In addition to being an avid diver, I also enjoy riding my PWC on local lakes. I would love to be able to combine both interests. Has anyone out there ever used a pwc as a dive platform? I have an 01 Polaris Genesis which is a pretty large pwc, big enough and stable enough to hold my gear. My concern is someone coming along and helping themselves to my pwc while I'm below. I can lock the ignition but anyone could tow it away. I wouldn't want to tether myself to it. This would not be cool should some low life decide to tow it away with me attached. Pictures of the Russian sub scene from "Men of Honor" come to mind. Has anyone a viable solution other than leaving someone on the pwc while I dive?
diving from a pwc
- Thread starter oldschool
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My son and I are interested in this also, but we haven't come up with any good answers to the same questions you have!
I guess you could padlock a 6 to 8 ft steel leader (1/4" dia.) to the bow, attach the other end of the leader to a standard rope line and then securely set the anchor to the bottom. This might deter someone from pulling up the anchor or cutting the line and towing it off or driving it off. Food for thought.
SkipperJohn
Contributor
wait... you want to dive from a PWC with no one above. I assume you will be alone on your PWC? I don't yet have my certification, but I am in the middle of getting it. It seems that on ever other page the book speaks of diving with a buddy.
I must not have that book, lots of us solo dive, I just have never attempted do so from a pwc. I cannot imagine a more ill suited boat, if you call them that, for diving. However, I know that some few people do manage to dive from them. I would be concerned, and I have no reason to say this other than a hunch, that a pwc left on the surface is a much larger theft target than a conventional boat or even a kayak--but--you never know. I suggest you try a search as I think I recall an older thread on pwc diving with a few more useful reponses, I think up in the Basic Scuba section. Good luck. N
james croft
Contributor
I have a similar concern when diving from a small boat such as a kayak or canoe. I do a lot of solo law enforcement patrol and often dive along high crime areas searching for evidence dumped in the water. I also dive solo and leave my boat unattended. I often have well meaning or otherwise folks coming around to "investigate" my boat. I take my .40 Glock pistol with me as I will not leave it unattended for safety reasons. I carry it attached to a lanyard underwater.
I often thought about placing a sign along with my dive flag that says "HEAVILY ARMED DIVER BELOW-GO AHEAD PUNK, MAKE MY DAY..."
With a kayak I often pull it along with me as it tracks behind me with little effort. I suspect a jet ski would be a bit more cumbersome to be pulled along by a diver.
Why would anybody steal a jet ski? That would like be stealing an obnoxious teenager with a boom box.
I often thought about placing a sign along with my dive flag that says "HEAVILY ARMED DIVER BELOW-GO AHEAD PUNK, MAKE MY DAY..."
With a kayak I often pull it along with me as it tracks behind me with little effort. I suspect a jet ski would be a bit more cumbersome to be pulled along by a diver.
Why would anybody steal a jet ski? That would like be stealing an obnoxious teenager with a boom box.
SkipperJohn
Contributor
well, that's good to know. I did plan on doing a few shorter smaller dives mostly to check out my boats hull and running gear from time to time (or maybe recovering something dropped at my dock-because it's usually my stuff people drop!). I can't imagine getting a friend to accompany me on that exciting task.
OceanObsessed
Guest
There is a guy over on deeperblue.net that freedives off his. He might even have a good idea for using tanks. It seems to be his primary dive (freediving) boat. You might post over there as I am sure he will chime in and might offer some good advice.
Personally, I have never worried about people stealing my boat or anything while diving. I have always left everything unattended while diving. Boats, kayaks, sunfish sailboats, etc. Most people around here know what a dive flag is and would understand why the boat is unattended when a dive flag is up. Maybe you could use one of those inflatable dive flag floats that says "Diver Below"?
Personally, I have never worried about people stealing my boat or anything while diving. I have always left everything unattended while diving. Boats, kayaks, sunfish sailboats, etc. Most people around here know what a dive flag is and would understand why the boat is unattended when a dive flag is up. Maybe you could use one of those inflatable dive flag floats that says "Diver Below"?
I'll definitely check out deeperblue.com. Great suggestion. Using a dive flag is an absolute. However, it also tells a would be dirt bag that the owner of the pwc is below and unavailable to stop him (or her) from jacking the pwc.
Spearo
Contributor
It all depends where you dive, some areas are safe and some are not.
Flag your boat at the ancher site and put out another 25' line with another dive flag at the end of that and do not use a hood.
Flag your boat at the ancher site and put out another 25' line with another dive flag at the end of that and do not use a hood.
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