Need a new diving service in SD

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Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
163
Hunter 340 San Diego
Hello all,

So I'm in the market again for a new diving service. Seems like I'm always in the market for a new diving service. I had a great diving service for years when I first got my boat back in 2005. It was called AJ's Diving service and the owner Tony was the best. But eventually he retired and handed the business over to his son in 2009. Let's just say his son wasn't nearly as invested in the family trade and things went downhill fast. Since then I've been through about three other diving services and always been disappointed. Typically things start well then they clean less vigorously and sometimes it seems like they skip a month altogether and send a bill. It's a tough thing to judge when you can't see their work. Typically I know they aren't doing a good job if my speed meter stops working (which runs off a paddle wheel mounted on a through hull sensor). For the last three months that gauge has read goose-eggs every time I've been out sailing.

Anyway that was a very long way to ask if anyone knows a good diving service in San Diego.

Thanks for the help
-Levin
 
W

wufibugs

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Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Have you tried D & N? Like you say, it's hard to know how well they are really doing without getting mask and snorkel and getting into that nasty marina water.
 
C

Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
2,955
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I've used Ed Reiner in the past and I believe he services SD.
http://edrienerdiving.com/index.html
You can't really hold your diver responsible for the knotmeter however. In our area we get a very small worm that leaves a white casing that clogs the paddlewheel. Regardless of bottom cleaning you will need to pull it from inside and clean it, frequency depends on how often the boat gets used and water temps. Sometimes you don't even need to clean it, just pull and get it spinning. If doesn't take much force to make it spin, so that also means it doesn't take much to stop it.
 
LuzSD

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
YES!!! I do have the name of a good guy in SD BUt will have to look at old bills and respond later with name Nd contact.

You are experiencing just what we did in SD, there are many flaky services there! Had one guy who charged us but did not show up for at least 2-3 mo and we figured it out by watching the growth on his "friends" boat next to us that we could see more clearly than our own.

Ed is in Dana point but did not realize he was in SD as well. He was pretty expensive the time we used him to so the bottom before a race we did while in DP a few years ago. We're in DP now and really like the fellow we have currently!
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Try Rick Molina. I have used him for 9 years. He is an ex navy seal and a man of his word. Stretched out my last bottom paint to 5 years. He uses carpet to clean the hull. He keeps up with the zincs also. My monthly bill for a 336 is 40$. If you need something special done he gets back to you immediately. He even found my sorta typsy slip mates rolex when he missed the turn on the dockstep. Definate recommend.

Ricks Diving Services
619 422 2937.

Tell him the Whiskey Chaser sent you.

Cheers
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
I would love to make a recommendation, but I gave up on divers. They never really do a good job. the problem lies in they have to do so many in a day to make a profit. So some corners are cut. So I got my cert and I do it myself. I have no one to blame except me.

If you are in good health, it wouldn't hurt to don wetsuit and dive your boat. This way you can see what is going on down under the water line.

One thing for sure, I hated diving my boat when I was at CYMCV. The water down there was so acidic. When it leaked in my mask it would burn my eyes. That water seldom cycles back to the bay or the ocean.

Good luck finding a good service.
 
LuzSD

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
sorry, I can't seem to find the diver I was thinking of.... maybe it is the one we finally found when we moved to DP,. I can tell you who NOT to use though!! Sounds like Rick has a good recommendation for you.. I'd go with that.
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Brian D said:
I would love to make a recommendation, but I gave up on divers. They never really do a good job. the problem lies in they have to do so many in a day to make a profit. So some corners are cut. So I got my cert and I do it myself. I have no one to blame except me.

If you are in good health, it wouldn't hurt to don wetsuit and dive your boat. This way you can see what is going on down under the water line.

One thing for sure, I hated diving my boat when I was at CYMCV. The water down there was so acidic. When it leaked in my mask it would burn my eyes. That water seldom cycles back to the bay or the ocean.

Good luck finding a good service.
Click to expand
LOL at Brian... key words if you are in good health. If you dont want to be for long, dive your boat in our west coast marinas without being in a submersible... whew!

Cheers Brian
 
Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
163
Hunter 340 San Diego
Hello all,

Yes, I think I'll go with Rick's guy Rick (no relation I'm sure). The last diver I really liked was ex-navy as well (EOD I believe not SEAL... but still Navy). Anyway always glad to throw money towards a service member, find they tend to be sand up types mostly. Also I agree with Rick' statement about not doing your own diving on the west coast. I own dive gear and still have no interest in getting in the water around my marina. Probably wouldn't be able to see how well it was cleaned even if I did :)

Take care,
-Levin
 
R

rfrye1

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Jun 15, 2004
589
Hunter H376 San Diego
I've been using Justin at Aqua Force for the past 6-7 yrs. Great guy. He is always on top of things and willing to help. 619-523-0193. Tell him Bob at the Marriott "I" dock referred you.
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,440
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
Brian D said:
I would love to make a recommendation, but I gave up on divers. They never really do a good job.
Click to expand
Sorry, that's absolutely not true. As with any service industry, there are those who care about doing good work and those who do not. Please do not paint all hull cleaners with the same brush simply because you weren't satisfied with yours.
 
LuzSD

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
fstbttms said:
Go here for a listing of California Professional Divers Association members in San Diego:

http://www.prodivers.org/cpda-member-companies/
Click to expand


Thought people move around and change names of their services, we used at least two of the services listed here and both were bad experiences. We tend to have the best luck with personal recommendations whether its dive services or engine issues. its hard to have a good reputation if you leave a trail of unhappy customers.
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,440
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
No doubt. The CPDA web site is simply a list of dive services that have gone through the in-water hull cleaning Best Management Practices certification course. It is not a guarantee that you will be happy with the service. As with any service provider, it is important that you question the diver beforehand and be sure you are comfortable with them.
 
LuzSD

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
Sorry, that looked sarcastic! Not my intention. Damn iPhone! It really is great advise!
 
W

wufibugs

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Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Was anybody able to get through to the Diving Servie Rik referened. The number was not in servie.
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Crap guys sorry but I pulled that number off an old bill. Headed to boat in the morning. Will get an updated number from him.

Sorry.

Cheeers
 
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