All right everyone I want to lay this to rest but I need to ask this straight out and please give me a straight answer like the one DAN has. At this point I really want to know the following:
How many feel like DAN that this is not a good safety feature in the aspect that it will not keep you safe from oncoming boaters when surfacing? But is a good boat marker for picking up purposes.
How many disagree with this point of view and feel it can be used to alert oncomming boaters from running into you when surfacing.
As well as used as a boat pick up marker.
Again I want to get a better idea of how most experienced divers would choose use this device. If most think I am over reacting about using this a signal device to prevent an accident from oncomming boaters than perhaps I am in the wrong, and I would reconsider my initial thoughts on it. I think some already have said I was over reacting but I dismissed it as only a fluke and was not how the majority felt. I am not sure now so I wanted to get this cleared up.
IF YOU TIRED OF THIS thread it is understandable, I just need to know so if it really is dangerous to use this device (for alerting boaters before surfacing) I will not use it, it just is not clear to me at this time. Sorry and thanks for the patience.
Here is the post that kind of got me rethinking this whole thing.
DAN VOLKNER WRITES :
"This thread is really blowing my mind....it seems many people actually believe that shooting a bag actually will "Protect" them on surfacing -- from boats in the area.
In actual fact, this is a great tool for your own Dive boat to know where you are if your DSMB comes up in their line of site .....But....and the big but, is the threat of the OTHER boaters....the far greater THREAT to you as a diver about to surface....
The DSMB is a pathetic FAILURE in it's ability to "ward off" any boater going much over 20 mph. They just won't see it in time, they won't be looking for it, and many wont care.
Belief that these buoys impart some magical protection for you, is just plain foolish.
I am fine using a DSMB from a tech dive or recreational dive where they are requested by the boat....But I would NEVER surface with any expectation that any of the boats in the area have seen or care about the DSMB. If you think the DSMB protects you from boaters, you have not been diving long enough....
Even with the DSMB, I am going to bridge the last 10 feet to the surface, listening for prop noise and doppler shift to indicate a boat quickly approaching....When it sounds safe....I am going to be surfacing and spinning 360 to be sure there is no rapidly approaching boat, and I will do this with my Wing ( BC) neutral or dumped, allowing an immediate jackknife and dive downward, should a rapidly approaching drunken boater be headed for me. When I see it is clear, I will then signal for my buddies to ascend.
We don't have need for this nonsense in Palm Beach, because the charter boats we use follow our torpedo float, and they keep drunken boaters away.
You do need to assume that MOST boaters are ignorant drunks, and that they will be clueless about divers and DSMBs. This is the safest and most practical assumption you can make about boaters.
Watch the DSMB video tutorials....practice the deployment, use it--but NEVER assume this has much to do with keeping you safe from boaters."
How many feel like DAN that this is not a good safety feature in the aspect that it will not keep you safe from oncoming boaters when surfacing? But is a good boat marker for picking up purposes.
How many disagree with this point of view and feel it can be used to alert oncomming boaters from running into you when surfacing.
As well as used as a boat pick up marker.
Again I want to get a better idea of how most experienced divers would choose use this device. If most think I am over reacting about using this a signal device to prevent an accident from oncomming boaters than perhaps I am in the wrong, and I would reconsider my initial thoughts on it. I think some already have said I was over reacting but I dismissed it as only a fluke and was not how the majority felt. I am not sure now so I wanted to get this cleared up.
IF YOU TIRED OF THIS thread it is understandable, I just need to know so if it really is dangerous to use this device (for alerting boaters before surfacing) I will not use it, it just is not clear to me at this time. Sorry and thanks for the patience.
Here is the post that kind of got me rethinking this whole thing.
DAN VOLKNER WRITES :
"This thread is really blowing my mind....it seems many people actually believe that shooting a bag actually will "Protect" them on surfacing -- from boats in the area.
In actual fact, this is a great tool for your own Dive boat to know where you are if your DSMB comes up in their line of site .....But....and the big but, is the threat of the OTHER boaters....the far greater THREAT to you as a diver about to surface....
The DSMB is a pathetic FAILURE in it's ability to "ward off" any boater going much over 20 mph. They just won't see it in time, they won't be looking for it, and many wont care.
Belief that these buoys impart some magical protection for you, is just plain foolish.
I am fine using a DSMB from a tech dive or recreational dive where they are requested by the boat....But I would NEVER surface with any expectation that any of the boats in the area have seen or care about the DSMB. If you think the DSMB protects you from boaters, you have not been diving long enough....
Even with the DSMB, I am going to bridge the last 10 feet to the surface, listening for prop noise and doppler shift to indicate a boat quickly approaching....When it sounds safe....I am going to be surfacing and spinning 360 to be sure there is no rapidly approaching boat, and I will do this with my Wing ( BC) neutral or dumped, allowing an immediate jackknife and dive downward, should a rapidly approaching drunken boater be headed for me. When I see it is clear, I will then signal for my buddies to ascend.
We don't have need for this nonsense in Palm Beach, because the charter boats we use follow our torpedo float, and they keep drunken boaters away.
You do need to assume that MOST boaters are ignorant drunks, and that they will be clueless about divers and DSMBs. This is the safest and most practical assumption you can make about boaters.
Watch the DSMB video tutorials....practice the deployment, use it--but NEVER assume this has much to do with keeping you safe from boaters."
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