Captain leaving the vessel... no crew?

[SkipperJohn]

That sounds like it works well, I would just be concerned that no one was check the hook to make sure it wasn't going any where. Does your stern line move around on the bottom as the boat swings to wind or current changes? How is the visibility where you are diving?

Here is an explanation of the system we use post on my website.

tortugacharters.net Carolina Anchor Line Rig

sorry, I just saw this.
YES!
My last trip while the divers were in the water the wind shifted from out of the south to NNW. With all that scope we ended up a good distance form the wreck.
A wind shift like this is unusual especially in a 45 minute time frame as is the typical dive time. With over 90 foot of line out we ended up over 100 foot away form the divers when they emerged. The good news is the wind had the same affect on them and they casually swam over to us (& was nice enough to hook into the wreck to allow the next set of divers a route to find the piece). It did cause me to think and should I ever hear of any such major wind shift prediction, I'll bring a grappling hook to set up on the tag end of the vertical line holding the boat steady.

Interestingly I just got back from Aruba and the 1 dive I did there they used the same set-up. Bu the wind almost never shifts in Aruba as it is almost 100% caused by the South American sea breeze.

& I dont take paying passengers-just friends who are invited to chip in to cover the fuel.

 

[Tortuga James]

Classic example just today. We tied up to a wreck 40 miles offshore (Naeco Stern) and my mate took a good wrap with the chain. I set the carolina rig and everyone did their dive. We decided to stay on the hook for another, waiting out the 2 hour SI at anchor. 30 minutes before the 2nd dive, the wind shifted and the current changed, and I thought we came lose. My chart plotter showed a dramatic shift in position. We started posiioning ourselves to pull the "lose" hook when we realized it was still fast to the wreck. I looked at my track on my plotter and it was a full circle.

 

[PatMyGreen]

Here in Panama City, Fl we all use the Carolina rig too. The DM ties into the wreck, we set out the line, he gives his brief and then I tell all the divers the pool is open. We have mostly steel and aluminum wrecks but no mooring balls so he has to dive to the deck.

I have always heard the captain can leave the vessel when it is made fast and while several of the other operations here interpret that to mean the Captain can even go for dive (the DM is responsible for the divers) while anchored or tied in I can't stomach the idea of leaving the boat unattended. The theory being the boat meets the requirement laid out by being made fast to the bottom, I guess?

I have not tried to research this in the colregs but it just doesn't pass the smell test with me. I would add the when we are doing deep dives past 130' we never anchor or tie in and prefer to live boat. The divers are free to ascend wherever they want to and the boat comes to pick them up. They will of course all need SMBs and audible signals but this works fine for 6 or less and I don't know anyone who would rather waste bottom time trying to swim back to the anchor when they could still be exploring. Then again we do not typically have rough conditions here or strong current so even divers accruing significant deco still surface near where they started.

 

[Tortuga James]

I have always heard the captain can leave the vessel when it is made fast and while several of the other operations here interpret that to mean the Captain can even go for dive (the DM is responsible for the divers) while anchored or tied in I can't stomach the idea of leaving the boat unattended. The theory being the boat meets the requirement laid out by being made fast to the bottom, I guess?

You are probably right not to fall for that loose interpretation of the COLREGS. Reality is, the only way to get in trouble would be in the case of an investigation due to an accident or an unhappy customer dropping a dime on you.

I struck a deal with another Captain to get on my drug program and ride occasionally so I can dive. He gets to dive for free, and doesn't have much to do unless I get hurt or sick, which actually happened last time. I had what I thought was a hit after my 2nd dive and put him on the wheel while I went on O2. It turned out to be minor, but if it hadn't, then I can only imagine the scrutiny of the investigation that would follow. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the regulations when that happened.:shocked2:

My new self imposed rule is to only dive when I have a 2nd Captain, AND I know the customers (or friends) on the boat very well.

 

[Dr Dive]

Whether you stay onboard or not, you remain responsible for the boat. You have to make judgment calls in emergencies, but elective excursions (video, fun diving and salvage) are a bit more clear cut in my opinion. Save it for your fun trips. If you have to pick up a separated diver, you can often take the boat and divers to do the pick up, rather than leave the boat. If you leave, you have to be sure you can get back, otherwise you have stranded all but one of your divers with potentially no one who knows how to start the engines. Rethink your ground tackle so you can drop it on a float and come back to it. That leaves a float for your divers to ascend on if they come up while you are picking up, and you in control of the boat and situation. No guarenteed right answers, just do your best.

 

[Dr Dive]

Just a quick question. What exactly do y'all mean by "Carolina Rig"? I've heard of it in a fishing context, but what is implied in the anchoring context? Tying in is not significantly different than hooking with a reef hook or dropping the anchor in/near the wreck, other than being easier on the DM. We hook most sites with a reef hook, if there is enough vertical relief and structure. We anchor on lower profile or smoother sites, or if conditions are rougher. We tie in to subsurface buoys on the Oriskany, so we don't damage the ship, or risk dropping something on divers underwater. What's the nuance on the Carolina Rig?