There is always a helping hand on the swimstep of the Encore.

Built in 1988, the Encore was the Hess family’s piece de le resistance in a winning streak of dive boats dating back over 4 decades serving the Southern Channel Islands. The Encore was built from the keel up by divers, for divers as an ultra-comfortable live-aboard for those exploring the kelp forests of Catalina, San Clemente, San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands as well as the nearby offshore environs. At 80 feet long and 25 feet wide, it is one of the largest dive boats in along the West Coast. And most of that room is devoted to diver comfort. The back dive deck is huge, main salon spacious and bunk room quite accommodating.

The bunk area offers staterooms, one of the few boats along our coast with such an amenity. These are not just closets with a couple bunks shoved in but full sized accommodations that sleep 2 or 3 divers each. The staterooms and bunks are all fully ventilated and padded for sound proofing. Each bunk has reading lights and the general bunks have privacy curtains. All bunks are supplied with comfortable pillows and blankets.

A semi-spiral staircase leads up to the huge main salon and galley. There is seating for 35 comfortably. Seating is in several booths with large tables to spread out camera gear, dive logs or whatever. And of course the food ... plentiful and tasty with a varied menu. The galley is supplied with a color T.V. and VCR and lot of films for evening viewing on multiday dive trips.

Multiday dive trips are the Encore’s specialty. With such spacious and comfortable accommodations, several days out at the islands are as good as any mini-vacation in the tropics. Some of the sites visited on multiday dive trips include the outer islands of San Clemente, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara. The Encore crew also know well deep offshore banks like Farnsworth and Cortes — exciting destinations for the adventurous diver. It also not unusual for the Encore to make single day trips to Catalina Island, a treat for the novice and seasoned diver alike. On a recent trip to Catalina, I was treated to a dive on a virgin reef dive that I’d never visited on Catalina, much less had ever heard of. This is a testament to the pros that operate the Encore.

Captaining the Encore is Pam Driver, a veteran of this boat and many years shuttling divers out to the Channel Islands. She knows these islands well. Her crew is always helpful with gear and whatever needs you may have. Airfills are quick and complete.

Post dive there are total of three heads on board for cleanup and changing two with hot freshwater showers. There is also a shower on deck so there is seldom a wait.

I think one of the things I enjoy most about the Encore is kind of silly and has really no obvious practical impact on my diving — it is the elegant warm wood used liberally in bunk room, galley and main salon. It gives the boat a richness and warmth that simply takes the edge off the coldest winter dive in the California Channel Islands.

The Encore is located at Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach just behind the Aquarium of the Pacific. There is limited free parking at the landing. For more information on diving the Encore visit their website at www.encorediveboat.com or call Charisma Charters at 310-541-1025.

Kim Sheckler is Executive Editor of California Diving News, Executive Director of the annual SCUBA Show expo (each June in Long Beach, CA), and co-author of the book newly released A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition.