The BI-I-I-I-I-I-G SUR Dive Boat Trip!!! (2017)

UPDATE: The spots at the price mentioned on this page are full. If you want to go, please contact Truth Aquatics and ask for the "Power Scuba Discount": (805) 962-1127 ext. 604

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BIG SUR, SUMMER 2017!!!

This is a super rare trip! You don't wanna miss it! No-profit adventure!

Dive spots you can only visit on this trip, by boat!

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The Adventure... This is a very special trip aboard the Vision, the largest of the three Truth Aquatics (http://www.truthaquatics.com/) boats out of Santa Barbara. Our last trip there in 2016 was incredible! Three full days at spots in Big Sur, places you simply can't get to any other way! The Vision is not your average local dive boat. She's built for multi-day trips out to sea and has a wonderful salon, galley, bunks, and dive accommodations. At 88 feet long and a wide beam, she's well-suited for this kind of trip. In other words... SPACE! (4 showers, 3 heads) The Vision is only docked in Morro Bay for a few short weeks in June, which makes this is a very rare adventure indeed.

RESERVATIONS & COST: Simply RSVP here (first). The total cost of $431.53 is due immediately after you RSVP. Click on the "Pay Online Now" link, which takes you to PayPal. The payment is non-refundable except if the trip is cancelled or rescheduled by Power Scuba or Truth Aquatics. If you need to back out, change your RSVP to "No" and request a refund. A refund can only be given if another member takes and pays for your spot. If the spot does not sell, your fee is forfeit. Admin (9%) and PayPal ($0.31) fees will be subtracted from all refunds. (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/32049962)If you have to cancel, do it well before the trip date so there is a chance to sell your spot.

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BIG SUR... You've seen it from the road, maybe you've dived it from the shore or the very northern tip from Monterey on a day boat, but chances are you've never been on an adventure to it like this... unless you've done it with Power Scuba! We will access spots that are otherwise impossible to reach. This trip is for the adventurous scuba diver who is mentally and physically prepared to explore this untouched diving wonder. Seas can be big and rough or flat as a pancake, however every year has yielded yet another new spot that continues to impress the most discriminating diver. We may pull into the 80 foot McWay waterfall cove (we did on the 2015 + 2016 trips). We may dive Jade Cove and collect jade! Some members made jewelry from their 2015 haul! The motor along the Santa Lucia Mountains with its large cliff faces plunging into the blue pacific waters is spectacular. This coastline is unlike any scenery to the south: Coastal Redwoods, Santa Lucia Fir, Monterey Pine, and broad-leaved trees such as the Tanoak, Coast Live Oak, and California Bay Laurel are scattered along the mountain ridges. Jagged rocks lie off the coast just waiting to be dived and explored!

WHO... This trip is open to Power Scuba members and their guests. However, If you have a guest who is not member, they can easily join (preferably). It's free!

BOARDING... Boarding begins on Thursday, 6/9/2017, at 8 PM, but you can arrive anytime up until it leaves at 3 AM. It won't wait past 3 AM, so get there early. If arriving after 10 PM, be very quiet in the bunk room as people will be sleeping. Check-in, then unload and setup your dive gear when you arrive; we will be diving first thing in the morning. A bunk chart will be posted closer to the event.

FOOD... All meals are included. The Vision has great fare. If you have any special meal requests, like vegan or allergies, let Truth Aquatics know at least a week before the event (call or email them).

Dives there are filled with beautiful color...

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AGENDA... We dive! The boat leaves Morro Bay Harbor at 3 AM on Friday and motors up to Big Sur where we begin 3 days of diving. Depending upon conditions, there may be up to 5 dives per day for the first two days, and up to 4 dives the third day. We motor back to Morro Bay on Sunday, arriving by ~6 PM.

NITROX... Nitrox (32%) is provided for an extra (reasonable) charge of $6/fill or $100/20 fills. They have a new NUVAIR membrane system, so any tank can be filled. Bring your Nitrox cert card if using it.

EXPERIENCE... You should have a decent amount of experience and be comfortable in water depths ranging from shallow to over 100 feet, kelp and current. Advanced certification or comparable are required... and EXPERIENCE.

GETTING THERE... Morro Bay is located in the Central Coast of California near San Louis Obispo, Cambria, and San Simeon. It's 325 miles up the coast from San Diego; a 6 hour drive. Plan accordingly. Carpooling is highly recommended.

UPON ARRIVAL: Park in the lot where the boat is docked and check in first, then unload. Obtain a parking pass for the permanent lot and a map (next to the check-in roster in the galley) with directions on how to get there. (Parking is an easy block or two away.) Be sure to sign both boat and Power Scuba waivers. Note: if charging batteries while in port, most outlets will be turned off to conserve power. When the boat starts up at 3 AM, all outlets will turn on. So you can plug into the off outlets and they will charge while you sleep.

PARKING... See the directions here (http://files.meetup.com/1307107/DIRECTIONS%20TO%20MORRO%20BAY.pdf) and find a map when checking in. After unloading, park in the dirt lock directly next to the power plant on the south side; not the paved lot south of it. There is a little "Parking" sign. If the gates to the loading lot where the boat is docked happen to be closed after 10 PM, at least one will be unlocked; open it, drive in, sign-in, unload, re-park car, close gate.

THINGS TO BRING:

• Drysuit - If you own one, bring it. Water temps will be cold.

• Warm clothes - North of Pt Conception gets cold even during summer. Bring something to keep you warm between dives (overcoat, boat jacket, etc).

• A light for peering into nooks and crannies. Bring at least two lights and a tank light in case we can night dive. They are required.

• CERTIFICATION and NITROX CARDS

• ALWAYS bring your dive essentials: A safety sausage, knife, and whistle... MANDATORY on all Power Scuba trips!

• FUN ATTITUDE - Bring yours. It's going to be a blast! :-)

Some of the gang at the McWay waterfall in 2015...

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Minutia (read it)...

BUNKS: Unlike the Horizon and Pac Star, there are only bunks, no cabins. There are 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. One person will be assigned to each bunk in the order of their paid RSVP. Double bunks will be assigned to couples first. (If couples, or anyone else, don't want a double, speak up. There will be no switching once underway.) Pillows, pillow cases, and blankets are provided. The bunk room was cold, so maybe bring a sleeping bag. Sheets and towels are not provided. Storage is limited in the bunk room, so we hope to have a few empty single bunks for luggage.

Do not sit on someone else's bunk if they are asleep in it.

SNORERS: If you snore, bring your CPAP machine or some other means to prevent snoring. There are two 110 outlets on each side of the bunk room, so bring a power strip and extension cord if using a CPAP machine.

Foam earplugs are always a good addition to your toiletry kit, which should also include a shower towel. They provide hairdryers, soap and shampoo. The shower room is AMAZING!

LAUNDRY: There is a dryer for your use; no washing machine. If the dryer is running, do not add wet clothes to the load. Wait until it is finished, then remove the dry clothes and place them in an area that is not wet or dirty. Do not put dry clothes on the floor. Make sure to monitor your drying clothes and remove them promptly once dry. Check the dryer room at the end of the trip for any missing items.

RENTAL GEAR: There is no gear for rent on the Vision because they are not in their home port of Santa Barbara. Therefore, plan on bringing everything you need to dive for 3 days. They fill air on-board to 3500 psi.

FISHING: This is a no-take trip. There are essentially no scallops due to the otters, so don't plan on that.

Have dinner before you board Thursday night.

In 2016, Captain Graham motored right into the cove at McWay Falls. STUNNING photo op...

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The Ten Commandments of RSVPing: Click here, gang. (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/6564706)

POINTERS:

• Hydrate really well. Frequent peeing is better than DCI.

• Take Bonine or similar sea sickness medication when you board if you think you're at all inclined toward seasickness.

• End your dive close to the boat (unless you enjoy long surface swims).

• Tipping: Don't forget to tip the boat crew if they do a good job for you. This one's just as important as any other point in this list. They are there for your safety. Check the tipping guide. (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/21783462)

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Boat Etiquette Reminders (READ THESE):

Don't be late. The boat leaves at 3:00 AM Friday morning with or without you. Plan to arrive Thursday evening.

Space is limited on the boat. Don't put dive bags or boxes on the center console of the rear deck. There is only space for your dive essentials and small bags on the center console. Store dive bags or boxes on the sides along the galley and bow. No 50 gallon or larger boxes are permitted on this trip. Even though the boat is huge, deck space does not allow for it. The smaller 30 gal or less boxes are ok. There is plenty of room for cameras on the center console or inside the salon.

Spare tanks are to be stored below deck in the rear dryer room, not in the tank racks on deck. This goes for extra rigs as well: if you bring CCR and OC setups, store the unused one below.

Very tall tanks, like HP 120's, go on the port side rail rack, not in the center console. They won't fit.

Scooters cannot be stored in the tank racks.

No gear stored near the crew's dive gear on the starboard rail rack.

Put your fins on at drop-in point (not forward and then flip flop over people's feet and gear).

Don't rinse your mask or other gear in the CAMERA BUCKET!

Don't clog up the marine head with Baby Ruth bars, tampons, or similar.

If you have to throw up, do it downwind (leeward), NOT IN THE HEAD.

NOTE: Final destinations and dive spots will be dictated by weather, time, and the boat captain's discretion.

DON'T WAIT! RSVP NOW!!!

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Sign up today. They're waiting for you!

We hope to see you there!!

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ADMIN STUFF YOU MUST READ:

The Virtual Donation Jar (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/9702303) will be out (for the Meetup site costs and general fund). It's strictly voluntary, but is very much appreciated and needed: Click here for the DONATION JAR (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/9702303)

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If you have not submitted a Liability Release for Power Scuba Meetup, please follow this link to the file, print, sign and bring to the event, along with your C-Card (scuba certification card). You only need to do this once a year: Liability Release and Assumption of Risk (http://files.meetup.com/1307107/New_Liability_Release.doc)

You must also read this: Disclaimer and Clarification... AKA Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/5914647)

Anyone with a medical condition possibly counter-indicative to diving must have a doctors signature on a diving waiver form and submit signed form to Bill Powers (or an organizer) before they may attend any Power Scuba event. YOU MAY NOT ATTEND AN EVENT WITH AN UNDISCLOSED MEDICAL CONDITION. Doing so is grounds for expulsion from the group. Here is our Medical Statement (http://files.meetup.com/1307107/Medical%20Statement%20and%20Questionnaire.pdf). Therein you'll find a Doctor Waiver form as well.

Attending any scuba event Power Scuba facilitates constitutes attendee's affirmation they are medically fit to dive, certified to dive by a nationally-recognized agency, have the necessary skill & training level for the dive being offered, have read the Terms and Conditions, and have submitted a signed Liability Release to an organizer.

Important Note: It is not the organizer's role to lead your dive (or to wait for you after you come out of the water). He/she merely facilitates you getting to the pre-dive meeting location. The Organizer will not assign you a buddy nor will he/she be leading the dive as a "group dive". Visibility and liability do not allow for that. Nor will the Organizer tell you whether you are skilled enough to make any particular dive. That is for you (only) to decide. When you enter the water, you (and your buddy) are on your own. You must plan and execute your dive with your dive buddy only. Once members arrive at the meeting spot, the Organizer becomes simply another diver.

Power Scuba bears no responsibility or liability for a member's loss (gas, airfare, hotel fees, etc) in the event of a cancelled event.

Your participation constitutes your affirmation you agree to these above rules and disclaimers.... and that your buddy(s) (if applicable) has read and agrees to the same.