remember that there are many different kinds of boats. You might be diving from a big dive boat with an easy flip down pair of ladders, you might have one with a dive platform for recovery and a ladder, you might have a ladder that just hangs over the edge (like on a Filipino banka), you might have a fold down aluminum one with hand holds, you might have a RIB, and have to actually play 'Flipper' by swimming and flopping over the side. There are all kinds.... just remember that all boats are different, and getting off and in again are part of the game.
I've found that a lot of operators don't mind if you hand your camera and weight up, and then dump your BCD/tank while still in the water... if they do this, be courteous and FROM THE SIDE, give a little assist as they pull your rig from the water... then you are free to wait your turn at the ladder. I know in the Philippines, this is the preferred way to get on the boat because it saves time. It is actually easier for the boatmen to take your rigs and organized them safely before divers climb aboard. And divers who climb up ladders fully geared, are SLOWER than those with their gear removed, and then have the problem of getting their gear off on a small, and already crowded deck.
I think that's my other recommendation. Know the boat you are using... in smaller craft, space is usually a premium, so consider what it means to be flopping around with 70# of gear on while your companions dodge you.
---------- Post added October 10th, 2014 at 01:26 AM ----------
I dive with FM1520 quite often, and I have to say I agree with RJP, but this is how I put in place. I surface, any chop, surface current etc. and mask stays on my face and reg stays in my mouth, until I'm climbing the ladder at a minimum. Now if I surface, and conditions are like a pond, and my wing is holding air , and I'm bobbing at the surface waiting my turn on the ladder, then I'm likely to have mask on neck and reg in my hand, talking about the dive, if I do fall off the ladder I'm inflated and not sinking. I think it's all about using good dive sense, and unfortunately that can be pretty hard to come by on a lot of dive boats!
well, there is this seldom used piece of equipment called a snorkel, that is meant to be connected to the mask? I agree that until you are on the boat, your mask shouldn't be removed. And that would mean you have your snorkel.
In many places in Asia, you can't keep your reg in your mouth and you need to remove your rig in the water so they can pull it aboard and store it before loading each diver. Luckily, heavy swell and waves are not the norm in this scenario, so a snorkel can manage the air supply issues.
The primary way for most smaller boats in Asia is
1) cameras
2) weight belt
3) BCD/tank (assist as they pull it up - just don't be directly below the tank)
4) once it's your turn at the ladder, remove your fins, hand them up,
5) climb the ladder, find a seat out of the way
6) remove your mask
That's pretty much how it goes, any other way ends up with divers stomping all over others, banging people in face with a tank, etc.
