I recently moved to Virginia from New Jersey, and let me tell you it bites as far as diving goes. I'm 3 1/2 hours from Virginia Beach and anywhere from 4 1/2 to 5 hours from New Jersey. I don't get nearly the number of opportunities to dive now that I'm landlocked so anytime one should present itself, I take advantage. That was the case on the weekend of August 4th. I'd become quite fond of diving on the Tuna Seazure. She's a fast comfortable boat with an exceptional crew. In years past I'd always enjoyed diving on this particular vessel so it was an easy choice for my weekend home. I called the Shop early the week before to book a place on the boat, making sure there was still room...there was. Because I hadn't yet been out on the boat this year I called again the Thursday before departure to just confirm all the details. Valid CC on file? Check. Boat leaves at 7, be there by 6:30? Check. Departs from Shipwreck Grill Marina? Check. Everything seemed to be in order. Despite the fact that conditions haven't been exceptional I was excited to splash in NJ waters again. With the open road in front of me I began the nearly 5 hour journey back to New Jersey. I arrived home a little after 11pm, assembled my boat diving rig, loaded up the truck and was finally asleep a little after midnight. It seemed I just closed my eyes when the alarm began to buzz in my ear. Damn, 5:30 comes quick. I collected the rest of my gear, and took off for the dock. After a few stops I arrived at the dock around 6:20. I have a bit of a ritual of items I take first when unloading the mountain of gear our sport requires. With speargun and cooler in hand I walk down the dock, past the smelly dumpster (great to be back in NJ), past the giant Horseshoe crab only to find.....
AN EMPTY SLIP!?
My first thought was, hmm...they must be getting gas. So I waited. 6:20 became 6:30. Waited some more. 6:30 became 6:40. Well, this is odd. 6:40 became 6:45. It was probably at this point I realized I wouldn't be diving this day. So back in the Truck, back home, and back to bed. Oh well, at least it was a nice day on the beach.
I thought, what could have happened? How could something like this happen? After a disappointing lack of diving weekend it was back to Virginia for the impending work week.
I called the shop on Monday morning and spoke with John. Apparently he owns the place. He asked me all the pertinent questions and told me he'd return my call in 10 minutes after he'd found out some info.
Well again, seems time is a bit of a mystery here...10 minutes became an hour. An hour became a day. One day became 7. So here we are, a week later, without a return call. I decide it's time to follow up. Again, I speak with John, "I spoke with all five guys on the boat, they said they left at 6:40, you sure you were at the right place?" Yes I'm sure, right by the Gypsy Blood and Chris Wojcik's giant Horseshoe Crab. "And you were there at 6:20 you said?" Yea. No boat. "Well I don't know what to tell you dude, five guys said they left at 6:40."
Really. Well. Something doesn't add up. The boat wasn't supposed to leave until 7 anyhow, I'm sure I was there plenty of early to load my gear and catch departure. Apparently I'm the liar here. I was worried about my CC getting charged as a no show. Funny how that didn't happen. They ask for my phone number so they can communicate changes. Funny I never got a, "where are you?" call.
I'm not one to usually make a post like this, however the way in which this situation was handled is complete absurdity. If someone made a mistake, fine. Everyone is human, mistakes happen. But don't take a stance that I'm some kind of imbecile and don't know how to tell time or find a boat and by no means insinuate that I'm being dishonest.
It's a shame too, I really liked diving that boat. Lesson learned I suppose.
Greg: Wish I could be a witness for you, but we on the Depth Charge departed at 5am on August 4th. All the other boats were quietly in their respective slips at that hour. The GB might very well have made space for you. Hope it works out and you come back and dive again!
Hey Greg, Not that it matters now but Capn Bill's facts are correct. Its in the past now so commenting is a waste of time and all you will get is a bunch of perfect people chirping in. Hop back on, you know you'll have a good time.
Hard to be a witness when you weren't there. Hard to be a witness when five of your peers give a diferent story. Maybe outa keep your comments to stuff you know about and have direct knowledge of. This is the problem with the internet people feel so free about sticking their nose in other peoples business. I said I was sorry and I'm sticking to the time I stated we left. Capt. Bill
Well I'm the Capt. We had a couple guys show up late and I personally polled them and I'm sure they'll chirp in shortly. They all said we left the dock at 6.40. Doean't lessen the fact I'm sorry. The Tuna leaves as soon as we have the people somehow I wasn't made aware of another person on the boat I/we made a mistake. But if you would have been there a half an hour early there wouldn't have been any problem. I have to lean towards five other people's watchs they all said when we left. Not the shop, we left at 6.40. If you'd like I'll get you their phone numbers and you can talk to them personally. Again I'm sorry you didn't get to go. Capt. Bill
I appreciate the apology Captain. I didn't think this was an error on the part of the Tuna, as I mentioned you run an excellent operation and despite what happened I'd still recommend the boat to any diver. Seems the shop is to blame here.
ALways a good idea to have my phone number but that said, although I'll be talking to the guys in the shop this morning, the shops a zoo. Most of the times crazy busy and sadly the boat is way down on the list. The things that pay the bills get first pirority and the boat isn't one of them. I take care of the boat and although the shop tries hard sometimes things don't happen the way they should. Capt. Bill
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