Catalina: Farnsworth Bank! (Limited Load.)

Join us for a day trip to Catalina (Farnsworth) Island! Limited load (19).

You must have an Advanced certification (or better) and a solid amount of experience and be comfortable with "open ocean" type boat diving.

WAIVERS: In addition to signing a Power Scuba waiver ( http://bit.ly/power-scuba ), you must fill out the electronic Pac Star Waiver (once per trip) via this link: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5af2e1710815f/web/ . Do this BEFORE arriving at the boat.

IMPORTANT: Pac Star Covid-19 Procedures and Waiver are found in our file section. Read, sign, and bring with you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PowerScuba/files/

MANDATORY ITEMS: A good safety sausage, knife, and whistle. (At a minimum.) Don't show up on the boat without these.

NO-PROFIT COST FOR 1 DAY TRIP: $153.02

SITES:

Farnsworth - Backside (2 tanks): Gorgeous pinnacles on the weather side of Catalina Island. Reknowned for it's gorgeous profusion of purple hydrocoral (hard coral).

Frontside: We'll finish up our day of diving with a tank on the front side.

BOAT LOCATION: 22nd St Landing San Pedro, Ca

BOARDING: You may sleep on the boat if you choose. (Starting at 8 pm the night before) Boat leaves the dock 5:00 am Saturday morning. Maintain silence about the decks after 10:30 pm the night before so boat sleepers may get their rest.

BUNKS: Bunks are a first-come, first-served thing for this day trip, but allow couples and very large people to have the "cabins"... at least before 10 pm. After that, it's go for whatever is available.

FOOD: Full meals. Snacks and drinks in between dives. (Covid modifications in place.) Nice!

AIR TANKS: Boat has steel LP 72s (plus rating overfilled) for your use, or you may bring your own tank. Compressor fills to 3,000 psi. (No HP fills.) If requesting a boat tank, you must request this of the crew BEFORE we get underway.

NITROX: Boat pumps Nitrox into O2-clean tanks only. $10 per fill. You may bring your own O2-clean (dedicated) Nitrox tank, but bring it FULL. No fills on the way to the rigs. Boat has steel LP 72 (plus rating) Nitrox tanks for your use if you wish, but you must request this of the crew BEFORE we get underway.

BOTTOM LINE: Bring your own tank (or two) if you can.

GEAR: Bring all your own gear (except for tanks if you so choose). Boat has some weights, but probably best to bring your own.

BOAT: Pacific Star (http://www.pacificstardiving.com)

Would-be Car-poolers: Speak up in the comments section below!

IF YOU BACK OUT less than one week before departure (or "no call, no show") you are on the hook for the money. No refund. Less than two weeks and you get 1/2 your money refunded. Two weeks or more = refund. (Any refund entails a .31 Paypal fee and 9% admin charge (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/32049962).)

REQUESTING A REFUND: To back out fully, you must change your RSVP and request a Paypal refund. The Meetup app does not currently have a link for that, so use your desktop/mobile browser and go to your Profile --> Settings --> Payments Made/All Transactions --> find the payment and click "Contact Organizer for Refund".

CANCELLING AN EVENT: When and why Power Scuba might do it (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/20706002)

POINTERS:

Bring your certification card. / Hydrate really well. / 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 dive close to the boat (unless you enjoy long surface swims).

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

BOAT ETIQUETTE REMINDER:

Don't be late for the boat.

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

Keep gear out of the walk-way, damnit.

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.

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!

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If you aren't completely comfortable with the kind of diving described above please sit this one out. Your safety is our first concern. There are plenty of shops and instructors who'll be glad to train you up to the level this event requires. Look 'em up here: Shops & Instructors (https://www.facebook.com/groups/PowerScuba/files/ )

Dive Boat/Trip Tipping Guidelines: Tipping Info & Advice here (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/21783462/ )
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ADMIN STUFF:

Donations to our non-profit org (https://www.meetup.com/Scuba-Diving-San-Diego/messages/boards/thread/9702303) are always appreciated and needed.

LIABILITY RELEASE: You must sign and submit a Power Scuba Liability Release at least once a year. Please do this digitally via this link: http://bit.ly/power-scuba . It's easy and fast! Your event host will verify your submission before you go out with us, so please take a moment and complete the Release.

You must also read this: Disclaimer and Clarification... AKA Terms of Service...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. Our medical statement and Doctor's Waiver are found in the Files section of our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PowerScuba/files/

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... and that your buddy (if any) has done the same.

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. When you enter the water, you 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.

This is a no-take event.