Est. 2009 · USCG certified · Mission Bay, CA
A real tech operation
Live-boat wreck drops. Team-based deployment. Strategic shot-line placement. A 10-diver cap. Built for decompression divers, CCR, sidemount, and scooter teams who need a boat that actually understands the dive.
What makes it a tech boat
Live-boat drops, engines off
Teams are dropped directly on a marked shot line with engines off, and recovered at the buoy after ascent. Captain Lora places the shot line strategically near — not on — the wreck, so the line is a visual reference and the wreck stays intact.
Tech-only days, twice monthly
Scheduled tech days with no recreational divers mixed in. Teams are limited to four divers and deployed one team at a time — no twenty-person back-roll free-for-all.
Onboard nitrox, 22–40%
Continuous-blending nitrox on board, single tank or doubles — the only San Diego charter with fills on site. A high-pressure compressor fills to 4200 psi, so HP tanks are easy. Trimix is not blended on board; helium-based mixes come pre-blended, as on any day boat.
Live-boating procedure, written down
Emailed ahead of the trip: gear-up sequence, water-ready definition, drop-line A-frame logistics, SMB labelling and team-order diagrams. Most tech boats wing this verbally at the rail.
Every configuration accommodated
Crew stages scooters, deco and bailout bottles, and camera gear at the stern. Bottles are clipped on before entry, not in the water. CCR, doubles, sidemount and scooters are all welcome.
Briefed on the wreck, not in general
A site-specific briefing before every wreck, given because it changes the dive plan. Sites run 130–250 ft: USS Hogan, P-38, F-4, Missile Tower, Murray Head, Scripps Canyon and newly-located wrecks.
Who this is for
Experienced tech divers who came to dive a named San Diego wreck at depth and do not want to spend the day explaining their rig to a crew that has never seen one. Site choice on tech days is condition-dependent — deeper wrecks are far more sensitive to swell, current and visibility than the shallower recreational sites, so the Captain picks the wreck on the day to be sure the placement is clean.
If you are tech-curious and this would be your first deco profile or first CCR shakedown, start shallower. The Hogan is not where you learn.
Certification: valid, non-expired certification for the equipment and profile you intend to dive that day. A CCR MOD1 card holder may only dive a no-decompression profile, regardless of open-circuit cert level.
Tech diving FAQ
Does the Marissa anchor on tech wrecks?
No. We live-boat on every tech trip. Teams are dropped directly on a marked shot line with engines off, and recovered at the buoy after ascent.
How many divers does the Marissa take on a tech trip?
We cap all trips at 10 divers. Teams are limited to 4 divers and deployed one team at a time.
How much bottom time do I get on a tech trip?
Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes onsite at Site 1 and 1 hour 30 minutes onsite at Site 2, with a minimum 1 hr 15 min surface interval.
Can I bring deco bottles, a scooter, or a CCR on the boat?
Yes. Crew stages scooters, deco/bailout bottles, and camera gear at the stern. Bottles are clipped on before entry, not in the water.
How do you protect the wrecks you dive?
Captain Lora places the shot line strategically near — not on — the wreck. Divers use the line as a visual reference only.
What is the trip schedule for a tech day?
Boarding at 7:30 AM, hard departure 8:15 AM, two dive sites, hard return-to-dock depart 2:45 PM, dock arrival ~4:00 PM.
What is your SMB emergency protocol?
Two SMBs on one line, or one SMB with an attached note describing the issue. Custom protocols accepted if communicated to the DM before entry.
Book a tech day
Tech days run twice monthly. Check the schedule for the next one, or reach Captain Lora directly to talk through a team booking or a full-boat charter.