What does Cal Boat Diving do?    We provide single day dive trips or multi-day packages to the Northern Channel Islands on the fleet of dive boats departing from Ventura Harbor, California.  Our services include reservations, rental equipment delivered to the boats, hotel accommodations on and off the harbor, dive guides and instructors when requested, along with friendly informative answers to your questions.

How do I book a trip?  Fill out the quick and easy request form on this site and you will receive information promptly.  Or call us at 1-866-CAL-DIVE.  We will let you know if the dates you want are available, help with any questions or requests, then book your trip.

What’s the diving like?  Generally speaking dives are between 20 and 80 feet deep on rocky reef bottom, with a variety of plant life including kelp forests.  Sea life includes a large array of colorful fish, seals and sea lions, bat rays, and countless creatures that float, swim, or attach themselves to the bottom.  The boats anchor, usually with both bow and stern anchors, so you can descend on a line or just swim to the bottom. For more complete information visit our Dives section.

Do you supply rental gear?  We provide any rental gear you may need from tanks to complete packages.  Our equipment is delivered and picked-up at the boat so you use it then walk away.  We also have snorkel gear so bring along a friend who hasn’t been certified yet.  All gear can be rented by phone or by filling out the rental form.  All we need is your height, weight, and a list of what you require.

Can you provide hotel accommodations?  We work directly with the Four Points Sheraton, the only hotel in Ventura harbor.  We can arrange your stay and usually save you money on one of their beautiful rooms.  We also arrange stays at La Quinta Inn just five minutes from the boats. 

How do I choose a trip? Dive trips range from a three-dive one-day trip at the local islands to multiple days at sea.  If you want to see pretty scenery and not over exert, the three-dive day or local weekend day trips are perfect.  For divers who wish to hunt or explore more challenging environments the islands further off shore may be better.  The best prices are on weekdays and these trips are usually less crowded.  Many divers enjoy doing a number of single days back-to-back or with breaks in between.  Talk to us.  We can usually recommend the perfect dive.

What do the trips include?  Always ask before you make reservations to be sure you know what you are getting.  Weekday trips include air fills and lunch.  Weekend single day trips do not include air fills and lunch; they are available and paid for on the boat.  Multi-day trips always include food and air fills.  No trip includes any dive gear.  You must bring all your dive gear including tanks and weights or rent it prior to the trip. More info on trips...

What’s the food like?  All our boats have full galleys with complete menus including breakfast, lunch, drinks, and snacks.  Vegetarian items are available.  On trips that include all meals there is no menu.  On trips that include only lunch, all menu items are available.  Lunch is included but other items are paid for on the boat.

Can I take single day trips back-to-back and stay on the boats?  We can mix and match single day trips.  Working with three boats gives us many combinations of dive trips and destinations.  By sleeping on the boats at night you save money and never show up late in the morning. Or let us put you in a harbor side room and enjoy land-based attractions between diving.

What’s the best deal?   The weekday trips and staying on the boats at night is a great way to get the most for your money.  Sleeping aboard is free when you dive the next day and the weekday trips are as little as $63 with a hot lunch and air fills included. 

Can I pay by credit card?  We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

What is the diving season?  Our boats offer trips year around.  Peak season is from June through November when trips are available seven days a week.  In winter and spring some weekdays may not be offered.  It takes a minimum of ten divers for the boats to run.  Lobster hunting season begins near the first of October and things are very busy for the first few weeks of the season.

How far in advance should I book?  For weekend trips we recommend at least two weeks and sometimes more in the summer months.  Weekdays are rarely sold out but a weeks notice is a good idea.  It never hurts to call or e-mail.  Our job is to find a boat for your dive trip.

What if I cancel?  When you reserve a spot on a dive boat you own that spot for that day.  No matter who wants to buy your spot we will not sell it.  That’s the deal we make for you.  Sometimes divers will fail to take advantage of their spot on the boat by not using it.  We cannot sell it after the trip is run.  We usually can’t sell it just before the trip is run.  Our recommendation is to buy only the spots you need and to always take advantage of that purchase.  With that said we never like to see someone pay for a dive trip than lose out by missing the boat.  Most trips during the week can be canceled 72 hours before departure.  Weekend trips need at least seven days notice.  “No shows” are never refunded or rescheduled nor are last minute cancellations.  Most of the time there are divers who would have loved to be on the boat but were turned away because the boat was sold out.

Can I hunt?  Hunting is allowed.  As a general rule the further out the trip goes the better the hunting.  On the single day or three-dive trips the majority of divers won’t be hunting.  Be sure to bring a current fishing license and be aware of fish and game regulations.

Are these trips good for photography?  The Channel Islands are great for all types of underwater photography.  The boats have rinse tanks and 110-volt outlets to recharge equipment.  Check our links page to view some examples.

Can non-divers go?  Non-divers are welcome but remember that these are Coast Guard licensed vessels and as such are limited in the number of passengers they can carry whether the passengers are divers or non-divers.  Some trips, especially weekdays, offer non-diver pricing, usually half of the diver fare.  Most weekend trips will be the same price as divers.  Check with us and we will see what we can do.

Can snorkel divers go?  Snorkelers are welcome but we do recommend the weekdays.  The price is less and the trips are better for those who need to be in shallow water.

How do I get to the boats?  Visit our directions page and download a map.

Can we sleep on the boats the night before the trip?  The boats offer bunks complete with pillows and blankets.  All vessels are docked in Ventura Harbor Village with restaurants, shops, and activities next to the dive boats.  Parking is free.  Most of the time the boats are open for boarding by 8 P.M. the night before the trip.  There are not extra fees for staying on the boat.

What’s the weather like next month?  People want concrete answers to questions that are unknowable.  After all, if you invest time and money into a dive adventure the least we can do is tell you the weather!  We are divers too and know the feeling.  But the truth is there are no general patters to follow.  Conditions are so localized that they change from hour to hour making tomorrow’s conditions a guess. 

Check our weather page and get the same information the captains depend on.

What’s the water temperature?  Water temperature goes from the low sixties in June to a high near 68 degrees through the summer.  Fall months are usually in the mid to low sixties.  By late January it drops into the fifties and bottoms out at 52 to 55 degrees until June. 

What should I bring?  Pack light but don’t forget bathing suits, towels, certification card, medications, layered clothing, sunglasses, and dive gear. 

Can I bring ice chests?  The general rule is that boats supplying all the meals encourage ice chests and boats selling meals want them left at home.  With forty divers on a boat complete with all their gear and personal belongings ice chests are in the way.  The one guy who shows up with an ice chest can never see the problem but that’s only because the other thirty-nine divers didn’t bring ice chests. Captains spend hours stocking the galleys.  They pay the cook whether the galley sells food our not and they must have enough on board for everyone. Prices are reasonable and the food is good.  Use the galley when you can.  But if you must bring your own food put it in a soft bag that’s easy to store. And remember that the galley is a restaurant.  If you wouldn’t go into Dennys asking for a cup of hot water for your tea, have the same consideration in the galley.

Are there showers and electric outlets?  There are fresh hot water showers on all the boats as well as 110-volt outlets for hair dryers.

Do I need a dive master or guide?   Dive masters are on all dive trips but they do not dive.  Their job is to keep an eye on all divers from the boat deck.  They can answer questions and are there to be helpful.  Most divers find they are very comfortable diving with their buddies.  But we are happy to supply a dive guide. Fee’s very so check with us for details.

Can you provide instruction?  We have instructors available for all levels of instruction.  We can also take referrals for divers who wish to finish training they started somewhere else.  If you have your own instructor ask him or her to contact us for special offers.

Do we tip?  Tips are not included in the price of any trip.  If the crew takes care of you take care of the crew.  Remember that tips are shared among all crew members.