Bad assumptions when in a boat

[Ana]

This morning my husband, a friend and I went out in our boat for a couple of dives. Nothing special, the weather in PCB was supposed to be bad so the expectations were low.

The seas were surprisingly nice, (around 2 footers give or take) so we decided to go west of the inlet to check some numbers of livebottom. Last time we tried this particular site there was a boat there, so we moved on to another spot.
Today again after close to an hour to get there, we notice there is a boat in the spot, oh well. I tell my husband how about getting a bit closer just to see in the monitor if there is anything to this bottom. My husband doesn't care to get close to boats so we pretty much made a U turn and started heading to a different spot.

Within an instant I notice the boat in question is moving. If they are moving out we'll be more than happy to move in. We change heading and aim back to the spot, the boat in question started speeding up in our direction and acting kind of funny. I didn't think much of it but was definetly paying attention to them, and so were my husband and our friend. This boat came to us fast with the guys on board screaming insults along with the mandatory hand gestures. I don't understand red-neck in screams so I was oblivious of what was happening. My husband did understand.

This idiots assumed that since we have radar on the boat, we stole their position. My husband noticed that they also had radar, maybe that is how they get their positions and figured that's what everyone with radar do.
That was a very dumb move on their part, we didn't react in a violent way but could have.

Sure was happy to have 3 people in the boat this time. Most of the times it is just my husband and I. He stayed in the boat for the first dive just in case this boat got any ideas. Fortunatly there was nothing more to the event, the spot turned out to be very good, we each made 2 dives and brought back 2 huge grouper, 2 snapper and a great looking (clean) cowry shell.

 

[The Chairman]

People can sure get weird when they think you are invading their turf. It's a big ocean, and I surely don't understand this type of territoriality.

 

[DennisS]

I know I don't like it when I'm out trolling or drifting and some yahoo picks me as his navigation point from about 2 miles away and passes within 100 feet or so when he has the whole ocean to navigate. I've had people go across my trolling lines when there was no other boat within a mile.

There are people that have no idea where to go on the ocean. If you're fishing or diving on a spot they assume it's a good spot. It's a big ocean with lots of space I wish people would respect boundaries. I've had a dolphin on and had three tournament boats circling within 25 feet of me 3 miles offshore.

I like my space when I'm out on the ocean and have no tolerance for people that need to get their boat close to me. I've used redneck greetings and gave the one finger salute to a few. If I'm three miles offshore and you can hear me yelling at you, you're too close. I don't chase boats down and yell at them, I just go my merry way.

 

[Randy43068]

Hey now, are you suggesting that your husband IS a redneck because he speaks the language?

 

[OceanObsessed]

the spot turned out to be very good, we each made 2 dives and brought back 2 huge grouper, 2 snapper and a great looking (clean) cowry shell.

I'll tell you how to get revenge on those guys...post those numbers here for us

 

[Nemrod]

Yeah, I will take those numbers!

I don't carry guns around, just don't really believe in that sort of thing but it is tempting sometimes to get a stainless Ruger Mini 30 with pull out stock and store it in a plastic bag in the console--just in case someone goes from misbehaving to threating life and property. I would never consider deadly force over "property" but if your floating on the "property" ten miles from shore then perhaps it is a different thing.

People really need to learn to behave. The ocean is not private property and with sonar, sidescan, gps and all that there is simply no way to keep "secret" numbers. Really, like every other yahoo does not have the same capability.

N

 

[Zieg]

I know I don't like it when I'm out trolling or drifting and some yahoo picks me as his navigation point from about 2 miles away and passes within 100 feet or so when he has the whole ocean to navigate. I've had people go across my trolling lines when there was no other boat within a mile.

There are people that have no idea where to go on the ocean. If you're fishing or diving on a spot they assume it's a good spot. It's a big ocean with lots of space I wish people would respect boundaries. I've had a dolphin on and had three tournament boats circling within 25 feet of me 3 miles offshore.

I like my space when I'm out on the ocean and have no tolerance for people that need to get their boat close to me. I've used redneck greetings and gave the one finger salute to a few. If I'm three miles offshore and you can hear me yelling at you, you're too close. I don't chase boats down and yell at them, I just go my merry way.

Just so there is no misunderstanding, I was given these numbers by a friend at work. This was the second time we headed to this spot and the second time someone was on that spot. So, I guess a few people know this spot. I approached to about 300 yards just to make sure he was on the spot I wanted. I then turned to head over to other spots in the vicinity. Ana then noticed that this guy was moving off the spot. I then turned to go back to where he was leaving. I know he wasn't trolling because no one trolls going that fast, he was coming up on a plane and heading right to me, as if he wanted to play chicken. I don't take bullying very well. I suspect that he was frustrated and felt that I was "stealing" HIS spot.

Oh, yes, I'm a redneck from the coast of North Carolina. I 'talk' redneck very well. And Nemrod, you are welcome to any numbers I have.

 

[Cudabait]

Sounds like Twin Tugs to me........however. I just live in red-neck land!

regards,

 

[DennisS]

Just so there is no misunderstanding, I was given these numbers by a friend at work. This was the second time we headed to this spot and the second time someone was on that spot. So, I guess a few people know this spot. I approached to about 300 yards just to make sure he was on the spot I wanted. I then turned to head over to other spots in the vicinity. Ana then noticed that this guy was moving off the spot. I then turned to go back to where he was leaving. I know he wasn't trolling because no one trolls going that fast, he was coming up on a plane and heading right to me, as if he wanted to play chicken. I don't take bullying very well. I suspect that he was frustrated and felt that I was "stealing" HIS spot.

Oh, yes, I'm a redneck from the coast of North Carolina. I 'talk' redneck very well. And Nemrod, you are welcome to any numbers I have.

No misunderstanding, the first post stated you didn't like to get close to other boats.

 

[Nemrod]

Last time I was down there I pulled up about two minutes after one of the commercial dive boats set anchor on a LARGE dive spot. I had been observing them and I had my OWN numbers so I was not following them. I pulled up while observing the other boat--very cautiously and set anchor about 50 yards or more away. I should have hailed them but my radio was goofing up on me--turned out a corroded antenna connection. No words or salutes or redneck language was given or used but I just got vibe they were not happy with me. I just don't think one dive boat should be able to take up a large dive area. In any case, since they beat me by two minutes had they protested I would have moved off to another spot. Shortly after I dropped anchor a boat we had seen around and that we had passed on the way out also pulled up and dropped anchor another 50 or so yards from me. Over the course of two hours the original commercial dive boat moved off and the other local commercial dive boat moved in while I and the other boat remained. I did not have a problem with it, like I said, it was a large area, plenty of room for everybody.

On the other hand, it is a big ocean and there is no reason people should pass so close they cut your lines or endanger your divers or buzz you--that is impolite and dangerous.

N