Charter Boats. Boat Diving. Being a Responsible, Safe Boat Diver

Charter Boats Boat Diving Being a Responsible, Safe Boat Diver

Charter Boats Before the trip On board the boat Entry In the water Return to the boat Exit

Charter Boats Before the Trip Pack your dive bag the day before the trip, working with a checklist to make sure nothing is missing. Do not wait until the evening before the trip to pack, in case you discover something broken or missing. Be Prepared!!!

On board: Charter Boats Remember, anything left on deck will probably get wet. All non diving gear should be stored below or forward. All of your dive gear must be stowed in your designated area. You are responsible for your gear. The crew will put tanks on the boat, BUT you must stake out your area and you should check the pressure in your 2 tanks. Make sure tank #1 is full. If you have 1 tank that is slightly low, use it for dive #2. Put tape back on #2. Setup Tank #1 before the boat leaves the dock. AFTER EACH DIVE, STOW YOUR GEAR

Charter Boats One of the hardest concepts for divers to grasp is that a boat is a moving platform. Some boats have high profiles and are sensitive to the wind. They will move sideways. If you make an entry from the side and timing it wrong, the boat could move over you. It is best to enter the water from the dive platform. Dive platforms have ladders that pivot down. In the picture to the right, the ladders are up for the ride out. Dive Platform with Ladders

Entries From Anchored or Moored Boats Do a giant stride entry from the dive platform. Turn back to the boat and give the OK sign. Then move away from the dive platform and wait for your buddy. Swim together away from the entry area towards the anchor/mooring line so the next divers can follow. In current conditions, some boats will have a line to pull or swim along to the down (anchor/mooring) line. This is sometimes called the geriatric line When you get to the down line, immediately go down at least 10 ft. DO NOT HOLD ON TO THE LINE AT THE SURFACE. Descend along the down line. MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE DOWN LINE ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM! IF YOU LET GO, CURRENT CAN SWEEP YOU AWAY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Make your dive and remember where the down line is located. You must make your ascent up the line, (DO NOT HOLD ON TO THE DOWN LINE AT THE SURFACE) then swim to the dive platform to re board. MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE LINE ALL THE WAY TO THE SURFACE! Take turns moving to the ladder to exit. On anchored and moored boats there is usually a tag line behind the boat.

Entries From Anchored or Moored Boats MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE LINE I can not emphasize enough how important it is that you maintain contact with the anchor/mooring line ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM and BACK TO THE SURFACE. Current can be very deceiving. If you let go for even ashort instant to adjust or clear a mask, you can be pulled away from the line and may not be able to swim back to the line. If you need to adjust your mask or clear your ears, hold the line by putting the line in side your arm. When diving from an anchored/moored boat, you MUST go back up the line. NEVER ASCEND OFF THE LINE. The current can sweep you far away from the boat. You can be literally hidden within surface swells and cannot be seen from the boat. Divers have died off North Carolina that have ascended off the line and could not be found. Don t be stupid, ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON THE BOTTOM WITH RELATIONSHIP TO THE ANCHOR/MOORING LINE. When you get to the surface, let go of the line. If you hold to the line the surge can lift you out of the water. When you break the surface, let go of the line, keep your regulator in your mouth, swim to the dive platform at the back of the boat, and be ready to make your exit.

Entries From Moving Boats Float Dives After you make your entry and give OK sign, group up with team leader to descend to the bottom as quickly as possible as you may drift off the reef. Stay together as a group and do not get ahead of your team leader. As your buddy team gets low on air go to team leader and indicate that buddy team is going up. Ascend the float line and let go of the line just as you break the surface. The float will move away from you. DO NOT HOLD ON TO THE FLOAT LINE AT THE SURFACE, if you do you will pull the person holding the float line to the surface. As you ascend, keep a loose OK with your thumb and index finger around the line, but let go just as you break the surface. Inflate your BC on the surface and you and your buddy turn towards the boat. Keep your eyes on the boat and wait for the boat to pick you up. The boat will run directly at you. When it stops beside you, the stern will be just beside you. Swim to the dive platform. DO NOT LET GO. Take turns moving to the ladder to exit. If there is a group, the DM may throw out a tag line. Always move hand over hand.

Entries From Moving Boats Float Dives Notes on different types of Float Diving Techniques: In the Palm Beach to Boynton Beach areas of Florida, Float Diving involves the use of a float line which is carried by a Team Leader. During the dive you drift along the reef with current. The boat captain will follow 1 4 dive teams over the reef. When you and your buddy surface at the end of the dive, the captain will see you and run the boat directly towards you. The boat will stop just beside you and you just reach out or swim a short distance to the dive platform. In Cozumel, Float Dives are done without float lines. The boat captain and deck hand watch the bubbles. When a buddy team gets low on air, you and your buddy surface and inflate your BCs. The boat will see you and the procedure is the same.

Re boarding the Boat, Float or Anchored: NEVER TAKE YOUR MASK OFF UNTIL YOU ARE ON THE BOAT! It also is SMART to keep your snorkel or regulator in your mouth, just in case you happen to fall back into the water w/o fins. Watch the movement of the ladder as it moves in the swells Grab the ladder just below the surface with 1 hand and take off you OPPOSITE fin and hand it up. DO NOT GET ON THE LADDER! Then take hold of the ladder with your other hand, but do not let go with you 1st hand UNTIL you have the firm grip with 2 nd hand. Take you other fin off, by same method, OPPOSITE fin & hand up. THEN, climb up the ladder. NEVER LET GO OF THE LADDER! Gather up your fins and go to your space Stow your gear. Then you can setup for next dive or relax on the ride back