Dive boat etiquette - when to turn the dive on a charter?

[tigerbarb]

I was on that boat this past Sunday.
Buddy and I surfaced early, so didn't see what happened.

First time on the boat. Will go back.

Nothing happened really, I questioned making this post because I understand the POV of the other diver and I don't want to bash people who genuinely are worried about other divers. But I ended up thinking about it for hours on the drive home and questioning if I did something wrong, haha.

My buddy watched the whole thing from 15 feet and told me he was laughing about it because he knew what I was doing and enjoyed seeing me get a surprise visitor grabbing me and preparing to share air! I was on the surface with 1000 psi, oblivious to the maneuvering of the other diver around me trying to see my computer/SPG.

We got very lucky with conditions that day, hurricane is over and back to business as usual!

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Jupiter Scuba Diving "Kyalami", in the past I had used Scuba Works but they didn't run on Sunday due to the expected poor conditions (which ended up being excellent). I will go with the Kyalami again, so far I haven't found a Jupiter charter I wouldn't repeat. When making the booking online I did get the impression they see more tourist action than other charters, advertising photo options and guides in the booking itself. Good on them for watching out for someone who appeared to need help.

Sounds like, from your summary in your first post, it wasn't the dive guide nor the boat crew but another customer. Is that correct?

If I had another customer/diver that I was NOT diving with decide to try and "save" me when I was clearly not in distress requiring assistance, they would get a palm in the chest or face. Very effective way to get the message across and put space between us. Now if all they did was come check on me, I would simply signal that I was just fine with an OK and a smile.

EDIT ... just read your additional post. Yea, that diver would have gotten a nasty glance and possibly a stern (but not violent) push off with my palm.

 

[Jcp2]

Nothing happened really, I questioned making this post because I understand the POV of the other diver and I don't want to bash people who genuinely are worried about other divers. But I ended up thinking about it for hours on the drive home and questioning if I did something wrong, haha.

My buddy watched the whole thing from 15 feet and told me he was laughing about it because he knew what I was doing and enjoyed seeing me get a surprise visitor grabbing me and preparing to share air! I was on the surface with 1000 psi, oblivious to the maneuvering of the other diver around me trying to see my computer/SPG.

We got very lucky with conditions that day, hurricane is over and back to business as usual!

I would be thankful that somebody was worried enough about me to care and help out. I’ve done the same to another diver who looked like he was doing exactly what you described except he was low on air and I had my primary out to him in case he needed it. Fortunately he had enough to make the safety stop and surface, so no need.

 

[FishWatcher747]

You might look into getting solo certified and becoming a redundant diver. The preparation one needs to do prior to the course to learn new skills and the course itself are very beneficial in my opinion.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I would be thankful that somebody was worried enough about me to care and help out. I’ve done the same to another diver who looked like he was doing exactly what you described except he was low on air and I had my primary out to him in case he needed it. Fortunately he had enough to make the safety stop and surface, so no need.

That's all well and good, but how are you supposed to know if he was low on air or not? Being ready to assist is awesome, ASSUMING someone is low on air and needs help is taking things a step too far.

I regularly make a "mulit-leveled" ascent where I come up 10' or so at a time to maximize me dive time and continue looking for stuff. I always have a very solid understanding of my NDL and my air. I don't need another diver, who is not my buddy, assuming that I am being clueless and about to run out of air.

Being ready to help is one thing, actually beginning to process of rendering (unneeded) aid is another. Your example is one of being ready to render aid that may have been needed. In the OP's case, someone actually tried to render aid that was not required nor requested. Just speaking for myself, yea, that would have pissed me off.

If you're not my buddy, let me do my thing and mind your own business. Now if I come up and signal low on air or out of air, by all means, please give me air! But don't assume I need help. Now in my case, I clearly have a redundant air source. Many other divers, who don't understand a redundant air source, joke with me about how long I plan to stay down as if I'm using my pony as a stage. So I doubt anyone would think I'm at risk of running out of air.

 

[azstinger11]

That's all well and good, but how are you supposed to know if he was low on air or not? Being ready to assist is awesome, ASSUMING someone is low on air and needs help is taking things a step too far.

I regularly make a "mulit-leveled" ascent where I come up 10' or so at a time to maximize me dive time and continue looking for stuff. I always have a very solid understanding of my NDL and my air. I don't need another diver, who is not my buddy, assuming that I am being clueless and about to run out of air.

Being ready to help is one thing, actually beginning to process of rendering (unneeded) aid is another. Your example is one of being ready to render aid that may have been needed. In the OP's case, someone actually tried to render aid that was not required nor requested. Just speaking for myself, yea, that would have pissed me off.

If you're not my buddy, let me do my thing and mind your own business. Now if I come up and signal low on air or out of air, by all means, please give me air! But don't assume I need help. Now in my case, I clearly have a redundant air source. Many other divers, who don't understand a redundant air source, joke with me about how long I plan to stay down as if I'm using my pony as a stage. So I doubt anyone would think I'm at risk of running out of air.

Great, now i'm picturing first stages with a giant LED, green above half pressure, yellow half to reserve (say 7-500PSI), and red past that. Be like a Christmas light show on the reef lol

 

[MrChen]

Kayalami is one of those charters where the crew will let you do your own thing. I love their boat and still miss Sl8r. I hope you told the person they needed to chill out once you surfaced. I agree with others, it's nice that someone wanted to help, but to assume you needed help is another thing.

I personally don't think you did anything wrong. It's not uncommon for divers to jump off solo and do the entire dive solo on numerous Jupiter charters.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @tigerbarb

I don't know why another customer would interfere with your dive, uncalled for

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Great, now i'm picturing first stages with a giant LED, green above half pressure, yellow half to reserve (say 7-500PSI), and red past that. Be like a Christmas light show on the reef lol

Just imagine we live in a parallel universe where hand signals exist where you can ask someone for their cylinder pressure and also provide an answer.

Nah, that's just crazy science fiction.

 

[azstinger11]

Just imagine we live in a parallel universe where hand signals exist where you can ask someone for their cylinder pressure and also provide an answer.

Nah, that's just crazy science fiction.

Clearly this was a joke, but also was in reference to post I was replying to and them not wanting random rendering unasked for and unwanted "aid".

However it also appears that Mares AI transmitters already do this.