In my area most of the dive locations are in residential areas with many million dollar homes all along the beaches and cliffs. Every beach has a posted diver etiquette sign. Here are the "rules":
1. Keep noise to a minimum, especially in the early morning and evening hours.
2. Enter and exit in sand beach areas; not over rocky points.
3. Prevent clutter - Keep unused diving equipment in your vehicle.
4. Be courteous when using night diving lights.
5. Be discriminate when you dress and undress.
6. Loading and unloading of equipment is prohibited in no-parking zones.
7. Do not unload your equipment into the street.
8. Do not block sidewalks, driveways or stairways with diving equipment.
9. Use appropriate equipment when diving.
10. Follow the directions of city lifeguards; They are there for your safety.
11. Dive away from smaller coves and beaches, whenever possible.
I don't think these cover enough of the important things. Mainly these rules are used for the benefit of the local residents who would rather divers not dive from their streets and neighborhoods. When setting up gear by your vehicle, neighbors who walk or jog by or any passerby are very unfriendly and extremly rarely even reciprocate a friendly greeting. I feel bad that so many divers have ruined it for the rest of us.
These rules should be broadened beyond etiquette and include some useful things. I believe they should add some stuff on environment (like staying off the reef and bottom) and diver safety (like diving with a buddy), or a real law like you must have a snorkel (not just "use appropriate equipment") - instead of worrying about whether or not my towel might drop too low when I'm doffing my wetsuit!
What do you think about these? What etiquette if any do you have in your area? How favorable are your communities toward diving?
1. Keep noise to a minimum, especially in the early morning and evening hours.
2. Enter and exit in sand beach areas; not over rocky points.
3. Prevent clutter - Keep unused diving equipment in your vehicle.
4. Be courteous when using night diving lights.
5. Be discriminate when you dress and undress.
6. Loading and unloading of equipment is prohibited in no-parking zones.
7. Do not unload your equipment into the street.
8. Do not block sidewalks, driveways or stairways with diving equipment.
9. Use appropriate equipment when diving.
10. Follow the directions of city lifeguards; They are there for your safety.
11. Dive away from smaller coves and beaches, whenever possible.
I don't think these cover enough of the important things. Mainly these rules are used for the benefit of the local residents who would rather divers not dive from their streets and neighborhoods. When setting up gear by your vehicle, neighbors who walk or jog by or any passerby are very unfriendly and extremly rarely even reciprocate a friendly greeting. I feel bad that so many divers have ruined it for the rest of us.
These rules should be broadened beyond etiquette and include some useful things. I believe they should add some stuff on environment (like staying off the reef and bottom) and diver safety (like diving with a buddy), or a real law like you must have a snorkel (not just "use appropriate equipment") - instead of worrying about whether or not my towel might drop too low when I'm doffing my wetsuit!
What do you think about these? What etiquette if any do you have in your area? How favorable are your communities toward diving?
