Pacific Star Dive Boat

Hi, I herd about this charter from a dive friend (DM) who said” This is her favorite boat!” I checked their web site out, I really liked what I read and saw. I had a few questions. I called and left a VM, minutes later Sonja called me back, between her and this deep voice in the back ground, they answered all my questions and I know as a diver I will be taken care of as all divers will be well cared for! We look forward to diving with this charter and I have full confidence this will be our go to charter. I look forward to diving new areas and the oil Riggs! Sonja and to the man with the deep voice, «Thank you!» For being so patient, kind, and answering all my questions you two are sweetheart’s looking forward to diving with your charter and meeting you!
Safe and happy travels and we will see you soon!
Jeanette

Beautiful little dive boat out of San Pedro/​22^nd street landing. Sailed out to Catalina Island for a three dive day for $ 140+tip, lunch and crew help included.
Crew was very nice and helpful, and Captain Dave was big on safety and protocol, which you like to see as a diver. They knew some great sites, and dropped us perfectly to explore them. Plenty of time between dives, and some really great food on board.

Not an ethical way to do business, lots of surprises.

The food is great and abundant you don’t have to worry just l don’t give the 5 starts just for the crew they are careless and not friendly at all, but you’ll enjoy the ride with plenty of time between each dive

Went out on this boat last Saturday. It was an amazing trip with a bunch of friends. The crew of the Pacific Star was awesome. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time. Can’t wait to dive with them again.

Awesome diving the other day with Capt. Dave and crew. Hit the Olympic (dropped us right on top) and then 2 oil rigs. Boat has a stern console so it can be backed right to the rig to pick up divers. All this plus got meals!

This is the leader with Dive Boats & Crew !
Time after time, they have proven to be safe and make the most of where ever we dive. I only wish I hadn’t second guessed the Captains take on last weeks conditions. Had I followed how he called it, I would have been one of the 25 diver’s that were wise enough to not sit beach side, but be diving with pristine conditions !
Today was another day of diving at my now favorite location. The Oil Rigs, due to this captain & crew. Thanks guys ! Great job. Look forward to seeing you soon.
~Waverly

The pacific start crew continues to impress me with their professionalism and great service. Just came back from another visit at the rigs organized by Power Scuba and I want to give another thumbs up to the crew and Captain Dave.
Thank you again for the great service!

The Pac Star is, first and foremost, focused on safety. That’s what matters most to me when I charter a boat. (I run the largest scuba group in California.) The captain and crew are pleasant and the food is good. (Their breakfast burritos rock!) The crew helping people get their gear from their car to the boat always makes a HUGE impression with attendees! For overnighters, the sleeping accommodations are good, though some of the bunks are a bit cramped if you’re anything larger than a small man. They coax their fill system to get you to at least 3,000 psi, though its more comfortable filling LP steel tanks in multiples.

Experience based on 2 dive charters, booked through Dive N’ Surf — first an overnighter to San Clemente Island, with a dive at Farnsworth Bank off Catalina on the way out, then yesterday a 3 dive day trip to Catalina island which prompts my logging in today.
The galley is very welcoming, just the day trip alone started with hot breakfast cooked to order by Max, who also cooked up a delicious hot lunch, then we enjoyed fresh pie and ice cream on the way back. Lots of other food around, fresh fruit tray, breads with home made preserves.
The Captain, Dave is extremely knowledgable and is very responsive to the divers on board, willing to adjust itinerary on the fly, suggesting dive spots most suitable for the divers on board and conditions, then placing us spot on.
Elwood and the rest of the crew load your stuff on board after you pull up, and are there for you throughout from the giant stride entry to the exit on the swim step. Hot showers await. Didn’t use the bunk room yesterday, but it was very comfortable for the overnighter.
Looking forward to my next trip aboard the Pac Star

Thanks for an absolutely fantastic 2-​day trip with Dive N’ Surf last weekend. Capt. Dave, 2^nd Capt. Jake, Elwood & Max (and Sonja onshore, when I called in advance with a question about docking time), you all went above and beyond to make sure we were all comfortable, happy & safe divers — not to mention pinpointing the key locations for all our lobster hunters and making sure we all saw the Risso’s dolphins and blue whales! As always, we all appreciate the oustanding service and superior knowledge on the Pacific Star!

I really wanted to like this boat and its owners. I am pro private owners running their thing and would support them any time.
HOWEVER,
Upon contacting them, I learned that they are not only rude, unpleasant and careless, they are also extremely unorganized! The husband says the charter is open, the wife says it’s closed; in other instances, the circumstance is reversed. They are hardly ever in agreement on the schedule and it makes me wonder whether they communicate at all.
They hardly ever answer the phone, and when they do, you are treated as if you’re a debt collector. They are short with you, unwelcoming, and overall unpleasant.
I purchased a Living Social voucher, despite my friends suggesting me against it (due to the same issues I’m describing here). I thought to myself that it’s easy to pass judgement upon someone, but not fair, without having had the experience myself. Well, I did.
After having called them about 5 different times, trying to book a charter to Catalina, I was turned down for a variety of reasons. Either their charter was full, or they thought it was, or maybe it was, or maybe it wasn’t… I guess not for me to know. On the 6^th time calling, at a date not too far prior to the voucher expiration date, I was told that the offered charters to Catalina were no longer available for the already purchased and paid for vouchers. Although I was surprised to hear that stated so boldly, I told them, «No worries, I’ll just call Living Social and ask for a refund,» at which point this missus tells me, «They are not going to refund you your money, you are not going to get it back. You had SIX (emphasized) months to call and make arrangements, WHAT were you thinking?!» I was so shocked to hear this, thinking, «Wow, are you seriously trying to get business with this filthy attitude?!»
I, not only won’t EVER dive with them, but also deter any potential business from them. They are crooks, and reading other people’s reviews doesn’t surprise me. I feel like I got onboard with the rest of the diver community on being against Pacific Star. I hope the word spreads and their business sinks.
P. S. I got my money back from Living Social.

Proberly my favorite party boat, let me explain why. First, I have me own boat and usually dive Mailbu to Catalina island often, especially during lobster season. But on occasion, and usually if I’m with with my son (a commerical diver in the gulf) I want to relax and let someone else drive. I have been on this boat about 8 times in 15 years. Dave wouldn’t know me if he stood next to me, but the day I dive off his boat he knows me and everyone else on board very well. The dive brief is very informative, the food is great and plentyful, and bunks are first come not assigned, the way I like it. Another thing Dave does is ask if any one wants to dive a certain spot in the area, if conditions are good and its doable, its done.
The boat also has dock carts for use, Is kept in very good condition and has one of the best deck crews around, most are family .Air fills are fast, live bait well on board and the deck is clear and clean.
I have dove several other boats proberly 10 in Los Angeles over the last 25 years, but haven’t found any as enjoyable as the Pacific Star. And for me it’s all about enjoyment.
Try this boat you’ll like it !

Just back from a wonderful weekend of diving on the Pacific Star. Overnight at Santa Catalina incredible dives at 4 spots on the island. The next day 2 amazing dives on the offshore oil rigs. 80 ft or more visibility, good food and an attentive crew. What more could I ask for!

It pains me to write this review because Dave Harvey seems like a nice guy, but I feel an obligation because of the bad experience that my wife and I had. We found Dave Harvey online because my wife needed Dive lessons for a trip to Hawaii we were going on. Dave got back to us and the price was reasonable, so we went over to the boat to meet him. Once onboard, he gave my wife and I (and another couple) the rundown of fees, what is required to be certified, and when we could all meet for the lessons. I decided to sign up for Nitrox training, as well.
My wife and I offered up our pool for training because it was convenient for us but still, I though it was generous of us to offer that up, given that we were paying Dave to certify us. Facilities should be arranged by the instructor, don’t you think? The following week, Dave came over for the first lesson. He arrived about a half hour late, which meant that my wife had to do some of her training in the dark. I also gave Dave a steel tank that I needed to have hydro-​stated and refurbished that he said he would take care of. After the first lesson, he said that our pool was too small and that we would have to go to another Scuba School’s pool in Montclair (about a 45 minute drive from where we live). He also gave me the textbook for Nitrox certification after my wife’s first lesson, but no other study materials.
When we arrived at Scuba Schools of America (the School that Dave Harvey wanted us to go to for the pool) we were appalled at the ridicule and high-​pressure sales tactics that we were subjected to (see my review of SSA, my 1^st Unilocal review). We told Dave we would not be going back to Rusty Berry’s establishment. Furthermore, if you google Rusty Berry’s shop, you will find copies of a lawsuit where SSA was sued after a diver died using a rebreather that SSA sold to him.
To make a long story short, Dave was unable to finish my wife’s lessons in time and we had to finish her training Hawaii, paying «resort prices» to do so, all because of Dave’s lackadaisical training curriculum. Furthermore, the dive shop in Hawaii informed us that Dave had filled out the paperwork wrong and they almost made my wife start over because Dave couldn’t fill out the form correctly. Also, when Dave gave me the Nitrox book, he was supposed to have have given me 3 diving tables that a student has to have in order to study for the test. Without the tables, it is impossible to pass the test. I passed the Nitrox test, and gave the tables that I copied to Dave so that the next student wouldn’t suffer the same fate as I did. However, Dave never sent in my cert to PADI!!! I had to contact PADI, wait for them to contact Dave (but Dave blew them off too) and finally, PADI issued my certification, in lieu of Dave’s lack of response.
Lastly, there is the issue of the steel tank I gave Dave for hydrostat: once back from Hawaii, I called Dave to see what the status of the tank was. He told me it would not hydro and had rust but said that it was no big deal and that he would give me one of his older tanks to make up for it. I went over to pick up the tank one evening and even gave him a 12 pack of beer in exchange (he wouldn’t let me pay him for it). It was dark by then, so I didn’t realize until I got home that the tank he gave me was also out of hydrostat, so I was back to square 1.
Suffice it to say that in my experience with Dave Harvey, he couldn’t have screwed up anything else if he tried! Considering that diving is a sport that can cost you your life, if not careful, I don’t think you want Dave Harvey anywhere in the loop with your training or certification. As far as diving on his boat? Forget about it!!!