Dive Captain screw up?

[gerardnealon]

I was curious if this ever happened to anyone else on a dive boat. I was diving in Aruba with Red Sail Sports. When the captain ancored the boat he also threw over a line in the rear (where the steps were) of the boat with a 5 pound lead weight attached to the end of it. On completing my dive and returning to the boat I began to look for the line the captain threw over. I did not find it until the lead weight almost smacked me in the head. As the boat was bobbing on the surface, that lead weight was going up and down a good 3 feet. When I grabbed the weight it was a good hit to my hand, I could almost imagine taking that in the head.

This ever happen to anyone else? It does'nt sound very smart to me.

Gerard

 

[Walter]

It's a result of poorly trained divers demanding a down line.

 

[gerardnealon]

It's a result of poorly trained divers demanding a down line.

I would think the ancor line would be sufficient. I guess not.

 

[H2Andy]

i've never been on a boat where they ran a down line other than the anchor
line.

they do run a drift line and a line from the stern to the anchor line
(forget what its called), but neither is weighted.

 

[z28pwr]

I wonder if they ever stop and see if somebody is down there before they drop the anchor, sounds look you could easily kill somebody/something, specially in a popular dive site.

 

[AzAtty]

they do run a drift line and a line from the stern to the anchor line
(forget what its called)

Tag line, or swim line, perhaps?

 

[H2Andy]

tag line, that's it, thank you

 

[JPBECK]

Sounds to me like you learned your lesson---While in the water you have to think 3-D--as in look up--look down---look all around--- Your lucky it was only a 5lbs wieght and not a speeding boat!

I dont know why you guys needed a down line anyways---you already had one in the water---its called an anchor line...

 

[Gary D.]

I would think the ancor line would be sufficient. I guess not.

You do not want to depend on an anchor line. If you think the 5 pounder hurt inagine what a boat SNAPING an anchor line tight would be like.

Besides a properly anchored boat will have 5 to 7 times the water depth out in rode. That can put you at quite a distance from the boat.

Gary D.

 

[JPBECK]

I doubt that you would be in the water if a properly anchored (4-5 times the depth), anchor line is so tount that it snaps... If you are than that is the least of your problems!