Boat Diving -- When to Fin up

[Jethroish]

Just returned from an excellent, long weekend in Coz. The procedure for finning up puzzled me a bit though. On my previous boat dives, off the Florida coast, we walked across the deck with fins in hand, and one of the deckhands put your fins on when you were at the edge.
The boat dive in Coz, they had us put on our fins and shuffle across the deck to the entry point in the back.
Luckily the seas were not rough, but even with 2 foot waves and wakes from passing boats, it does nto seem a good idea to be moving across the deck of a boat with your fins on.
Heck, just read Lessons for Life in the Feb issue of Scuba Diving.
I realize that finning everyone up at the rail may take a few minutes longer, but it sure seems much safer.
On one of our dives, we even had to go up 2 steps, with fins on, to get on the platform to stride off.
My wife expressed to the crew that she was not at all comfortable moving around with her fins on. They were more than happy to help her fin up at the rail.

Is there any one common practice?

 

[Walter]

No. It all depends on the boat layout. It's never a good idea to walk with fins on. It causes flat places where your face used to be. I don't let anyone put my fins on me. I can do it myself.

 

[Ron Brandt]

I rarely use a big boat in Coz. On the small boats the divmaster will tell you when to put your fins on and then the DM and captain will help you put your gear on...then you will roll off the boat when instructed to.

My only big boat experience was to walk onto the dive deck,put your fins on and step off....

Who were you diving with...I'm quite familiar with most, if not all, the ops there.

Ron

 

[DvrDoug]

In Hawaii they had shuffle across the deck with our fins on, in Florida they put them on for us and in California we put them on our selves at the rail.

 

[Gary D.]

I have one hard fast simple rule. That is DO NOT TOUCH MY GEAR! :no

I am responsible for me and when I get suited up or I’m in the process of suiting up I will do it. If I need help I’ll ask for it. Other than that I don’t want anyone touching anything including my tank valve, fins or anything else.

I feel the DM’s should watch and ask if someone needs help and not just up and do it. I'll do what they ask as far as what and when but just keep your hands off.

Gary D.

 

[Buoyant1]

Hmmm...on every boat dive I've ever done, I took the seat closest to the exit, put my fins on, stood up turned and "Geronimo!" (Although with a reg in your mouth it usually "MRRMMMMO")

Yeah..I read the "Lessions for life" article also! Strange you would have to do that?

 

[allistoy]

I'm with you Gary D do not touch my gear in anyway. I tell them if you want a tip leave me alone.

 

[drbill]

We ask divers to put their fins on at the gate rather than do the Aflac walk.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Let me see if I understand this.
They put your fins on you? Did they help you get dressed in the morning, too?
That's ridiculous.

 

[talonraid]

All my entries in Coz have been back rolls from the rail just behind where I had been sitting and putting on my gear a few moments before. Of course, those were all small boats.