Casino Point dive stair etiquette

[drbill]

For several years Catalina's Casino Point Dive Park has had stairs for entry and exit. Unfortunately a consequence of the stairs is that they channel traffic at one point, rather than having people enter the water from their "favorite (pet?) rock" along the breakwater.

Signs have been up for several years stating divers should use the appropriate side of the stairs "as indicated." Unfortunately no arrows or other guides were present to "indicate" the proper direction. This should change this week as painted arrows are planned.

At least in America we drive on the right and walk on the right side of sidewalks by generally accepted (although not always followed?) convention. Of course some of our international visitors may not realize this. The stairs will be marked with red arrows to indicate proper direction.

Personally, I don't mind it when impatient divers (lacking the mellowness of us "Islanders") wish to enter on the wrong side if a class has created a long line on the entry lane. That is as long as the left side is clear of other divers.

What I (and others including many mainland instructors) mind is when an impatient diver exhibits a lack of courtesy towards others. If there are divers exiting on that side, or instructors on the lower step trying to bring their students in, or divers in the water waiting to get out, divers should not walk down that side. Wait until it is completely clear.

Etiquette and courtesy towards others sometimes seems to be a victim of the times. We all want to make the dive experience at Casino Point a pleasant one for everyone- new and experienced divers alike.

Another thing I notice is that exiting divers often take off their fins, etc., on the lowest stair while others are waiting to get out. It is preferable to keep a smooth exit flow for waiting divers (especially those in surge) to get out, especially at low tide. I try to get up to the upper flat part of the stairs and take my fins off there so others behind me can exit the water timely rather than wait for me.

Enough "talk," it's time to head down and dive! Hope all had a great weekend underwater (or dreaming of it).

Dr. Bill

 

[scubasean]

Isn't this the same issue you posted on before?

Anything new?

 

[pasley]

drbill once bubbled...

Another thing I notice is that exiting divers often take off their fins, etc., on the lowest stair while others are waiting to get out. It is preferable to keep a smooth exit flow for waiting divers (especially those in surge) to get out, especially at low tide. I try to get up to the upper flat part of the stairs and take my fins off there so others behind me can exit the water timely rather than wait for me.

Dr. Bill

I can see where tripping up staris with fins on may not be the most fun a person could have.

How about taking the fins off in the water (I do) before you exit?

Same with the entry, I put my fins on in the water away from the stairs. You can get around in the shallows, particularly where you can touch the bottom or the rocks.

 

[PhotoTJ]

pasley once bubbled...

snip!
You can get around in the shallows, particularly where you can touch the bottom or the rocks.

Or we can swim! It's funny how a lot of divers forget that thier arms didn't fall off when they put the tank on!

 

[drbill]

For many new divers it is far easier to put one's fins on before entering and take them off after exiting. Of course your mileage may vary.

scubasean- certainly a post on a similar topic but this one should be easier to locate due to the subject. The other was a bit obscure.

We discovered yesterday that only motorized vessels are prohibited from the dive park. Technically kayaks, paddleboards and the like may enter. We've always been told to keep them out. Of course this is absurd since a kayak ramming one's head as you surface can cause problems as well.

Hopefully we'll get the wording changed soon so no vessels are permitted inside the buoys.

Today was a circus. Don't know how many divers were in the Park but it was one of the busiest days I've seen. Air fills were reportedly taking 2 1/2 hours!

Dr. Bill

 

[ChrisM]

Fins can be put on in the water, but if you drop a negative fin it's a pain. Everyone (just kidding) should have spring straps. I put my fins on and take them off -- on the stairs -- in les than a second.

It's the people struggling with straps and taking minutes to put on and take off the fins that kill me.

And I treat the stairs like I do a two lane road. I drive on the right. If someone is slower than me, and no one is coming the other way, I pass on the left.

I think that instructors with classes on busy days should also take other divers into consideration. I have often seen an instructor take as much time as they need - which is fine under other circumstances - when there are two or three already geared up divers waiting to get in. A little courtesy going both ways is nice.

 

[drbill]

ChrisM- Absolutely no question about some dive classes spending way too much time on the dive stairs. Today was just ridiculous. At one point the line went all the way up the stairs, wound past the wall and went out to the planted area where the historic anchor is.

I wonder why it is that so many classes end up here on the same day, usually the third weekend of the month. If all shops operate on the same schedule, this can really create a mess in the Park on that weekend each month.

Also, many of those who put on or take off their fins in the water do so in the water in front of the stairs which blocks those of us ready to swim in and land.

Certainly hope that no one develops "dive stair rage" like we have on the LA freeways!

Despite the crowds, it was a great day to dive.

Dr. Bill

 

[saf_25]

drbill once bubbled...
Today was a circus. Don't know how many divers were in the Park but it was one of the busiest days I've seen. Air fills were reportedly taking 2 1/2 hours!

Dr. Bill

It was worse than a circus! We dropped our tanks off in the fill line at noon - at 3:30 I finally got mine filled, so was able to start my second dive at 3:45. Mind you, the gear truck was suppossed to pick our stuff up at 4 (we ended up calling them to come at 4:30 - as we surfaced, those from our group that didn't do the dive were yelling at us that the truck was pulling in. I've never "geared down" more quickly!). The Cat Express people said that there were over 115 tanks on the early boat, and the entire park looked like a wall of neoprene, with the line getting into the water on our first dive going up all of the stairs and wrapping around to the asphalt area.
That being said, I was actually very impressed with the way everything worked. I had Dr. Bill's earlier post in mind, and was very pleased that with such a long line, I saw no one while I was waiting hopping in front of incoming divers to use the wrong side, people allowed others to cut in front to catch up with the rest of their classes, vis remained relatively good throughout the day, etc... (I'm sure that people did go on the wrong side, etc.. but I just didn't see it).

 

[Otter]

THANK YOU for taking the initiative to make things a bit better.

Otter

drbill once bubbled...
Etiquette and courtesy towards others sometimes seems to be a victim of the times.

Isn't it the truth.

 

[Dyno Bill]

OK, another dumb question. Isnt it possible to enter from the rocks either above or below the stairs. Perhaps a class couldnt be as creative but in the past I entered by climbing down the rocks with fins in hand and jumping in. Perhaps that isnt possible anymore, I havnt seen it for a year.
Bill