The Monterey Express is a 42-foot Newton. This type of boat is commonly seen at dive resorts throughout the Caribbean, and its hull design has stood the test of time within the diving community. She is powered by twin, 310 horse power diesel engines, giving her a cruising speed of 16 knots. Her speed allows passengers spend more of their day diving and not traveling between sites.

The Express has a 16-foot beam, the widest of any Monterey dive boat. This wide beam ensures that customers get a smooth ride to and from the dive site, and there is plenty of room for dive gear. This dive boat is laid out comfortably with all of the amenities that a diver could want. There is a head below deck, a dry shelf to store clothes, and an enclosed area to keep divers out of the wind and weather. She has a camera table and hot showers for that after dive warm-up. Hot and cold drinks, muffins and pastries are complementary. Steel 80s are provided for all and nitrox tanks are available by prior arrangement.

The Express is designed to be a comfortable dive platform, but it is the captain and crew that make the Express experience one that is both safe and easy. On most trips you will find owner and Captain Tim Doreck at the helm. Captain Tim has been diving longer than he is willing to admit and knows the fine dive sites of the Monterey Area. He and his crew provide superior service helping with gearing up, pulling fins, changing tanks, and hauling heavy gear.

A typical day on the Express begins when the boat departs the Monterey Harbor at 8 a.m. Passengers park in the Fisherman’s Wharf lot at between Wharf #2 and Fisherman’s Wharf and board the vessel at the dock directly behind the London Bridge Pub.

The Express offers two, two tanks dives each weekend, morning trips on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as night dives on the weekends. Normally, divers head south for the 40-minute motor to Carmel Bay. Your first dive may be at The Pinnacles, Mono-Lobo Wall, Pescadero Point or any of the many superb sites of Carmel Bay. The second dive may be at Stillwater Cove, or Tim may motor back to Monterey Bay for a dive at Eric’s Pinnacle, or the superb Aumentos Reef. Wherever the boat heads you can be assured that Tim and the crew will find the best and most comfortable diving available that day.

I’ve been diving the Express for years, and I’m sure you will be impressed with how easy and comfortable it is to dive the Express. It is so easy to book a trip. Check out their web site at http://www.montereyexpress.com, where you can book online, receive an instant conformation, and a get reminder two days prior to your trip. This is the first of its kind service in the dive industry. Alternatively, you may call 888-422-2999 .

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 Corp.)