Most important things for me are roomy boat, decent kitting up space (cos of all the crap I have to strap to my back just to get a splosh) and a GOOD SKIPPER who knows his shit and is a good laugh.
Steve Johnson out of Brighton fulfils all the above. Has the lot - tea & biccies after the dive, a good lift, skip's a
serious diver who knows the best wrecks, doesn't bullshit you about the vis and
crucially doesn't take you out when the weather's iffy just to get your dollar. There's a boat moored at Brighton that I'll never dive off cos even though it's well equipped, the skip's a miserable bastard.
http://www.channeldiving.com/