Catalina Island Diving Weekend. (Boat Bunks on Pac Star)

Two Harbors Goodness: Sleeping bunks on the boat

TROPICAL SHIRT Saturday night!

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The cost of a single night at a Catalina hotel ALONE could easily surpass our cost for this entire weekend of fun. I love the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere at Two Harbors. It's quaint, picturesque, and oh yeah, the diving is pretty darned good!

You'll be sleeping on a live-aboard boat anchored in Two Harbors harbor. Everything else will be the same as the people have at the cabins ashore.

Value! I've done this trip many times before and I must say, it's the best value-for-money you're likely to see in SoCal diving! Round-trip transport to the island, two-tank boat dive, shore diving, sleeping bunks on a boat, hot showers, and a one-pub crawl.

EXTRA SUNDAY MORNING 2-TANK DIVE BOAT (2): Sign up here (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/events/140767922/).

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EMPHASIS: This is an ISLAND experience, not a live-aboard boat experience (despite the fact you'll be sleeping on a boat). Lots of things to do on the beautiful island! Expect to spend most of your time ashore (when not diving!)

DETAILS:

WHEN: Nov 1 - Nov 3 (Fri 10 am - Sun 5 pm)

WHERE: Two Harbors, Catalina Island

COST: $147 for divers or $97 for non-divers. This is the total cost to you. Pay via Paypal when you RSVP to the right. Safe and secure. I've used it for years.)

LOGISTICS: To prevent running back and forth to the boat every hour, prepare a day bag to take ashore. You may leave any and all bags/scuba gear at the cabin quad areas where the "shore" people are staying. Very safe and secure. This is a tiny town and everyone knows everyone.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

1. A sleeping bunk aboard a boat in the harbor.

2. Community bathrooms and showers. (One on the boat. Many at the pavilion ashore which you may use. Lots of hot water, but remember you're on an island.

3. Two-tank dive boat trip on Saturday morning. (Steel 72 tanks provided by boat... or you may bring your own. Good idea to bring your own weights.)

4. Round trip transportation from the mainland on the Pacific Star. (Docked behind the 22nd St Landing in San Pedro.)

5. Hiking (Watch out for the buffalo droppings)

6. Beach lounging

7. Breakfast is included! The Pac Star will feed you a full breakfast on Sat and Sun morning ~6 am to 7:30 am.

8. Grills and SOME cooking gear, dish soap, etc up at the pavilion. Don't count on alot.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

1. Most food. Except for breakfast, which is provided by the boat, we want you to support the infrastructure ashore. There is a nice deli and restaurant in the middle of the small town as well as a convenience store. Additionally, there are grills in the cabin commons area. You'd be welcome to bring some meat and grill up there if you like.

2. Shore Diving- $20 for unlimited air fills, tanks, and weights or $6.40 per fill. (Tanks and weights provided only if you buy the $20 package.) Payable directly to the dive store. (Please tip the dive store if you use them.)

3. Scuba gear. The dive shop has a limited amount of gear to rent. (1/2 price for us.)

4. Booze. Bring some of your own for the Sat night mixer at the cabin quad ashore and/or join us after dinner at the towns only bar for a few drinks.

5. Although the boat will have a skiff that will make occasional runs (3 minutes) to shore, a water taxi may be necessary at times. Just a few bucks. (The crew will call the taxi for you upon request.)

ADMIN MINUTIA: If you're bringing a guest, please state whether they're a Diver or Non-Diver in your RSVP.

WHAT IF YOU'RE GOING IT SOLO: That's o-k. Individuals welcome! You can buddy up with another person for diving when you check in.

BUNKS: Dormitory and semi-cabin bunks available on a first come, first served basis. Please save the double wide bunks for our couples, if possible.

MAINLAND TRANSPORT: You will be leaving (and returning to) the mainland aboard the Pacific Star. (141 W. 22nd Street San Pedro, CA.) Boarding begins at 10:00 am. Free parking across the street! Arrive at your transportation site EARLY! Traffic can become bad with the drop of a hat. Boat leaves the dock at 11:30 am.

DIVE BOAT: Pacific Star Boat has free steel LP 72s (overfilled to an 76's-worth of gas) for your use on the boat (let them know you need one) or you may bring your own tank(s) (maximum of two). Caveat: Their compressor only fills to an LP steel's pressure limit. Maybe 3,000 psi if things are going well that day. No 3,450 PSI fills on this boat unfortunately. Boat pumps Nitrox into O2-clean tanks (only). $8 per fill. You may bring your own O2-clean (dedicated) Nitrox tank, but bring it full.

MINUTIA 1: I'll need your full name and contact info (phone number, etc).
MINUTIA 2: I'll need full names and phone numbers of all your guests. (You are responsible for their payments.)
MINUTIA 3: You will be on the Sat morning dive boat. Just wake up, muster for roll call, and dive!

MINUTIA 4: Foam earplugs can be helpful as the bunks are dormitory-style. One snore-er could be problematic. (If you KNOW you snore, take preventive measures!)

MINUTIA 5: The Saturday dive boat will BOARD at 7:30 am (morning) and 12:30 pm (afternoon).
MINUTIA 6: Remember, this is an ISLAND EXPERIENCE. If you're not diving (or sleeping) on the boat it is expected you'll be ashore adventuring with the rest of us!

REFUND POLICY

If you back out within 45 days of us leaving you will forfeit half your trip cost* in order for us to entice another diver to take your spot. If you back out within 21 days you will forfeit your entire trip cost (If no diver takes your spot). (*All refunds subject to a .31 Paypal fee and 9% admin fee (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/32049962).) To back out fully you must change your RSVP to the right AND request a refund.

Moral of the story: PLEASE don't back out once committed. It makes life very difficult for the organizer.

Pointers:

Bring your certification card

Don't overpack

Hydrate really well for the boat trips.

Take Bonine if you think you're at all inclined toward seasickness. If you aren't sure... take some Bonine (or similar)!

Eat a decent, non-greasy breakfast.

Bring something to keep you warm between dives (overcoat, boat jacket, etc).

Bring a torch for peering into nooks and crannies.

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

ALWAYS bring your dive essentials: A safety sausage, knife, and whistle (at a minimum)!

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. The DM is there for your safety. Take care of him/her!

Boat Etiquette Reminder:

Show up on-time.

Space is limited on a boat. Stow all your gear where directed to by crew.

Keep gear out of the walk-way

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 or similar.

If you have to puke, do it downwind (leeward).

If you have to cancel, do it well before the cutoff time so Bill has a chance to sell your seat.

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*** LAST MINUTE INFO ***

Bunks are first come, first served. Couples get one of the forward semi-cabins.

Bringing a camp chair might be a good thing for your time on the island.

Bring foam earplugs to aid sleep.

Be respectful of the boat and its crew.

Keep your tank and scuba gear OFF the benches unless you're currently performing a dive.

Except for grabbing something from your bag, please stay off the boat during the day unless you're performing a listed dive. (No sneaking into a dive trip, PLEASE.)

Join us in the town bar for drinks after our Saturday night mixer up at the Pavilion.

Group Picture at 2 pm Sunday at the dive shop.

Boat leaves for home around 2:45 pm on Sunday.

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ADMIN STUFF:

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: DONATION JAR (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/9702303)

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If you have not filled out 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-indicitive 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: 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, 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. 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.

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.