We use ‘Searcher’ our 7m commercial Humber RIB with a 150 hp V6 outboard.
She is most comfortable with 8 divers but will take 10 at a squeeze if everyone is diving on single cylinders with no pony cylinders or stages.

How to book on a RIB dive:

1. Searcher only does 2 runs per day making timings more relaxed with leaves times of 09:30 and 13:30 each day.

2. Make sure there are enough spaces on the day for you and your group on the day you want by phoning the dive centre on 01752 491490 to pay for your spaces at £17.50 per person per dive.

3. If you are making a full boat booking then use our booking form plus a £75 per day deposit. A full boat booking is 8 paying passengers ie £280 per day.

Please note you will be charged for the number of spaces you book, not how many people turn up.

4. Please note that once you have confirmed your spaces and you have paid we cannot accept cancellations nor can we postpone dives to other dates.

Please be satisfied with this BEFORE you book.

5. If the skipper cancels due to poor weather then we will refund in full

6. We will not and cannot guarantee dive sites but all divers booking on RIB shuttles need to be flexible as ultimately we cannot control the weather and we will not be held responsible for it!

7. If you book the whole boat, ie 8 spaces you can dictate the leave times but no earlier than 9.30am unless pre-arranged with us first.

8. The RIBS will leave from the Mount Batten Pontoon unless otherwise indicated. Please make sure you call us the day before to check weather / skipper / dive sites.

9. It is your responsibility to make sure you turn up in plenty of time to get organised, to ensure you and your group are qualified, experienced and fit for the dive planned which could have a maximum depth of 30m.
For this reason we cannot accept bookings from PADI OW divers or BSAC /SAA Novices for which we apologise, but diving in Plymouth can involve deep dives beyond the limits of these qualifications.

What to do once you’ve booked, including loading advice.

1. Make sure you call us the day before, preferably before you set off please, to check that all is ok with the planned dive and the weather has not dictated a change of plan

2. On the day of the Charter please book in at the dive centre first, don’t go straight to the boat as we check divers off at the Centre first before going down to the pontoon. If you are an organiser on behalf of a group it is fine for you to delegate one person to book your group in.

3. The boat is a 7m grey Humber RIB with 2 yellow life rings on the A Frame at the rear of the boat with her name ‘Searcher’ written on. When you get there please don’t put your gear on but wait for the Skipper to turn up to help you load

4. Help us to help you!!!! Try and organise yourselves so that we can load you in pairs with the divers planning to dive first who load their gear last. Try and make sure that the divers who plan to dive the longest are the ones who load last therefore dive first. This saves time for everyone and avoids waiting on site for divers to finish diving.

5. Get all your gear ready assembled and make sure its working before you load it. It’s too late to find out that you’re missing an O ring when you’re on site ready to jump in or your cylinder is only half full.

6. Goody bags / Net bags are mandatory for every diver. If you turn up with a huge bag we’ll just ask you to go up to the shop and buy a net bag, so please bring one or buy one from us early in the morning. Why? Net bags don’t hold water making the RIB safer plus you’ll get all your essential gear in one bag making the boat more comfortable and better to organise. We also ask that each diving pair carry a reel and DSMB and know how to use it. Direct ascents are a complete no go in Plymouth as there is too much topside boat traffic.

7. And finally, talk to us please!! We’re not mind readers, let us know what you want to do and we’ll always try and oblige if it’s within safe limits and doesn’t compromise anyone. If you’re happy with our service please tell your friends, if you’re not happy please tell us, as we can’t do anything about it if we don’t know.
Happy Diving to everyone using our shuttle service