How close is too close????

[thegulfer]

Again, hello to everyone. I don't know why but I really enjoy the fossil dives. I think a great white could swim by and I wouldn't even notice (not that that is a good thing ). I just find it absorbing and relaxing.

My question is....at what point do you feel that someone has anchored up too close to you? I'm aware of the 300 foot rule for a diver down flag but to me that seems a little close. Sometimes there are quite a few boats anchored near where I want to dive when I get there and I just wondered at what point you would feel that I got too close. IMO, it's not like it's anyone "spot" so I might get a little closer than I would offshore but I also don't want to pizz anyone off unnecessarily. What do you think (especially you charter guys)?

Thanks.

 

[Rickelpickel]

Sometimes it feels like your rubbing elbows with everyone out there in the bone yard. Me personally, I dont mind annyone anchoring close if they are diving..... Fishing ,... on the other hand.... I'd prefer they move about 200 -300 ft away. I wouldn't come up on an anchored vessel w/ people fishing within 300 ft. and jump in and dive.... not cool .... But as far as dive charters, I keep my boat far enough as to not interfear with what they are dooing... Kinda like a do unto others RULE.... Just my opinion....

 

[Sh@rkW@tcher]

One problem I have noticed lately is kayak divers getting very close (less than 300 ft) to local dive charter boats out at the "Boneyard". These people are trying to make a living, give them a little room. Divers have the same responsibility to stay more than 300 ft from boats that are anchored and on site first as the boaters do to give divers room.

 

[ReefGuy]

One problem I have noticed lately is kayak divers getting very close (less than 300 ft) to local dive charter boats out at the "Boneyard". These people are trying to make a living, give them a little room. Divers have the same responsibility to stay more than 300 ft from boats that are anchored and on site first as the boaters do to give divers room.

I'm sorry, but my understanding of the law is different. I may be wrong, but I thought the dive flag rule applied to vessels under power. I also believe that a powered vessel can approach within 300' if at idle speed.

 

[HowardE]

The following is from Chapter 27 of the 2003 Florida Statutes:

(6) Any vessel other than a law enforcement or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers-down flag on a river, inlet, or navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on waters other than a river, inlet, or navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to maintain headway and steerageway.

 

[Sh@rkW@tcher]

Sorry for any misunderstanding, I was refering to common curtesy, not the letter of the law. Divers that attempt to crowd boaters even though they are within their legal right to do so have little to complain about if the boaters crowds them. "Personal rights end when they infringe upon the rights of others".

 

[thegulfer]

Thanks for the input.

I try to give everyone a very wide berth. I've never ran into another diver down there and I tend to venture a pretty good distance from my anchorage. It's one of the ways "I" try to judge the distance. I try to decide if I could swim into their area or them into mine and not get any closer than about two or three times farther away than that.

 

[Fossilbabe]

I think the part I really like is when another boat comes right straight at you. He KNOWS he has to stay away if he is not in idle speed. Looks right at you and gets close enough to be within the law but he is throwing so much wake you sit and pail water out of your boat. It wasnt like there was lots of boats out there. This was on a friday and not a holiday weekend. Not doing this once was enough, but did it twice to me on the same month. I guess it was his way of saying dont play in my sand box.

Here is another example for Points to Ponder. Last year when Scuba board had their Turkey Fry on the beach, a crab boat went right over the top of our scuba board friends dive flags. Everyone on the beach saw it. They were not in boats but they all had the dive flags. He was not at idle speed or 25 ft from them. Just more Points to Ponder. Just wanted to throw it out there and see what everyone has to say.

 

[pollywogg]

"Personal rights end when they infringe upon the rights of others".

Is that a twist in the old Voltaire standbyparaphrasing) "My right to swing my arm stops at your nose."

 

[Sh@rkW@tcher]

Is that a twist in the old Voltaire standbyparaphrasing) "My right to swing my arm stops at your nose."

Actually, I think its a Ben Franklin quote. I'll have to check on it.