Boat diving question

[MSilvia]

I now have laminated procedures for everything for the topside person....

That's a great idea Matt... one of the best I've read on SB lately! If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to see what's on your sheet.

 

[Gilldiver]

Most of my dives deco or otherwise are solo but I always have someone topside. I surface and they suit up and dive while I do topside duty. We provide a dive time and the diver sticks to it. We keep an eye out for other approaching boats, bubbles, then of course we keep an eye on the time for the expected return to the surface.

It's awesome to have your own boat, and with some effort you will find regular dive buddies who would like to dive for just a few $$ in gas money. It gets into your blood and stays there. It's not cheap, even for a small boat, but a great experience to add to your life.

--Matt

About how most of my diving is done. But as we all get older we start thinking we may need help sometime and one person on the boat will not be able to get a diver onboard alone - So we put on a david and have a sling now.

 

[matt_unique]

That's a great idea Matt... one of the best I've read on SB lately! If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to see what's on your sheet.

I'll shoot you a PM, I have one file and it's long for a post. I have the instructions written for someone who knows almost nothing as a worst case scenario. The fact is, the only people that ever go are boaters who would know most all of it.

--Matt

 

[jchaplain]

Ditto for me what Dennis said above....I have done it before but since learned the risk is too great for me.

I respect that. Everyone should set their own limits.

As for me, we have to define risk. There is risk of life and risk of property.

In a real sense boat diving when you are within a reasonable distance to shore is safer for the divers, as there are two safe places to go at the end of a dive, boat or shore. When one is shore diving there is only one place to go, back to shore.

Leaving the boat empty is riskier for the boat, but the boat is just property and is replaceable if you have good insurance.

So, the real extended risk is for the boat, and that can be managed by anchoring in a safe place, securing the anchor well as I do, or tying off to a mooring ball.

What do kayak divers do? They certainly don't take the kayak down with them.

Anyway...how much longer till springtime diving in Boston waters?

Current Water Temperature at b-buoy: 40.8 °F brrrr!!!!

John C.

 

[dkktsunami]

Always have a qualified boat driver on board. I frequently solo dive but will absolutely not get out of the boat without someone else remaining on board.

 

[matt_unique]

....

What do kayak divers do? They certainly don't take the kayak down with them.

Anyway...how much longer till springtime diving in Boston waters?

...

I hear ya about risk and such. I recall from other threads you take precautions to minimize the risks of leaving your boat empty. I used to do it and I changed my mind.

In terms of the kayak diver they are not going as far under paddle power as we are with our powerboats of course. Also, if a kayak is set adrift it will not cause any damage.

--Matt

 

[jchaplain]

In terms of the kayak diver they are not going as far under paddle power as we are with our powerboats of course. Also, if a kayak is set adrift it will not cause any damage.

--Matt

Not neccesarily so...as for how far the kayakers go.

When I'm diving off my boat off the Graves, or off the Brewsters, I am usually within a few hundred feet from shore. The fact that that shore is further out than Revere beach does not pose a greater risk...shore is shore, solid ground to stand on.

As for the adrift boat causing damage...that is a very good point! There would be the danger of causing environemental dmamge as well as the possibility of putting the captain in great danger in trying to recover the boat if the boat did go aground on rocks. This could be a perilous situation.

So, like every aspect of our sport ( or even driving your car,) the risk has to be calculated and managed and only the foolhardy do things such as solo diving, or even diving itself! in the wrong set of conditions and without taking the proper precautions.

John C.

 

[matt_unique]

Not neccesarily so...as for how far the kayakers go.

When I'm diving off my boat off the Graves, or off the Brewsters, I am usually within a few hundred feet from shore. The fact that that shore is further out than Revere beach does not pose a greater risk...shore is shore, solid ground to stand on.

As for the adrift boat causing damage...that is a very good point! There would be the danger of causing environemental dmamge as well as the possibility of putting the captain in great danger in trying to recover the boat if the boat did go aground on rocks. This could be a perilous situation.

So, like every aspect of our sport ( or even driving your car,) the risk has to be calculated and managed and only the foolhardy do things such as solo diving, or even diving itself! in the wrong set of conditions and without taking the proper precautions.

John C.

Shore is shore....I agree. I was thinking in terms of the U853 or other sites only accessible by power. Ha ha, you will not see kayakers out that far! As far as other sites physically closer to shore I agree the risk is the same as for kayaking, less the damage potential. If you surface 100 yards from shore, and there is not silly current, you're gonna survive. If you're 6 miles from land, and it's 30 minutes to sunset, your chances dimish as one extreme example (U853).

I had to take a guy to court to recover $1200 damage to my boat. His 36' boat snapped lines during a storm. My boat was moored in the path and his drifted and caused damaged to several boats including mine. After the damage inducing contact, my boat was set adrift. Thankfully it drifted right down a channel to a yacht club. I got "the call" from the Harbor Master explaining what happened. I got a signed statement on letter head from the Harbor Master. The negligent owner's insurance policy had a layup period of November to April. This event happened on the 3rd of November! He would have been SCREWED if my boat was a total loss. Imagine? As it was I had to take him to court to recover my $1200. What a jerk...anyway...boats adrift can cause damage. Somewhat of a side topic...

--Matt

 

[jchaplain]

I would never leave a boat alone at anchor way out to sea. Also you would want to not do that in a channel ( shipping lane)

What we should do Matt is get together at times this coming season, you take yours one time and I take mine the next, and save ourselves a bunch of gas!

John

 

[matt_unique]

That's a great idea!

--Matt