How Long Have You Waited on The Surface?

[The Kraken]

I wonder if there is a market for a helium dispenser. You can float a balloon up high, to mark your spot. Heck, maybe I'll make one big enough to lift the whole diver out of the water!

Does trimix include helium??

Ya know, that ain't such a bad idea !!!

Fill up something like a "Spare Air" with He, inflate your SMB with it attached to your reel and let it go up about 40' or so. . .

the K

 

[fisherdvm]

Ya know, that ain't such a bad idea !!!

Fill up something like a "Spare Air" with He, inflate your SMB with it attached to your reel and let it go up about 40' or so. . .

the K

I knew that spare air does have a use in diving!!

 

[trucker girl]

I was wondering if it may have been that the boat had so much fuel that it went on a joy drive instead of picking her up...

Or maybe the boat ran out of fuel and was also drifting about...

So many possibilities...

We've run out of fuel in our truck. We now carry 5 gallons of diesel in a big ol' jug (okay, okay, it's a legal 5 gallon can, but "big ol' jug" sounds more interesting, don't you think?)

Anyway- back on topic: I've never waited. That should tell you just how many boat dives I've done.

 

[ucrtwf]

I don't want to hijak the thread, but how many of you DO carry a SMB? On my only drift dive day, the DM was the only one who had one. I could see it coming in REAL handy if you ended up separated.
Thanks
tim

 

[Thalassamania]

isherdvm[/B]]I wonder if there is a market for a helium dispenser. You can float a balloon up high, to mark your spot. Heck, maybe I'll make one big enough to lift the whole diver out of the water!

A mylar inflatable balloon was marketed some years ago.

I was once "lost at sea" for two weeks after a Force 10 blow, with the Coast Guard searching and the whole nine yards, that's scarry.

 

[HowardE]

Did you learn anything about yourself?

I realized that I am okay for about 40 minutes and then I get nuts. (not recent)

Then I settle down. talking helps. If you are with someone who thinks it is funny, you will feel mad at them, but better overall.

I learned that I should glance at the fuel gauge on commercial boats, ever-so-casually, before getting in on the drift.

I learned that I would not like to be out there longer than an hour. I wonder which hour would be the worst? I think you probably cycle through various stages. Focusing on conversation is the only thing that helps me.

I learned that you probably should not drift with someone you don't like a lot.
Being adrift with someone funny is a huge blessing.

Please tell me this wasn't a commercial dive operation.

@@ Longest spent waiting for a boat to pick me up - 5 minutes (usually I'm the last one up, and they're waiting for me)

@ Tim -- I always carry a safety sausage.

 

[Dan Ziegner]

In open water I carry two SMBs.

Actually, I like floating in water waiting for the boat, and after relaxing in the wave motion, I resent hearing the boat motor coming near...

 

[String]

Average day, boat is on my SMB before ive surfaced. I can hear the engine/props from my stop.

Busy charter boat, typically 5 minutes, a bit longer if other pairs came up first to pluck out.

Worst for me i think about an hour. Was a horrible experience for no other reason than all through the dive i needed the toilet, surfaced then had to wait another hour before being able to go.

 

[D_B]

I'm reasonably sure that there won't be enough lift verses weight to fly a typical SMB, it might do one of the very lightweight ones without valves

 

[Walter]

Lots of commercial boats don't have a fuel gauge, Darlin'. We used to stick the fuel tank - no gauge.

Over 30 minutes, less than an hour, I don't really remember anymore. Wasn't so bad, kick back and nap.