Cal Boat Diving

It was a very nice experience!!! My boyfriend doesn't know speak English, but everybody on Spectre made him feel great...

We went on the spectre on Saturday and it was by far the best dive boat experience we've had along the west coast. Everything from the staff and their ettoquite, to the facilities and the food, exceeded our expectations. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great day out.
We went on another dive boat on Sunday back to the channel islands and it wasn't anywhere near as good as the Spectre boat!
An added bonus was that we also could rent gear and have it waiting for us at the boat when we arrived and also allowed to leave it on the boat at the end of the day. Super convenient

This review is only for the snorkeling trip on this boat.

The trip is ok if you're scuba diving or have prior experience.

As a first time snorkeler, the sea sickness was very bad. They didn't have motion sickness pills and we couldn't eat or drink anything the whole trip because we would puke it right out.

Only the scuba divers have seats in the back deck, the stable part of the boat. The snorkelers have only indoor seating which worsens the sea sickness. We had to sit on the floor of the boat in the back deck the whole trip to be able to control the sea sickness.

Also they never

The boat and crew are great but beware that they allow spearfishing hunters too so you have to worry about some yahoo with a loaded weapon risking diver safety and enjoyment. It's like bird watching with a duck hunter. I've been on a lot of dives and never had to deal with this conflict of interest. I won't be back unless they change their policy.

Amazing operation . Safe Thorough , professional and just really nice people. They could not 'tbe more helpful or accommodating . The captain, works hard to find the best spot for the conditions and gets you literally on top of the dive spot and gives detailed briefings so there is no " I swam forever and could not find the site " Food - great and plentiful .They really make it fun and safe and the best possible diving .

Have been on the Spectre Dive Boat a few times, but have never left a review. We went on 7/4 and after this trip decided I should provide a yelp review.

While the boat can get crowded first thing in the morning while everyone is boarding, stowing gear and signing in, the process is actually very organized and the crew is very professional. They even remained patient with us when we gave them the wrong tank station number on the manifest and they had to correct it.

Great dive sights with clear instructions of what to expect and how to plan each dive. Great food and the boat is large enough

I had a great time on the Spectre, diving the Channel Islands. I chose this boat based on its reputation, and was not disappointed. The crew and accommodations were quality, and the diving, of course, was unforgettable.
One (somewhat minor) thing that could be improved: in the morning, I had trouble finding the boat in its dock. I would recommend adding further instructions for how to find it, on the Spectre's website and on the e-ticket/reservation confirmation emails.

Great crew and friendly trip. Justin (DM) never skipped a beat, he was always helpful throughout the entire day. Kylie handled the galley and made great meals. I really enjoyed this trip, I think it's especially a good boat for new divers- their patience and kindness is infinite.

Spent the last 2 days diving on the Spectre with my 12 YO son. Despite some unfavorable conditions due to strong Santa Ana winds, the captain managed to find 2 great spots where we managed to get in 6 dives over the 2 days. The crew was terrific. Very professional, safety conscious and helpful all the way around. Will definitely be back!

Note that you are not paying for a guided dive. The dive masters all stay onboard during the dive, which is not explicitly stated on their website. Also no guarantee for 3 dives, which is miscommunicated on their website. They will not fill your tank for your last dive if you're cutting it close to leaving time.
Parking is free at Ventura Harbor.
The crew were all friendly and made the best of less than ideal conditions. It was extremely windy that day, surgy/strong current water conditions with maybe 20'-15' visibility.
Food and snacks provided throughout the dives, which is nice.
Four ways

Last weekend I went on a full day tour on the famous Spectre Boat. Three dives, lovely meals in between and a very friendly crew. What more to ask?
As I was traveling from The Netherlands to the US, I wanted as little hassle as possible with booking a diving excursion & gear rental. Spectre Boat made my life so easy! Booking the trip with rental gear included as very, very easy. The crew makes sure everything you need is available on the boat before heading off to the kelp forests. The trip itself consisted of three dives, all sites were amazing. It was a pretty crowded boat, but managable. The

I found Spectre after reaching out to SLO Ocean Currents and inquiring about boat diving since I was new to California diving. The gentleman that I spoke with over the phone with Spectre was so kind and was able to get everything I needed booked over the phone instantly. I was pleasantly surprised to find the few items I rented already stationed in a cubby on the boat when I arrived. The Spectre is run very efficiently and the crew are overly accommodating. All of the divers were also very kind and I ended up diving with a really awesome family who had previously dove with Spectre and were on an

I can't say enough about how wonderful this boat company is. They find you the best dive spots, give detailed briefs and suggested dive plans, and keep your belly full all day. Not to mention the jacuzzi on board. Everything about this boat is amazing, and the dive experience they provide is unrivaled by any other company in southern California. If you are thinking about booking your next dive trip with them, do it quick as they fill fast for good reason!

Yesterday was our second trip to Anacapa Island to Dive with Spectre. The captain, dive master and deck hand are exceptional, with very clear expectations to the guests on the boat during COVID. The dive locations are great with plenty of fish to see. Felt like a rock star renting equipment on the boat and not having to carry tanks to and from the boat or deal with wet wet suits ourselves. Sandwich lunch is provided at this time and snacks and drinks are available to pick at throughout the day. A great day on the water and memories made.

The Spectre is one of my favorite dive boats in Southern California, and I've been on a lot of them from San Diego up to Santa Barbara. The crew is fantastic: the chef makes an awesome breakfast and lunch, the captain and deckhands care about your safety, and the divemasters are great. When I forgot my GoPro on the boat a couple of months ago, they tracked it down and returned it after their next dive trip a few days later. Thanks Spectre Team!

This is a long time coming now. I have always dived with Spectre and their crew is simply AMAZING! They strategically (I believe) pick each dive site for visibility, hunting (if you are hunting), and catering it to those who are new to diving as well if needed. They are both patient and kind and personally have NEVER had a bad experience with them. It was thanks to them that I kept diving and fell in love with the sport.

BBQ is good and the cheap ice cream is always an eager treat after a long days dive. Recommend for anybody who is interested in diving and is looking for a great dive!

Aug 19. Good team. Easy going, but professional. You can sleep on the boat the night before, which saves some morning hassles.
UPDATE: Nov 2019. Again.....great experience. Almost the same boat crew! The galley chef was new, but she did a bang up job. They know their dive sites!!!!

Solid dive boat for getting out to some nice dive sites at Anacapa. The food is good, the crew is helpful, and Captain Nate gives awesome site briefings before letting you jump in to explore the kelp forests along the coast. Given that you get the ride, the air, two meals (including a legendary brownie sundae) and a hot tub, you can't beat the price. Love this boat!

It's all about the jacuzzi. It was amazing between cold dives.

We dove in September 2019 on a full boat of 40 divers. The boat handled that number of divers surprisingly well with water entry off two sides and the back. Safety was always emphasized with clear instruction.

The only part I didn't enjoy was clamoring out of the water and up the very tall stairs in back. Not easy with a tank and extra weights for the cold water. Luckily, with safety in mind, the boat was anchored front and back, keeping it pretty stable.

We visited 3 dive sites around Santa Cruz and it was amazing.

Had a great time on Sept 28, 2019. The winds made the trip out and back rough, but the Captain knows his dive spots! I felt a little awkward being on the boat without a dive buddy, but they made me feel at home. They quickly paired me up with another diver and treated us as if we were long time customers. They assisted with loading my gear on and off the boat. Getting in or out of the water was easy, assisted by the DiveMaster and crew at all times. A few divers tried to rush the process, to no avail. The Captain accommodated the hunters, non-hunters, free-divers and divers under instruction; fun

Great boat, definitely on the larger side for a dive boat, lots of room, bunks to sleep. Crew is top-notch, very friendly and helpful. Captain very communicative and knows the area well. Enjoyed the food, they know how to man the grill !
Look forward to diving with this boat again!

Great boat to dive off the Channel Islands.
Great and friendly crew.
The boat can get a little packed but other than that no complaints.
The boat has a hot tub on it and when the boat is heading back into harbor they serve hotfudge brownie sundaes, you can get them in the tub. Heck ya
Ive dove from this boat a couple of times. Love it. One of my favorite dive boats. Definitely my favorite in California

Great crew! Great eats! Great dive brief for great dive spots! Great hot tub, which was good, because after dive #3 in 58 degree water.....wow....so nice!!!
Then they bring you icecream sundaes.
So......great trip!!!

This dive boat is the real deal! 3 dives in one day out at the Channel Islands with meals all for an affordable price. I left my gear in NYC so I used the Spectre Dive Boat website to book the dives and all my gear. When I got to the boat everything was waiting for me and ready to go! The staff were friendly and helpful and gave excellent briefings letting me know what to expect.

Meals included -but not just meals, the galley was brewing coffee and frying up eggs and bacon for some killer breakfast sandwiches when we boarded. Lunch was grilled chicken and and rice with salad and on the steam

Absolutely love diving the Spectre. The crew is super friendly and they are all dive masters so they have a ton of knowledge and experience. The food is great and the Captain provides very detailed briefings for each dive spot. I have already been out with them 3 times this year and will am heading out again in December.

It’s really great. We spent the night on the boat before the trip, and that already paid half the price, given steep hotel prices in Ventura. Diving was amazing. We did 3 dives. They also serve breakfast as lunch, both are very delicious. The crew is friendly, but not overwhelmingly trying for tips, as in some other places like that. The guys are cool. Highly recommend. The price is really reasonable for the experience you get.

Pros,
We had a blast! We'll definitely be a repeat customer. Staff and guests were all beyond friendly and helpful. Safety is a big thing aboard. You will definitely feel comfortable here. Perfect dive trips/boat for the novice diver! Food is worth it too.

Cons,
Only thing I can say as far as sleeping over night on the ship was that it was extremely humid and hot down below. The sheets were actually wet from the humidity and all the people. Ship could use some TLC as well. Otherwise, it was an awesome trip.

I was a little skeptical at first, as a I have never dove with so many other people at once. These guys do a fantastic job. Professional, accommodating, and friendly.

They serve Breakfast (fruit, coffee, yogurt, breakfast burritos), Lunch (chicken, tri tip, hamburgers, or vegetarian burgers, all with mashed potatoes, salad, veggies), and Desert ( ice cream and brownies!), plus an assortment of snacks and drinks throughout the day. They serve beer at an additional cost, and they have a hot tub! What more can you ask for?

The diving was good for the area and these guys know their stuff. It&apos