop hunters but one speargun), photographers, videographers, and newbie divers. But there is one thing we all had in common. We all expected a superior live-aboard diving adventure to the Northern Channel Islands. We were on the Conception. None of us were disappointed.  Striking a balance in serving diverse customer needs and wants can be a difficult task. But this crew did it with ease. First, the skipper Jerry Boylan was very attuned to putting divers in locations that were both interesting to the photographers and productive for hunters, yet not too advanced for the novices. Some dive spots leaned one way or the other, but nearly all had something for everyone, even if it meant, “you go this way, and you go that way.” What resounded through this entire trip was the excellent customer service to all those aboard. Second Captain Bob McClurg and deckhands Todd Beacham and Kirk McNulty were johnny-on-the-spot with help at the gate, lowering cameras and at the swim step picking up game bags (often filled to the brim) and generally helping divers back aboard with fin removal. Air fills were fast, efficient and complete as well. Customer service aboard the Conception is second to none. Food. I love great food on a dive trip, especially on a cold winter Northern Channel Islands dive trip. Again, Conception is second to none. The first night we dined on fantastic barbecued filet mignon. The next evening, roast pork loin with homemade peach pie for desert. I especially remember the shrimp and scallops in saffron sauce over pasta for lunch. Breakfast was eggs to order and bacon. One day we had pancakes, the next French toast, then omelets. Bagels, toast and cereal were available for early and late risers. Fresh fruit and candy was available between dives and hot baked cookies topped off the trip on the way home. And the cooks were accommodating to vegetarian needs as well. Jill Barton and Wendy Gall in the galley were fantastic! An excellent dive operation comes in two halves — customer service and hardware, a.k.a. the boat. Launched in 1981 the Conception was built from the keel up specifically to serve divers visiting California’s Channel Islands. At 79 feet long and 25 feet wide, she is one of the largest in the Southern California dive charter boat fleet. Her roominess is readily apparent throughout the vessel. But not only does the great size come through, the smart layout is also enjoyed. The bunkroom is spacious with both double and single bunks available. The bunkroom is clean, comfortable, fresh smelling and quiet. Air-conditioned and soundproofed, each roomy bunk offers a comfy mattress, individual reading lights and privacy curtains. Fresh pillows and blankets are provided. And there is a changing room for additional privacy. Scattered throughout the bunkroom are dry storage compartments. Below decks on the bow are showers and sinks for refreshing cleanup after the dive. There are also two showers and three heads on deck. Something that strikes you about this entire vessel is its cleanliness. This boat is very well maintained and nearly spotless. Some of this could be owed to the fact that the Conception had to be nearly completely rebuilt in 2005 after the boat was stolen and crashed. Although it was rebuilt better than ever, I don’t think this cleanliness is owed to its rebuild as I dived the boat shortly before it was crashed, and it was nearly as clean and sharp. The crew and staff are meticulous about keeping their boats in top appearance and working order. Perhaps my favorite part of the boat is the salon of the galley. There is a lot of seating and tons of table space, an important feature for today’s camera crazy divers. In addition, the salon is completely waterproof so dripping divers are most welcome. Also in the galley is a TV with VCR/DVD and screen that can be hung up for shutterbugs to show off their accomplishments of the day. The back dive deck is also well thought out. There are benches port and starboard with storage below. Dive gear bags can also be placed atop the engine room box in the middle of the deck making access to gear easy. There are water entry gates port and starboard and, an unusual useful feature, a bow gate for immediate access to the anchor line, ideal for getting to the dive site quickly or in a strong current. Another unusual but useful feature is a small tank on the rail at each gate with circulating water for rinsing out your mask. Air fill whips reach every tank so there is not the added hassle of moving your tank around. Two reliable Ingersol Rand compressors pump tanks with great speed, to the top, and at up to 3,000 p.s.i. For reboarding the boat you will find a large submerged swim step and two big ladders. Built into the stern are the live-game holds that naturally circulate water in the surge keeping game fresh. On deck a large cutting board is put up when needed for cleaning your gathered seafood. At the end of the day the practicalities of diving do not end. Perfect for multi-day dive trips, there is a drying room below deck with warm circulating air that helps dry out wetsuits making them toasty warm for next day’s diving. And there is also a clothes dryer for towels and bathing suits. Truth Aquatics, owners and operators of the Conception as well as the Vision and Truth, run not only dive trips to the Channel Islands but also kayaking and hiking trips. Trips run are both single and multi-day, but the Conception really shows her colors on longer trips. Several trips this summer will be three, four and even five-day trips. They are well worth it. Consider their “limited load” trips where the boat carries fewer passengers for intensely personalized service. Again, this is very well worth it. For more information on the Conception, or any of the Truth Aquatics boats, visit www.truthaquatics.com or call 805-962-1127. Dale Sheckler is the editor and publisher of California Diving News and the co-author of the book Southern California’s Best Beach Dives. © Copyright 2008, all rights reserve, by Saint Brendan Corporation, P.O. Box 11231, Torrance CA 90510, mail@cadivingnews.com. No part of this may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system/website, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The contents of this publication/website are opinions of the individual writers. The publishers of California Diving News and its contributors assume no responsibility for any mishap claimed to be a result of use of this material. Diving is an adventure sport and with it comes inherent risks. Improper use of diving equipment or improper diving techniques may result in serious injury or, in extreme circumstances, death. Readers are admonished to use their own best judgement in each individual situation. |
