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Truth
From the moment I stepped onto the boat I knew this was a well-honed, professional operation. A crewman immediately greeted me, showed me where to stow my gear, and directed me to the bunk assignment and required paperwork. I was immediately impressed how the boat looked. The Truth is a clean boat with spotless bathrooms, flawless paint, and everything worked!
Launched in 1974, The Truth is one of California’s longest lasting dive boats. She is 65 feet long with a beam of 22 feet, giving her plenty of deck space for divers and equipment. She has bunk space for 45 (if all of the double bunks are filled) but never takes more than 30 divers. While she is not as large as other dive boats, she is so well laid out that I never felt crowded. And, of course, there was plenty of space in the galley during meals. The Truth is propelled by two low emission Detroit diesel engines that push her along at 12 knots.
The Truth was designed as a dive boat and has all of the amenities that California divers have come to expect. For comfort she has four showers (two on deck and two below), two heads, a wetsuit drying room, and clothes dryer. Game hunters will be glad to know that she has a live game well, as well as a large game freezer. Divers need to bring all of their own gear; however, gear may be rented or purchased at the Sea Landing Dive Center where the Truth boats board.
It is not the boat that makes the trip enjoyable for most of us, it is the crew. Truth Aquatics has had decades of experience in giving divers what they want and need. Before each dive we were briefed on what to expect, and then given the freedom to explore the site the way we wanted. During the dive the crew was always watching for divers that needed a little help or extra attention, both on deck and in the water. After the dive there was always someone available to help with my camera and to pull fins. It was clear why this boat and crew have withstood the test of time.
Don Rowell has been the first captain for the past two years. His easy going style ensures you will have a good time, and his 20 plus years experience on the water means you will be treated to the best spots available that day. On my trip, Monte cooked up a storm: made to order breakfasts, warming lunches, and hearty dinners. This diver often judges a trip by the food, and I was very happy with the cuisine.
While most of the trips on the Truth are focused on diving, she also offers island hiking, kayaking and combinations of all three. Truth Aquatics is an official concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, which gives them the right to land passengers on the islands. If you have never taken the time to walk around the National Park, I encourage you to do so, since they are unique and breathtaking.
Back in the ‘80s I was a frequent diver on the Truth, but quite frankly switched to Truth Aquatics’ larger boats because I (incorrectly) believed that newer and bigger was somehow better. This recent trip proved me to be quite wrong. The Truth may not be the biggest and fastest boat in California, but it is thoughtfully equipped for diving and has one of the friendliest and most professional crews on the water. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and will gladly book again. For more information, please contact Truth Aquatics at 805-962-1127, or visit their web site at http://www.truthaquatics.com.
Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News, as well as author of the books A Diver's Guide to Monterey County and A Diver's Guide to Northern California (both from Saint Brendan).
Return to Cover Page/Contents for December 2002 issue