LOIS ANN DIVE CHARTERS
SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA
800-201-4381
Email

Updated : 3/6/05

 
General Information
  

 
           

About the boat

The Lois Ann has been serving divers in San Diego since 1990. First owned by Larry and Lois Cochrane, she was sold in 2000 to long time crew member Randy Rice and his wife Cheri.

49' long the Lois Ann can accommodate 20 divers/passengers. She has 2 crew members on board at all times; a captain and mate/DM. 80 cuft. aluminum tanks and weights are complimentary and on board already for your convenience. We also provide weights and belts for those that would like to leave their own behind. There are some soft weights, but predominately hard weights are available.

We also provide air fills, sodas and drinking water, as well as snacks and meals on our trips. Food provided is determined by time of day you are on board. In a nutshell: we feed you after every dive on all trips, and even include breakfast before the first dive when going to the Coronado's.

There is a large 55 gallon rinse bucket on deck for cameras, lights and masks. No defog in the bucket please. There is a small shower head on the deck as well as a full head below with marine toilet and shower.

The galley area on the boat is for dry items and persons only. We do not allow divers in wetsuits below decks once you;ve been in the water, with the exception of the bathroom.
         

About the trips

Boarding times are listed on the schedule. It is not necessary to arrive an hour before boarding, we generally open the boat right on time. Departure is 30 minutes after boarding. It is helpful to download the release ahead of time and have it completed. Please be sure the date you are diving shows on the release.

We do require and check certification cards on our boat. You must have proof of certification to dive with us. Sorry, no exceptions other than students.

You are welcome to bring your own tanks and weights, we will store ours on the dock for the trip. We fill tanks on-board and can fill to a maximum pressure of 4000 psi. Bring your own tank full, we do not have time to fill tanks before the trip.

We do not set dive profiles for you, nor do we provide tables. All we will do to be sure we stay on schedule is set a "gate time". A gate time means the gates are open, and you may enter the water and start your next dive until that time.

Rental gear, tanks, weights, are all on the boat or right at our berth. The only place you will need to go other than the boat will be up to the office to take care of credit card charges. We generally do this as a group 15 minutes after boarding has started.
         

Techie Trips and Tips

As San Diego and Southern California's technical base continues to grow, dive operators are seeing more and more technical divers and technical equipment. While most boats are set up for recreational diving, technical divers can usually find that they are welcome aboard; as is the case aboard the Lois Ann.
Below we've listed a few helpful hints to help make your trip with us as enjoyable as possible.

1. Technical doubles take up considerably more room than the average recreational set up. Be sure to call ahead and let us know what you are bringing, (scooters?). Boats have limited space and 8 tech divers showing up with doubles and no notice can cause a fairly large problem on a full boat. When we know we have a group of tech divers coming aboard we can limit the number of divers aboard, insuring that there is plenty of space. When possible use collapsible bags for gear or bring your minimum. Hard Pelican cases are sometimes needed and we understand that, please leave them behind when they are not. Can you imagine us trying to stow 15 big Pelican cases on the boat? Technical groups are welcome to charter the entire boat, groups of 10 or more are encouraged to do so. We find that a max of 14 techie's works best on a private charter.

2. Technical gear is not cheap. You don't need us to tell you that. Take precautions to insure against incidental damage by other passengers. Keep HID/canister lights clipped to harnesses, sling bottles away from weight belt areas and stowed drysuits out from underfoot. Other passengers are not as tuned in as you may hope. Don't get mad at them for sitting on something you left on a bench, tidy up your gear before walking away.

3. Trip destinations and times allowed are usually planned well in advance by the operator. Talk to them before the charter date regarding your runtime and any procedures they may want you to follow. Being the last one in the water at the first site and doing a 90 minute profile on a 3 destination trip is a quick way to earn the crews wrath. Often they will ask you to be first in the water to avoid the rest of the passengers waiting for extended periods. Shooting lift bags and safety sausages should be cleared with the crew, we need to know when you are practicing and when it's a real emergency.

4. Have your intended profile ready to file with the DM. Divers doing extended bottom times can cause just a little bit of alarm if we are unaware of your activities. On the Lois Ann; anyone with an intended bottom time over 40 minutes is asked to file your runtime with the DM.

5. Have appropriate certification cards showing your training on your person.
         

Helpful Hints

Boarding Time:
You should arrive at the dock and be ready to board the board at the boarding time. Please make time allowances to find the boat and load your gear -- don't make everyone wait for you! When possible please download and have filled out our liability releases.

DIRECTIONS ARE HERE

Food:
Food and drinks are included in the price of all our charters. The meals depend on the time of day and dive sites; we serve a continental breakfast (on the morning trips), deli lunch at lunchtime, snacks and of course our famous homemade cookies. Coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and sodas are available during the charter. We are usually able to accommodate the needs of our vegetarian guests. If you would like any special food or drinks you are welcome to bring them along.

Equipment:
Weight belts, loose weight and Aluminum 80 tanks are available for your use on the boat with an on-board air compressor for refills. If you have your own tank or weight system which you are used to, you may bring it. We are able to fill high-pressure tanks. It is recommended that you bring lights for both the wreck and kelp dives.
NOTE: Our tanks, weights and weight belts are available for your use, however you will be charged for damage or loss of items.

Clothing:
Quarter inch wetsuits, (6-7mm), booties, hoods and gloves or drysuits are appropriate for diving year-round. It will often be sunny and warm during the day, and cooler and maybe foggy in the early morning and late afternoon. So in planning for our typical Southern California weather remember to bring along sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a warm jacket or sweatshirt.

Releases:
It is necessary for everyone on board (even non divers) to sign a Release of Liability. In the case of a minor (under 18 years of age) the release must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. If the minor is not going to be accompanied by their parent, then the release must be signed in advance and brought to the boat by the minor on the day of the charter. A copy of the release can be downloaded

Money:
The food, drinks and air are all included in the charter price. There are t-shirts and hats for sale and miscellaneous gear for rent, such as booties, gloves and lights. You may want to bring a little cash for these things.

Seasickness:
On our local dives just off the San Diego coast there are no islands or protected coves so we frequently experience some wave action. When we go to the Coronado Islands there is a 1-1/4 hour boat ride each way and once over there we try to get in the lee of the islands but sometimes this is not possible. So if you are prone to seasickness it is a good idea to use your favorite seasick medicine prior to the charter. We suggest you take the medication the night before and the morning of the charter so it will be well in your system before the boat leaves the dock.

Tipping:
Boat crews are generally paid minimum wages, so if you feel they gave you extra attention and service to make your day more enjoyable you may want to leave a tip.

Hunting:
You must have a current California fishing license to take game on the local trips. They are available at the Bait and Tackle Shop at our landing. There are many restrictions on what you can take these days, you must be up to date on current fishing regulations. Our crew is responsible for, and reserves the right to inspect, any game brought aboard our vessel. We do not allow hunting on the Yukon off our vessel.