Capt. Ray Arntz

Capt. Ray Arntz is one of the most experienced and dynamic commercial dive boat captains in Southern California today. A US Coast Guard licensed 100 Ton Master, Ray is an avid freediver, blue water hunter and wreck diver who has over 5,000 dives to his credit. With more than 20 years experience plying the waters off Southern California, he has a knack for finding interesting sites with the best possible conditions.

Ray has a passion for diving and the sea few can match. When he's not running the Sundiver or the Sundiver II, Ray can often be found working on shipwreck location and exploration. In this pursuit Ray frequently does his own side scan sonar work searching for new wrecks and underwater structure and has amassed an impressive database with over 7,000 sites. In 2003, Ray co-found California’s only U-boat wreck, the World War I German U-boat UB-88. Ray supervised all diving operations surrounding the documentation of this important shipwreck.

Ray has worked on a variety of entertainment projects including deploying special effect props aboard the Sundiver for an on-location film shoot of CSI: Miami and supporting development of training materials for a national scuba training agency.

Side scan sonar image of the Palawan wreck in Santa Monica Bay.

The Sundiver is a 54-foot long US Coast Guard approved and inspected dive boat equipped with supplemental oxygen and the latest safety equipment. While we are certified for 42 passengers, on day trips we will take a maximum of 26 divers and for overnight trips, 22 divers. This allows for a much more comfortable and relaxed trip. From the blueprint stage, the Sundiver was designed as a dive boat with a diver's comfort in mind.

The Sundiver has two large dive gates for easy exits and a large two-level swim step platform to make getting back on simple as well. Dive gear is stored on a unique shelf system making it very accessible while protecting your gear. Air fill whips are available at all 32 tank stations, making it unnecessary to move your rig once you return from a dive. Tanks are included on all trips. We have twenty-six 85 cu ft low pressure steel tanks, two 63 cu ft aluminum tanks, and four 50 cu ft aluminum tanks on board. You can pick the type you are most comfortable with. Inside the Sundiver, you will find a comfortable area for divers to relax. There is seating for 16 and we have a DVD, a color TV with a VCR and front panel inputs. Below decks, Sundiver sleeps 22 comfortably for après dive naps or multi-day trips.

You order the food you like, and get it when you want it. Breakfast items include pancakes, breakfast burritos, french toast, bacon & eggs, muffins, and egg sandwiches.

For lunch we offer regular, turkey and garden burgers, tuna melts, many other hot and cold sandwiches, chili, and soups. Other items such as burritos, chicken, and fish are also offered on a rotating basis. We have a large selection of drinks and munchies.

The Sundiver II is a 33 ft. Crystaliner express. Crystaliner Boats are well known for their lifeguard and rescue craft. Equipped with twin 370HP Yanmar diesels she is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots, easily reaching destinations in half the time of other dive boats. A large and spacious cockpit is perfectly suited to accommodate up to six passengers and dive gear.

The Sundiver II was recently used to document a lost TBM Avenger off the coast of San Diego, CA.