MEL-DC Diver
Contributor
Best practice - keep it in until on the boat. That being said, I rarely do it. Most times I am talking to the boat, and thus the reg is out of my mouth. I always have air in my BC when on the surface, so I know I'll be bouyant if I fall off. Also, I am aware that I've got 4 options when it comes to breathing in such a situation - breathing the fresh air, primary, backup, and BC (via inflator - if it comes to that).
In the end the DM should have just told you that his boat requires what it requires. It shouldn't have been any more than that. He was not wrong in what he said, but he was entirely wrong in how he said it.
In the end the DM should have just told you that his boat requires what it requires. It shouldn't have been any more than that. He was not wrong in what he said, but he was entirely wrong in how he said it.