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Waterhorse Charters
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
About This Business:
SCUBA certification, SCUBA diving, Snorkel tours, Surf lessons
13 reviews for Waterhorse Charters
13 reviews in English
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Review from Andy B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2011
I've been diving with Waterhorse since they opened......actually I'm pretty sure I was on their very first charter and these guys are absolutely the best in SD.
I dive a lot. A WHOLE LOT and I've been on most of the boats in the area. The Humboldt is the only dive boat in the San Diego area that I'll charter. (until Waterhorse adds another boat to their fleet that is) Ryan, Anita and Greg all rock and it's really nice to see a team that takes such good care of their customers AND the boat.
They constantly add upgrades to both the shop and the boat and they keep that thing clean. They listen to their customers and really try to make their experience the best it can be. Having well built dock carts available to lug all of our stuff is a major plus as well as towing divers to the mooring line when they need a hand.
They know their stuff and are by far the best dive boat in the area. If you're going to dive the wrecks, the coronados or some local kelp dives you have to book with them. -
Review from Jen S.
3/20/2011
BEST DIVE BOAT / CREW IN SAN DIEGO!!
I have gone diving with every charter company in San Diego, and Waterhorse Charters is BY far the best.
Their boat, the Humbolt, is the nicest of all in that it is clean, comfortable, safe and fast.
But probably the best thing about Waterhorse is the Crew. The captain is awesome! One time I took my mom along on the dive boat and he chatted with her and made her feel very welcomed as a non-diver. Also, he is the coolest guy ever and has an awesome sense of humor.
The atmosphere is always fun on the Humbolt, and I will never dive with another company in San Diego.
You might find that Waterhorse charges a tad more, but there is a reason: these guys work their asses off more than any other charter I have dove with in San Diego, and the overall experience is worth the little bit of extra money. Trust me ;) -
Review from Timothy W.
Scotchtown, NY
8/22/2010
I dove with WaterHorse Charters in March of 09 and just realized that I hadn't given them any love on Yelp! Def one of the better boats that I have been on, everyone was courteous and professional. They kept on schedule.
We did a 2 tank dive in the Coronados. It was whale migration season so we ended up doing both dives in the same location so that we could try and catch a glimpse of the migrating whales. I was diving solo but I met up with two other guys in the same boat (no pun intended)
I would definitely dive with them again if I find myself in San Diego. -
Review from Dale R.
Elk Grove Village, IL
9/8/2011
I dove with Waterhorse charters on Sept. 26-27, 2011. We all had a great time diving the Coronados Islands in addition to spotting Blue Whales on the trip out there. I have to admit that this charter is one of the best charters I have ever dove with. Not only is the crew friendly and willing to assist you in anyway possible, they also do a great job of catering to the divers between dives. The food they serve in between dives is fantastic. They provide a full briefing and make sure you know the secrets of what to be looking for during your dive. If you are ever in the San Diego area and are looking for a First Class dive experience, check out Waterhorse Charters.
Dale Rush -
Review from Garrett P.
8/23/2009
I've been on the Humboldt twice now, with decent experiences both times. Waterhorse Charters frequently charters through Sports Chalet, where you can sign up for the boat and rent your gear at the same time. You can also go to their website to see where they're going and when, and sign up directly through them. The main destinations for their scuba dives are the Point Loma Kelp Beds, Los Coronados, and Wreck Alley. They offer 2-tank and 3-tank trips, all pretty reasonably priced.
While the boat can fit 48 people, they only charter 22 at a time - so you're not packed in there, leaving plenty of room to get all your gear on. Once you're on the boat, they offer fresh fruit and cookies, along with coffee/tea/hot cocoa. After the first dive, they offer some food - usually hot soups for the cold dives, alongside with some salad.
Crew is always extremely friendly and helpful. Definite plus is the hot shower available onboard - when you get out of the 55ºF water, it's great to fill your wetsuit with some hot water before eating some hot food.
My first trip was to the Point Loma Kelp Beds - the captain gave a good explanation of exactly where we had anchored, and points of interest nearby. The second was a trip to Los Coronados - unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worst while we were out there (ended up with 6-foot waves when the weather buoy sitting right next to us said they were 2-foot. Stupid buoy), so we had to return home. The captain said this is the first time it's happened to him, but they got us back home as soon as they could, apologized profusely, and gave everyone on the boat a rain check. Still, I wouldn't call it a bad experience.
The crew works for tips, and my instructor had suggested that about $5 per tank is a pretty good average. Personally, from my experience with these guys, I'd up it a couple dollars per tank because they're so sure to take care of everyone, and to keep you entertained. If you're looking for a good charter to scuba dive through, give these guys a try. -
Review from Bill P.
San Diego, CA
5/13/2010
I've been on most all the dive boats in San Diego and the Humboldt (Waterhorse Charter's boat) is easily the most well-appointed boat in its class in San Diego county. The crew equals the quality of the boat itself with their dedication to safety and to catering to their customer. Captains and deck crew alike are professional, friendly, and helpful.
The food and hot water showers are a welcome relief after your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cold-water dive! (Shouldn't hot water showers be mandatory on all SoCal boats? :-)
Their prices are a little higher than some other operations, but quality does cost a bit more. That quality is apparent in everything they do. It's worth it. -
Review from Jim T.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2010
I went on my first boat dive today, on Los Coronados with Waterhorse Charters, the Humboldt. I don't have anything to compare it to, and considered waiting until I had made more boat dives to write a review, but as it's fresh in my mind, here goes.
Totally amazing. We saw whales on the way out, there were sea lions playing around us at the islands, and a pod of dolphins surrounded us on the way back. Ryan and Anita were friendly, helpful and professional. I did not expect this level of service on a dive boat, but they were a large part of why the day went so well.
There is plenty of decent food and drinks - coffee, hot chocolate, water, punch, candy, salad, soups, rolls, chips and fruit. Ryan took the time to get near the whales, and circled around to let the dolphins play in the wake several times.
They seem genuinely concerned that divers have a great experience, and strive to be more than just a dive platform. The boat is extremely well maintained and clean. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and Humboldt, Waterhorse Charters, and Ryan and Anita have set the standard for a fun day on and under the water. -
Review from Kristen G.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2011
Just dove wreck alley with Waterhorse and had a perfect experience. Unlike countless other experiences on dive boats i felt welcome - truly a "make yourself at home" feeling. They didn't cram us in like sardines and we were welcome to hang out in the sun on the top deck during our safety stops. Captain was approachable and helpful and created a completely non-stressful, fun atmosphere. The DM made entry and exit a breeze. Hot water to fill your suit before a cold dive, hot soup, and ample food and drink. Real nice local operation.
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Review from scott n.
Palo Alto, CA
12/20/2010
The Humboldt is a great boat - great layout, stable and easy entry/exit. Ryan and Anita were great too, a very efficient operation. Good food/snacks. We dove the 2 tank wreck dive, but only got to the Yukon because of water conditions - gotta be flexible when on the ocean! I'll be going out with Waterhorse next time I'm down in SD.
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Review from Michael A.
Irvine, CA
8/20/2010
This boat delivered on all my expectations. It's fast and that makes the ride short and efficient. The service was top-notch and the crew helpful. The only downside was the tight dive deck while people are gearing up, but that was a shortlived inconvenience. The speed and efficiency of this boat, coupled with the great price, make it a winner. I will definitely make the drive down from Orange County to dive on The Humboldt again. They are a better buy than the big boats in Long Beach or San Pedro.
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Review from Lindsay S.
Los Gatos, CA
9/14/2009
The most easy going boat I have been on in a long time. I spent 3 days of diving with 22 other people for a wreck diving class. Our wreck class required a lot of planning and help from waterhorse charters. They were able to fill all 44+ nitrox tanks over night for our class. They helped everyone to feel comfortable. If you have a chance do the Coronado island trip. It's a lot of fun and great diving (70+ visibility and calm waters). Will be back next year for another round of diving.
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Review from Andrew N.
Cambridge, MA
11/1/2010
Usually I don't leave bad reviews because "if you don't have anything good to say then don't say anything at all". This will be the first time I'm going to make an exception just because I was so mislead by all the 5* reviews here on Yelp. It was the main reason I booked a dive with Waterhorse Charters instead of getting a better deal at another dive shop. So I booked an islands dive a month in advance and was promptly charged on the same day. Haven't heard from Waterhorse since then so decided to confirm the trip and called them couple times the day before. They didn't return my calls so sent them an email. As you've probably guessed no one bothered to reply. On the day of dive called them couple hours before departure and then 30 minutes before after finding their shop closed (needless to say my calls were never returned). Lacking other options to reach them had to open dispute through PayPal to get a refund and... ta-da! that got their attention! They said the trip was cancelled and refunded the payment. I'm happy I used "safe" payment method, so if you decide to dive with Waterhorse make sure you pay with something you can charge back like credit card or PayPal.
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Review from Mari V.
Detroit, MI
11/13/2009
I can't say enough good things about Waterhorse Charters. I dove with them on 11/6/09 while I was out visiting San Diego. I did the 3-tank Los Coronados trip. I thought the price was reasonable, the rental gear high-quality (I was the first to use the regulator I rented) and the whole operation professional. There were seven divers on the trip, including me, and I came buddyless, so Anita was nice enough to ask the other six divers (who were in a group) if I could tag along (and the six guys were nice enough to say yes!). I'm a newer diver so I really appreciated how well run the trip was and how helpful Anita and Ryan were. They helped us with our BCs, fins and then even towed us up to the anchor line! The dives themselves were great-- particularly the last dive where we ended up playing with a ton of seals. They were swimming all around us. Very cool. Also, the food was really good and the boat is sweet. Good job, Waterhorse!
