Dive Review of Channel Island Expiditions in
The Continental USA/Channel Islands

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Channel Island Expiditions: "Channel Islands diving", Aug, 2021, by Regina roberts, CA, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 11710 has 2 Helpful votes.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I dove the Channel Islands on 3 separate occasions this summer, 2 on day boats staying at hotels and a 4 day live aboard on the Vision, now owned by Channel Island Expeditions (formerly Truth Aquatics). My dive buddy and I, both long time Monterey drysuit divers and photographers, did 2 days of diving on The Raptor near LA to Santa Cruz and Annacapa Islands. Neither of us had been on this boat but booked it thru our LDS. When we arrived we were told their “Nitrox just broke down the night before” so we would not have that available. We later found out from a local instructor onboard they haven’t pumped Nitrox in a year. Almost every other diver onboard was in a beginners class, again not told beforehand. When divers needed help getting back to the boat (which happened many times due to current) the DM would causally ask whoever was on the boat to zip his wetsuit, then he would fumble around up front pulling out a boogie board and fins which were behind other gear. Not good if someone was in serious trouble. No food onboard for a 12 hour trip. 2nd trip was with The Magician, again San Pedro (LA) area. 2 single days 3 tank dives, first day to Farnsworth Banks, an advanced site both of us have dove before. Again, Nitrox advertised and reserved but none available when we got onboard. Got to Farnsworth, lots of current, captain dropped just enough line to hit bottom, no scope, no stern anchor to help stabilize, chaotic cattle boat to get divers off and on. Before getting off DM said to swim up to anchor line, drop down then swim back past stern another 100’ to a wall. All with ripping current. What the?? Chain was tight and scary to be near. Most divers were glad to still be breathing getting back to boat. Several asked if he could move, reset anchor and scope to ease situation or go to different dive site. No. So about half the boat skipped the 2nd dive, including us. Rushed between dives to get back in, very unsafe operation. Captain was just a mean grumpy guy who only lit up when he was able to grab his share from the tip jar. 3rd trip, 4 day live aboard on the Vision, now company called Channel Island Expeditions to the southern Channel Islands. Great trip (finally!). The safety upgrades are fantastic (sister ship the Conception -fire). They have installed an interconnected fire alarm system, 2 large new hatches in the bunk room port and starboard to the main decks, and a state of the art self contained big fire cabinet to charge batteries, etc. There is a night watchman at all times. The crew was great and very helpful, captain incredibly nice but needs help finding parts of dive sites with lots of life. Only 2 bad marks- the food, hardly any fresh food, lots of bowls of candy instead of fresh veggies, cheeses, etc like they use to have. The tip jar- use to be a plastic shark that played a song, now a sexist booby photo of a woman, really guys, is it 1960? Do you need that much heterosexual validation? I do have faith these issues will improve, glad someone has gotten the Vision going again.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	California, Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, Philippines, Raja
Closest Airport		Getting There	Drive
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas
Water Temp	50-63°F / 10-17°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	20-80 Ft/ 6-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]none
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Oct 30, 2021 19:30 EST

Go into your photos and rotate them, so they are easier to look at, thanks

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Oct 30, 2021 19:36 EST

So...that's what happened to the Vision, thanks

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Dive Review of Channel Island Expiditions in The Continental USA/Channel Islands

Channel Island Expiditions: "Channel Islands diving", Aug, 2021,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Channel Island Expiditions in
The Continental USA/Channel Islands