Does it have to be country?

[Lorenzoid]

I like listening to music sometimes, but I do not feel my life needs to have a soundtrack. The peace and solitude is a major attraction to me in diving, hiking, running, etc.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It was Weird Al, no F-bombs, and by the time the rangers came it was more of a block party, and they came on their rounds 'cause no one complained, it was just getting late and we probably belonged in our sleeping bags.

I have no recollection of that one, I must have missed it.
I was referring to one time (well a couple times) up at Albion during one of our famous shindigs when there was a group of rednecks a couple sites over, and believe it or not it was the skanky women that were the gross ones with the language. Every once in a while we'd catch an ear full of some very crude nasty stuff that was enough to make a sailor blush. I had no idea that women could be so foul mouthed and some of the subject matter, wow!!! We had families with kids in our site. Many of the people finally had enough and were ready to pack it up and leave. One of our women insisted that she go over and talk to them (woman to woman). She told them they needed to tone it down, and it worked.

Then there was another time where we where our group was hanging out around the tiki bar (I was already asleep) and out of the darkness appeared these young girls that obviously had some sort of ulterior motive besides picking up on 50 year old men. Turns out they ran out of booze, were under age, and their boyfriends sent them out scouting for more alcohol. The boyfriends wandered into the campsite eventually to find out what the hold up was and there was a minor confrontation. It reminded me of running bears off in the middle of the night. They could be dangerous and confront you, but most of the time they just get scared and run off.
Fisheater can fill in the details if he's reading and wants to respond, he was there.

One thing about our parties was that we were always respectful of others and if there were any complaints we would shut it down immediately.
But nobody ever complained.

I only had one one trip that had a real richard on board, and everyone was trying to be polite while trying to change his behavior, to no avail. I went to the skipper and asked that he take care of the issue. When he started to waffle, I assured him that his solution would be better than letting a Submariner loose to solve the problem. I guess he had served at some point in time 'cause it all worked out well, and I just went back to drinking beer and having a good time. There is no reason everyone can't get along, as long as everyone is reasonable or someone lists and enforces rules.
Bob

I've never had a bad experience on a boat with anybody that was serious enough to cause a problem. I've been around annoying people but I just find somewhere else to go and don't talk to them.

 

[freewillie]

I am sorry to hear about your rude dive boat companions but I would like to ask how you liked the diving at the Beaches Resort on Provo?

Personally I love the diving. The weather is warm and topical and the water is warm enough to dive only in skins. The reefs are amazing as are the fish. One dive we saw sharks, turtles, and a few eels. On the night dive there was an octopus who put on a display changing colors. Our group stayed an watched the octopus for several minutes as it kept changing colors.

The Beaches Resort is an all inclusive resort. It includes food, alcohol, and some beach activities. My family tried paddle boarding, wind surfing, and Hobie cat sailing. Pools all over the resort including a water park for the kids with multiple slides, lazy river, and swim up milk shake bar for the kids. On site is a 5 Star PADI dive center and 4-5 dive boats. You can do 2 tank dives in the morning or a 1 tank dive in the afternoon. If you do both there is a nominal fee for the afternoon dive as well as a fee for a night dive.

But for me and my family it is a great way to combine the needs of both divers and non-divers. My daughter and I go diving in the morning while Mom and little sister and brother sleep in. When the dive boat comes in we literally walk off the boat and walk to the restaurant to join them for lunch. Saves us time not having to drive over or take shuttles. It saves at least 1-2 hours of time.

On the other hand, you will deal with a small number of divers who still seem to be in their OW classes or have rudimentary diving skills. You are also at risk for encountering divers who are rude both above water as well as below water. Dive boats can be either pleasant with great DM's or cattle boats with max number of divers and feeling like a sardine. If you don't mind diving in these conditions then you should enjoy the diving. If you would rather not dive than to be subjected to these conditions then you will be disappointed

 

[kevindsingleton]

A recent thread in the New Divers/Beginners section made me think about a recent issue I had on my last family vacation. Long story short the all inclusive resort we stayed at in Turks & Caicos had scuba as an included activity. There were about 3 boats that went out in the mornings for 2 tanks dives. One rather obnoxious family from Texas during the surface interval brought out a Bluetooth speaker and just blasted music. I found it rather annoying since their choice of music was country. I really, really don't care for country music. Luckily I had ear buds for my iPhone and tried to drown out the speaker with moderate success. I realize others may not like my choice of music either but at least I don't subject everyone on the boat to what's on my play list. I just thought it was very inconsiderate. I'm on vacation too.

One can't help but wonder what they said when you politely asked them to turn it down, a little? In my experience, real Texans are usually happy to oblige.

 

[TMHeimer]

We get into other areas such as types of music, other activities & situations, etc. But the standard dive boat (or fishing boat charter) should be without music or other recordings, etc. played by customers (if is played by the Captain that MAY be another story). I go on a dive charter to dive and a fishing one to fish in silence, other than normal chatter. If you book a pontoon boat that advertises dolphin viewing, snorkelling, Bahama Mamas and Calypso music at sunset that's fine because it was advertised and that's what you want.

 

[Laurie S.]

It's a similar situation that I have faced with my company. I am a professional archaeologist and the owner of the company. Several times in the field, I have had employees want to set up music either at their dig areas or at lunch. I always tell them that not everyone likes the same music, so if you want music, sing to yourself. I don't allow earphones and music either due to their not being able to hear a rattlesnake warning or a backhoe, depending on the volume they are using.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Is a dive boat really that different from another type of business's premises? On what other types of business's premises do customers often feel it is okay to play their own music through loudspeakers? Maybe on a dive boat some customers develop a feeling that they sort of rented the boat, or that they automatically are awarded some special "diver's camaraderie" with the operator and their fellow customers that they wouldn't have if it were not a dive boat but rather some other type of business? Well, you did NOT rent the boat. And you do not by default have any special relationship with the operator and your fellow divers. You're not suddenly all members of some kind of club. You're just another customer who paid for the privilege of being allowed on the same boat as other customers.

 

[freewillie]

One can't help but wonder what they said when you politely asked them to turn it down, a little? In my experience, real Texans are usually happy to oblige.

The turned it down but not off. But the volume was still very loud even "turned down"

 

[PeterNBiddle]

The turned it down but not off. But the volume was still very loud even "turned down"

Oops! I didn't mean to spill the entire camera bucket on your speakers and phone!


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