From: dave@hpdstma.hpl.hp.com (Dave Waller)
Subject: VISION trip in Sept
Organization: Hewlett Packard
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 22:11:46 GMT

TRIP ALERT! GREAT DEAL! MUST READ!

(okay, got the hype title out of the way... :-))

I just finished a trip on the VISION liveaboard to the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast last week, and had a great time! Came back with three abs, and about 1 1/2 hours of some really good video.

While on the trip, I found out that a 5 day had canceled in September. This got me to thinking about nabbing 3 of those days, and chartering the boat. However, September is getting close, so I will need to gather the divers together ASAP
in order to make a decision.

Here's the deal. The UCR (Usual and Customary Rates) for Truth Aquatic's trips is $115/day. The VISION can carry 40 divers comfortably. Typically, a 3 day runs $345 and the boat is usually close to full.

I would like to limit the total number of divers to 30, making the trip all that much roomier. In addition, I am not trying to make any cash on organizing this trip, so I'm asking $295 for the three day, which amounts to $50 less than you pay normally. I'll be up front about the fact that, for my efforts in organizing this, my wife and I go for free.

The trip would be Thu 9/24 through Sat 9/26, with the boat boarding Wed evening, 9/23. More information about the VISION is included at the end of this message.
In addition, I'm willing to throw in a copy of the raw footage I shoot on the trip for anyone that wants one, free of charge -- just give me a VHS blank tape on the trip and your name and address, and a few bucks for postage. If you drop down and hang around with me on at least one dive, you're sure to be in some of the footage.

I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ASAP IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. Time is short on this one. I will be taking reservations over the next week, and expecting money the week after. IF YOU SIGN UP AND PAY, YOU'RE COMMITTED! No refunds due to the non-profit nature of this trip (i.e. if you pull out it would have to come out of my pocket, as I have to sign a contract with Truth Aquatics). If I don't have 28 paid passangers by 8/14, the trip is off.

Conditions are great in the Channel Islands right now. It is warm and sunny, and there are lots of abs, lings, rockfish, and good vis. On this last trip we were treated to gobs of whales on the return crossing (and I got 'em on tape!!!!); 4 humpbacks, two blues (gawd those things are HUHYOOOJ!), and a pair of finbacks. Also saw two groups (pods? packs?) of dolphin on the return as well. While diving I got some great footage of a 5 foot Angel shark, and a playful sea lion, as well as some awesome kelp fores

t shots. Those puppy dogs of the sea are ubiquitous in the Channel Islands.

I need to secure 28 divers for this great trip right away. Sign up and tell all your SCUBA diving friends.  Contact me ASAP if you are interested.

Dave Waller
YMCA Instructor


-------------------

THE VISION

The VISION is the newest and biggest liveaboard of the Truth Aquatic's fleet of three boats. It was designed and built with diving in mind, and as such is short term liveaboard diving at its finest.

The boat is 85 feet long overall. The galley is huge -- large enough to seat all 40 passangers for dinner. If you have been on the PEACE out of Ventura, the galley on the VISION is 3-4 times the size of the galley on the PEACE, to give you an idea of its size.

There is a generous amount of deck space for staging equipment, and plenty of room for storage. The boat features a wet-suit drying room where you can hang up your wetsuit in between dives to keep it warm and out of the wind. There is also a clothes dryer in the wetsuit room.

The boat features 4 hot fresh water showers for the passangers, two on the main deck (without privacy), and two down below in the main bathroom area that are fully private. This same area has two sinks with a large mirror in front of them for primping after the shower :-)

The bunk area includes single and double bunks, all generous in size. Every bunk has a privacy curtain that provides complete privacy, a switchable reading light, and a ventilation duct. Pillows and blankets are provided, however most people bring a sleeping bag to place over the bunk cushion. Each bunk also has a storage shelf along the wall in the bunk, and there is plenty of room next to and below the bunks to store baggage/shoes/whatever. There is also a small changing room in the bunk area as well.

The VISION also has a generous amount of game tank space at the back of the boat where the egres gate is lowered, as well as a large freezer that fillets can be stored in during the trip. There is a fillet board and salt-water hose at the back of the boat for processing game.

A few other miscellaneous features: 25"diag. color TV, with hookup for video/audio (used alot by me to look at the footage I shot just after the dive :-)). VCR, and stereo reciever. All this is in the main galley.

Spaceous sun deck above the galley, right behind the pilot house.

The boat will be diving any of the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. Heavy duty divers can usually get in 5-6 dives during the day, and there is always at least one night dive, conditions permitting. For laid back folk like myself, 4 is more typical, with a nap in the afternoon :-)
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