Dive Review of Explorer dive boat in
The Continental USA/channel islands

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Explorer dive boat, Nov, 2010, by bill mashek, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 11 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 5812.
No photos available at this time
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	The northern Channel islands chain off the coast of Southern California includes from east to west Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. Here the warmer waters from the southern Ca counter currents meet the nutrient rich California current. The resulting mix supports a bountiful kelp forests, marine mammals, and endless varieties of fish, invertebrates and plants. I love diving the channel islands. For hunters, the channel islands are renown for excellent spear fishing and lobster hunting. The Peace Dive boat has several charters per year, just for free diving and hunting. Truth aquatics and Channel Island packers, offer hiking and kayaking trips the islands. Since this was just a one day trip I chose the Spector dive boat. Spector is the best bargain for one day channel island diving. 3 dives, air and all meals including a barbecue chicken lunch for $95. The best way to experience the Channel Islands is on a live-aboard. Truth Aquatics and Peace Dive boat offer multi-day and "specialty" trips. Some of my favorite and most memorable diving has been in the California Channel islands. However, California diving is not for everyone. Sometimes there are strong currents, visibility can range for 5 ft to 75+ ft. It is cold water (48-60+ degree F) You would have to arrange for and pay for your own divemaster/guide.
Websites	Explorer dive boat
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	west coast of USA, south-east Asia, Hawaii mexico (east and west coast) throughout central america, northern south america to Ecuador. florida keys and areas of the Caribbean, Greece and Malta
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy, cloudy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	60-63°F / 16-17°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	20-30 Ft/ 6-9 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No restrictions all channel island boat dives are non-guided, dive your own profile.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	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	N/A
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	The islands are great for both macro and wide-angle photography and the boats have camera rinse tanks. There were 3 professional under water photographers on our trip.

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Dive Review of Explorer dive boat in The Continental USA/channel islands

Explorer dive boat, Nov, 2010,

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):

Dive Review of Explorer dive boat in
The Continental USA/channel islands