GPS Etiquette?

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billyh

billyh

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Fairfield County, CT, USA
Greetings,

I've got this very cool Garmin GPSmap 478 loaded with bathymetric charts of pretty much the entire northeast Atlantic.

Is there an established protocol regarding my entering the coordinates of any wreck I might be visiting on a given boat? Do any captains get cranky when you log the GPS coords of their hook set?

I have noticed that some charts or coordinates (when available, via internet) indicate a wreck that can't actually be where shown. Also, the wreck database built into the Garmin is incomplete (e.g. shows the Stolt Dagali, but not the Algol "right next door".
I thought I might have a bit of fun during my SI logging in "my" wrecks on the GPS.

Any thoughts? Much ado about nuthin'? Horrific faux pas in the making? Love to hear your collective opinions here.

Thanks!
 
I would just do it. It's just information, and as far as I know the captain of the boat doesn't own that information.

R..
 
when i bring people out on a boat and i tell them no gps that means no gps, if the location of the wreck is well known to many then who cares, but if the wreck was found by the captain or the coordinates were entrusted to the captain taking a gps can be a serious issue.
 
If you own the wreck and/or are performing salvage operations, I can see the point.

Other than that I can't think of any reason why a dive boat Capitan would withhold this information except to ensure that divers have to use his boat. My thinking about that is if you want people to dive from your boat the best way to ensure that they'll do that is to show them a good time.

And I'm absolutely positive that if the Captain made a stink about me logging the coordinates that it would only guarantee that I would do it so I could find another boat!

R..
 
Just be open about it.
If it's a restricted site they should politely advise you and that's that.
At some sites around the world they clearly state before boarding - "no GPS allowed".

In general the objective is to avoid the coordinates getting into the hands of fisherman or spearfishers.
I know some sites which are the the subject of University study programs and the number of visitors per month is strictly controlled.

I remember one particular dive where the Captain / DM was not able to locate the wreck with either of his 2 GPS and only did so after taking an average of various GPS belonging to divers on the trip. ;)
 
Ask permission of the captain first... even before you've left the dock... if he says "No".... leave the GPS behind and tell him you're putting in your car or where-ever... sometimes you do that once... and the next trip he'll let you use it.

Captains do things for reasons beyond "keeping the location secret"... sometimes it's a safety issue... imagine doing a briefing and someone isn't listening, instead playing with their GPS... they go in... don't know what the hell is going on... a get bent.... not a good thing.

Just my $0.02
 
many boats here do not allow them on it and some even mention they will test your units water proofing with the battery latch open for you free of charge if you bring it with you. I sugget as others have you respect the wishes of the captain and be honest and ask for permission.
 
billyh:
Greetings,

I've got this very cool Garmin GPSmap 478 loaded with bathymetric charts of pretty much the entire northeast Atlantic.

Is there an established protocol regarding my entering the coordinates of any wreck I might be visiting on a given boat? Do any captains get cranky when you log the GPS coords of their hook set?

I have noticed that some charts or coordinates (when available, via internet) indicate a wreck that can't actually be where shown. Also, the wreck database built into the Garmin is incomplete (e.g. shows the Stolt Dagali, but not the Algol "right next door".
I thought I might have a bit of fun during my SI logging in "my" wrecks on the GPS.

Any thoughts? Much ado about nuthin'? Horrific faux pas in the making? Love to hear your collective opinions here.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
It depends on the wreck. Out here there are wrecks that are not well known, and the folks who found them spent hundreds of hours researching and thousands of dollars searching for those wrecks. They might take you diving on them ... but they specify in advance that you sign a non-disclosure agreement and do not bring any GPS devices on the boat. I will be diving two such wrecks in about 12 days.

I know of one instance where someone snuck a GPS on board, and he was promptly kicked off the boat and told to not even bother asking if he could dive with this group again.

It's always a good idea to check in advance before bringing a GPS on board ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
touchy even here...

sometimes the captain finds something and spends the dough to set the mooring ball and just doesn't want other boats to be on his mooring when he shows up. Certain sites here, the mooring line will be a freedive as it is tucked away.
 
Thanks, all, for your well-considered insights. I am glad I asked here in the Forum before potentially acting like an ***** on the boat.

I have to say, having access to so many experienced divers on the 'Board is a truly great resource. Makes me feel a little less stupid every time I log on.

Peace,
bill h
 
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