GPS devices and boat charters

[Robert Kahler]

I've been looking for a dive charter for an upcoming trip to Florida but on many dive charter websites GPS devices, to include GPS capable cell phones, are not allowed. Is it that some captains have secret dive locations? How do they address new dive computers with surface GPS? My phone is also my camera, will a charter deny taking fotos as well?

 

[Nathan Doty]

Ive never seen it be an issue. Where are you looking? I live space coast. Have dove as far south as pompano.

Every boat ive been on hits the same dive spots, they advertise them. The wrecks don't move...

Now fishing spots... different story.

 

[Johnoly]

Florida is a big state. Along the 'inspected' charter fleet, populated south east coast and parts of the keys, you won't find any push-back on GPS/phone/photo gear since all the sites are public and there are no secrets. If you want to see things that everyone else sees go dive a public number site.

But if you move down to a 6 pack boat who may run you to a 'less-known' dive site then you may be asked to surrender your phone. On our boat, we are spearo's and do have secret spots. If you are new on the boat you might well be asked to have your gear inspected and surrendered. Phones go in a typical grocery store foil 'cool' bag for the trip. GPS devices including watches are not allowed, leave it in your car. But I guarantee you'll see stuff that will leave you screaming underwater and smiling for atleast a week it's that good.

And before you bash the spearos (who have the best sites),,the deep wreck tech divers are so secret about their sites they will be standing in a puddle of water on the dock and deny they were even diving.

 

[PfcAJ]

I've been looking for a dive charter for an upcoming trip to Florida but on many dive charter websites GPS devices, to include GPS capable cell phones, are not allowed. Is it that some captains have secret dive locations? How do they address new dive computers with surface GPS? My phone is also my camera, will a charter deny taking fotos as well?

Just be cool, don’t record any coordinates, and carry on with your life. No one is going to harass you unless you do something douchey.

 

[luscioman]

I have never seen or heard that on a paid charter. I have seen it on private boats that spear and lobster, with a restriction on phones and GPS to keep the location a secret until they know you.

 

[Robert Kahler]

Thanks for the replies. Talking to some charters down here it doesn't seem to be an issue. A few though still don't allow bananas.

 

[Johnoly]

.... A few though still don't allow bananas.

LOL, & Yep no bananas! Whether it's a private boat or a charter there are still a couple of hard and fast traditions steeped in history that everyone follows. You covered the curse of bananas,,another is " Ask permission BEFORE stepping on the boat",,simple as saying " Is it ok to board? ". You will gain a HUGE amount of respect from the captain by asking before hand. Many times the captain is preparing the boat for the trip and you may not see/understand he's in the middle of something. An example is Wetting Down the Deck. Putting water on the deck makes it 10 times easier to clean later because crud/scuffs doesn't stick so easy. Permission to board is also so the captain can make sure you've sign the liability release before hand. More injury accidents happen loading the boat than they do at sea, so it's important that the release is signed before stepping on the boat.