I had a terrific experience sailing with Blue Pacific Yachting in Marina del Ray (recently acquired…read moreby West Coast Multihulls) as part of their 3-day ASA 104/114 class to Catalina. This class is generally offered once a month on dates that would not work for me in coming months, so I really appreciated that Ellie in the office put together an off-cycle class that worked for me. My goals were to get time on a catamaran and get some local knowledge of Catalina Island. Our instructor Lori was very knowledgeable about the basic maneuvering we were able to cover in the class, and it was obvious she is very experienced going to Catalina. She was patient and observant and provided specific feedback as I got used to using a twin screw moving around and docking in the marina, and anchoring and picking up a mooring at Catalina. One thing to be aware of, and this is not a criticism but a trade-off for this class, is that the trip to and from Catalina uses up a lot of time that might have been spent on additional docking practice (maybe add a day?). Further, on this particular trip due to winds we motored both to Catalina and back which limited the actual sailing time. For my purposes that was not an issue since I was focused on local knowledge and already had significant bigger boat experience on monohulls since receiving the US Sailing BBC rating years ago. We picked up time though since Lori made the decision to have sailors come provisioned and pick up additional stuff at Two Harbors, which I was really glad about since the syllabus seemed to suggest that we would use up valuable class time talking provisions and going shopping. I definitely recommend Blue Pacific, and Lori!

Experience of a lifetime. Booked the Sea of Cortez 101,…read more103, 104, 114 Certification BOOKING: 5 stars Guinevere is super communicative. Though we didn't have certain questions or requests answered, it made sense when we got there. Changes in port locations and boats happened but again, Guinevere contacted me right away to make sure we were good to go. PROVISIONS: 5 stars We were curious what provisions were provided and never got a list. The reason is that it's based on season and availability. The variety of food and beverages provided on the boat was excellent. The only critique I have is that I would portion everything out a little smaller. There were huge 2 lbs balls of frozen fish or shrimp. I was able to portion them all out to have multiple meals however. BOAT: 5 stars Though we were assigned to a smaller boat than I was hoping for, the Vada Louine was an excellent boat to learn on. She was very good to us. SAILING CLASS: 5 stars.... Students: 0 stars Ok, we suck. We did what we were told and got the books and read as much as we could before the class. But never having been on a sailboat ever, it was like reading a foreign language. The classes and certifications was like being fire hosed with information and terms. By the end of the class, though, the reading made more sense. And having the hands-on experience on the catamaran was not only helpful, but invaluable. CAPTAIN JIM (Instructor): 5 stars + 12 jars of crunchy garlic (inside joke) We couldn't ask for a better Captain and instructor. Not only was he a great instructor, but definitely a mentor, a role model, and a confidante. He not only taught us and supported us, he also "rode the waves" of emotions that we went though on this journey--the excitement, stress, fear, and joy. He shared his wisdom, experience, as well as provided us an adventure of a lifetime. I cannot express how great he is--a wonderful instructor and human being. All in all, what an amazing trip, learning experience, vacation. I have and will highly recommend West Coast Multihull to anyone interested in learning. I definitely want to do this class again.

We celebrated our dear friend's birthday yesterday on a water adventure on perfect San Diego…read moreweather! The pontoon can hold 10 people, including the captain. You can also bring your own captain, it's a great option. However, our group chose Pam (owner) to drive us around. The business doesn't charge extra for this service. A big shoutout to Marigold for coordinating and making the reservation. There were eight ppl on the first trip , and everyone was very comfortable during the ride. I've been on a boat ride before, but I have to say, coming from the Coronado side gives you a better view and more to enjoy. And Pam surely knows the sites. Pam, aka the captain, and her wife Diane, the owners, were just the perfect hosts. They were professional, very friendly, and a blast! The boat was very clean, and yes, they have life vests available for each rider. They also rent jet skis, tubing, campers, UTVs. Imagine watching fireworks on the Fourth of July , with the Coronado bridge as your backdrop. I HIGHLY recommend this business and will definitely be back for more water adventures and perhaps an outdoor camping experience. Great opportunity to re-connect with nature. Give them a call and reserve. They will take care of you, it's that personalized "family" touch . Rate: 10 stars

So much fun!!! Thank you! We had a blast A great way to see San Diego on a different view!!!read more

I have been out with Ironclad Sportfishing three times now. All day trips, 1 to San Clemente, 1 off…read moreshore, and 1 Coronado Islands trip. Sometimes we hit, sometimes not but that's fishing. Capt Frank knows how to find the fish, he doesn't grind it out rather he actively hunts to find the action. The boat has plenty of space for everyone to fish off the stern if needed but also has ample space on the bow for throwing irons or fighting monsters. You can't go wrong with this company, if you need a spot filled, hit me up. ‍

What a great time. From the moment we booked with Ironclad it was smooth sailing. My wife and I…read morewanted to go fishing in San Diego. We booked a half day with Ironclad. Frank in his team were amazing. The boat is fully prepared and equipped. The day was not very sunny and the seas were calmed. We thought the day was going to be a bummer. Frank "Ironclad" owner was on the hunt as we wanted to hook Dorado AKA Mahi Mahi. After an hour, the first rod hit and the excitement began. Then we hit another one. Went on the hunt again and got 3 more. If you want to go Sportfishing in San Diego, we recommend it highly.

I have wonderful memories of my time out at sea with Captain Mike. It was almost a magical moment…read morewith the rolling sea, the turbulent skies and the expectation of fish yet to be caught. What allowed me to enjoy this reverie was my confidence in the stability of the boat, the skill of the captain and the knowledge that there were multiple safety systems in place (discussed with us during the safety briefing).We were able to catch some fish using Captain Mike's expertise of the local San Diego waters as he was able to detect subtle patterns in the ocean that the rest of us on board couldn't see. Prior to getting on the boat, I purchased a pair of cool water boots at the tackle shop in San Diego where I obtained my fishing license. Needless to say, I am already booked for next year!

We went out with Mike in early March not expecting much for early winter fishing. We were thinking…read moreit would be a rockfishing trip. Mike's boat was fast and we were able to find some feeding Yellowtail at the islands. We ended up with 4 - 25 pound Yellowtail and one personal best 35 pound Halibut! Couldn't ask for more! Mike fished hard and got us home super fast! Highly recommend!

Samin is really patient and goes at the pace you are looking to go. I felt comfortable expressing…read moremy discomforts and areas I wanted to work on. He guided me through those uncomfortable areas and I felt more confident leaving the beginner class knowing I can get on again!

I possess an M1 endorsement but haven't ridden in about 15 years. Samin was patient and did a…read moregreat job of guiding me through skill refreshment. I highly recommend him. He was timely and communicative.

The pilots were great folks. Stunt ride was SO FUN. I would HIGHLY recommend. Even if you are a bit…read morenervous :) I went from "hmm this might be fun" to "I can't imagine never having done this in my life". Only felt a bit of motion sickness on the way back to the runway cause flying over land is more turbulent. Didn't have any issues over the water or doing any of the stunts, flips and rolls. They are exhilarating but surprisingly smooth. Better and smoother than a rollercoaster. Truly amazing.

W O W!! Just Wow! This was def an Awesome experience, what a way to feel so Alive! The Pilots Scott…read more(aka Jake) and Josh (aka Shakespeare) were the absolute best. Thank you guys!! What a thrill of a ride flying up and down the coast of San Diego! I highly recommend to everyone to just Book now. You won't regret it!

Lots of CCW trainers out there and it's hard to know which to choose. Glad I chose this one…read more Bill, Joe and Rocky were all awesome. A very comprehensive course packed with relevant information. I feel the range day coaching went FAR beyond just qualifying for the CCW license. My shooting greatly improved as a result of the required reading/viewing prior to range day and their hands-on personal coaching on the range. I will be continuing my training journey with them.

I had a great experience taking this class, both the classroom and the range sessions were…read moreeducational, imformative and not at all boring. I would highly recommend Bill and his Team for taking your CCW class. I look forward to more training from Bill and his team going forward.

Practical Defense Systems' 16-hour CCW course is hands down one of the best classes you can spend…read moreyour hard-earned money on, especially in this economy. I would 10/10 recommend it to all my family members before they begin carrying. I have been carrying a firearm overtly for over 16 years and concealed for nearly nine years. During that time, I've taken numerous tactical shooting courses ranging from low to medium speed and drag. Going into this class, I initially thought a 16-hour California CCW course would be a waste of my time and money. However, Joel and Dave's expert knowledge, experience, and the overall flow of the course quickly changed my perspective. The material was well presented, practical, and highly relevant. The significant amount of simulator time was especially valuable and helped reinforce real-world decision-making. I'm very glad I took their course and definitely feel better equipped to carry concealed in the Wild West that is California. Thanks, gentlemen -- I look forward to taking more courses in the future.

This review is a few months late. But I took the 16 hour CCW training course that is required for…read moreyour CCW California permit. This was by far the best course I could recommend. Joe made sure we weren't sitting in a classroom being bored with reading and presentations. We got hands on practical training and situational training. I was intimated being the only woman in a room of men, but Joe continued to help me feel comfortable in my own abilities despite anyone else in the room. He has other courses and training which are valuable to anyone that own a firearm or looking to own one.