Encore
The old adage “bigger is better” certainly applies to dive boats. In diving, “bigger” usually translates into more room to store gear, more room to move around, all of which makes for a more comfortable day of diving. And the Encore certainly fits the bill.

Listed as 80 feet long and 25 feet wide, the Encore is one of SoCal’s larger dive boats. Berthed at Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach (right by the Aquarium of the Pacific), it’s easy to get to as you simply take the 710 freeway to the end, turn right on Aquarium Way and come around the Aquarium, and turn in Pierpoint’s parking lot. Pull into the loading area, get one of the free dock carts, and you’re ready to board.

There is a lot of room to relax in the large galley.

The name comes from the fact that when Roger Hess built the boat back in 1988, it was the second boat to the already-running Charisma. Hence, it was an “encore” to an already successful dive boat. Roger has retired and the boat is now owned/operated by Roger’s son Kenny, and Kenny’s wife Karen.

Veteran dive boat skipper Pam Driver controls the helm.

One of the first things you’ll notice when you board is the spaciousness of the back deck. There’s a lot of room, even with live bait wells and hatch covers taking up some of the deck space. Tanks are secured on the back deck via bungee cord, weight belts sit by the tanks, and gear bags live along the sides of the boat or up on the bow.

Once your gear is stowed, grab a bunk. There are two bunk rooms to choose from, a smaller forward one with three single bunks and three staterooms, and a larger rear bunk area with six double bunks, six single bunks, and six more staterooms. All the bunks have a pillow and blanket, privacy curtain (except for the stateroom bunks), and a reading light.

All the staterooms have an upper and lower bunk, with the upper being a double. The lower bunks in the forward area being singles, while the lower bunks in the rear area are doubles. Depending on who’s chartering the boat, staterooms may be pre-assigned or they might be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Be sure to ask.

The Encore’s galley is quite large with six banquettes each capable of seating up to six divers each. This means that even with a full load, everyone can sit down and eat at the same time. That’s a nice feature, especially on days of inclement weather. And because the galley is fully-equipped, hot meals are the order of the day.

One feature of the Encore that’s appreciated especially in the morning are the heads. The Encore has three. And while that may not initially seem like a big deal, the third head does speed things up a bit when you’ve got a boat load of divers who all seem to need to use the facility at the same time.

When it’s time to dive, the Encore has two gates located roughly amidships on each side to get you off the boat, and an ample stern swim step to get you back on board, with two ladders to get divers back up to the deck. Air fills are done with a whip system. You put you tank back in a bungeed slot, remove the first stage, put a poker chip on the tank, and the fill whip will be brought to your tank. Fills generally go up to 3000psi.

But a boat is nothing without a good crew, and the men and women of the Encore are top-notch. Led usually by Captain Pam Driver, who’s been plying SoCal waters for many years, the Encore’s crew has an attitude that can be referred to as more “resort-minded.”

Many of you who dive warm waters are used to boat crews being very hands-on in terms of helping divers in and out of the water, handling gear, and just generally being attentive. There is at least one crew member (and sometimes two) on the swim step to help with fins and reboarding. Crew members will frequently help you off with your tank when you’re back up on the deck. And when it’s time to go again, they’re quick to help you put your tank back on.

The Encore goes to all of the Southern Channel Islands (Catalina, San Clemente, Santa Barbara Island, and San Nicolas). For more information, visit www.encorediveboat.com on the web or call 310-541-1025.

As co-owner of Reef Seekers Dive Co. in Beverly Hills, Ken Kurtis is a well traveled diver. He has contributed to numerous dive journals and is the 2002 co-recipient of the California Scuba Service Award.