Peace, Conception, Truth or Vision?

[Taxgeek]

So which of these do you all prefer, for 2 or 3 day trips, other factors such as destination being equal?

I know there are some Truth Aquatics captains that people particularly like - which ones?

The Peace has a hottub, that's good too. And it leaves from Ventura, which is closer to LA, but means a longer ride out to (hopefully) San Miguel.

All three TA boats (I think) have bow gates - a real plus in my book.

Do any of the boats have better photo facilities than others?
Better food?
Better galley chairs?
Better bunks for a single person?

Which one would you choose? I'm sure I'll try them all eventually, and they're all great, but help me choose this one.
Thanks!
Taxgeek

 

[Frank O]

Everything being equal, I'd probably choose the Peace for a trip. I like the boat, it's a shorter drive from L.A., and it pumps nitrox.

On the other hand, some divers I know like the spaciousness of the Truth Aquatics boats and their bunk arrangement better.

Hot tub isn't a selling point for me. Considering its size, it's always been too crowded to crawl into.

Even though you ask us to assume destination is equal, this is probably one of the most important decision factors for me. The Truth boats do some trips that aren't available or seldom available on others (for example a one-day trip I took last spring to the Humble SM1 and Gosford wrecks).

Bottom line, try them all eventually!

 

[Jim Ernst]

i personally have only been on the truth, but i have nothing but GREAT things to say about the boat and definatly the crew, awsome trip, and i leave with them again on the 1st of feb for 5 days. photo boat

 

[Taxgeek]

I'm so jealous Jim, I wish I could go on that!

 

[drbill]

I've been on all the boats and like them all. Know the captain or second captain on two of them. I'd dive on which ever boat was going where I needed to go.

 

[Jim Ernst]

I'm so jealous Jim, I wish I could go on that!

AAWWAA, sorry to hear that you cant, i have to say i am very excited to go, went last oct 04 and had a $50 camera we were so thrilled with the pics we got, now ishie (friend) and i both have nice camera set ups and those pics are so like junk. lol then i count the days of three weeks latter till i leave for the phillipines!!! sorry to be off topic all

 

[DiverBuoy]

My version is nearly identical to drbill with only the following modification "on whichever boat was going WHEN I needed to go." The WHERE doesn't matter to me. These boats are all fantastic rides and good crews.

 

[Taxgeek]

Well, here's my dilemna then, all you wishy-washy non-position taking people ;-) All four boats have three day trips going on the February long weekend to the "Outer Islands." What am I supposed to do, flip a coin???? LOL. Cmon, tell me who your favorite captain is, or SOMETHING. Of course with the caveat that we're not dissing the other boats - they're all their own little slice of heaven. But which heaven should I book on?

 

[DiverBuoy]

Ok the TRUTH is ... crap, now what was it I was going to say again?

 

[Frank O]

At the risk of complicating things, you might also consider which club or shop is chartering the trip, if any, and whether you think you'd be sympatico. Some shops run a lot of classes on trips which can constrain choice of dive sites (though this is more common on one-day trips). As for clubs, are they a party crowd? photogs? hunters? etc. In the case of the Presidents Day weekend, on those boats it looks like some out-of-town shops/clubs (can't say I know much about them) and an open boat.

Also -- do you have a nitrox card? That's be a vote for the Peace.

Are you bringing a buddy, or planning to work something out on the boat? That can either get into your buddy's tastes or loop back to the first question here (what's the crowd like?).