Interesting dive off Palm beach yesterday

[johndiver999]

A floatball has the DD flag at the top.

no we use an inflatable buoy that is somewhat elongated. Can't seem to find a picture of it.

 

[NothingClever]

no we use an inflatable buoy that is somewhat elongated. Can't seem to find a picture of it.

A torpedo float? That’s what I use. It has a DD flag on it, too.

 

[johndiver999]

A torpedo float? That’s what I use. It has a DD flag on it, too.

like this https://polyformus.com/cdn/shop/products/Polyform-LD1-SF-red.jpg?v=1696081388&width=900

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I didn't realize that setting my computer for P02 1.6 and occasionally dropping below the MOD for my chosen mix was violating clear and consistent guidelines currently taught by every single agency globally.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

You’re welcome.

 

[Sascha314]

Interesting come out, but somehow makes sense in retrospective, once you realize YOUR boat is not there.

Well to learn from it is difficult, as you see also others not even in that stressful situation did not solve it.
Probably better would be to first scream like "I am OK", to establish at least some communication and make noises.
Your boat captain should/could at least tell like a "safe word", which you could regocnize.

 

[bassplayer]

Since nobody has come up with the correct scenario and this thread is diverging all over the place, maybe it is time to finish the story before everyone forgets where I left off.

Even though my buddy has two brand new engines (less than 20 hrs) he has had some issues with the engines failing to start. I had never experienced it when I was operating the boat, nor had it occurred when either of use were diving and a recent modification/trip-to-shop, lead us to believe that the previous issue had been completely resolved,

However, apparently while I was diving, he turned both engines off and neither would even turn over or start. The trim worked but the engines acted like they were not in neutral which electronically precludes starting. He checked fuses, shut off the power, switched batteries and tried everything he could think of.

So he was kinda freaking out because he is dead in the water and I am drifting away with the float ball continuing my dive, oblivious to any problems topside. He noticed this fisherman in the area and (apparently there was enough communication established, since he speaks some Spanish) to request that the fisherman, go over, grab the float and then pull me in so I would not be lost.

That is exactly what the nice fisherman did, however, I was ignorant of the situation, not able to communicate, unhappy and was not even considering the option to possibly board his boat. At least I didn’t cuss him out.

Luckily, and for no apparent reason after 10-15minutes, the captain was able to start the motors and came over to pick me up (as I resumed drifting on the surface for just a minute or so).

My buddy had thrown out his anchor earlier when the initial problem occurred, to prevent drifting too far. When the engines eventually started, he just ditched it (rather than haul it all in on the boat by himself) in order to recover me ASAP.

It took me two more dives to find and then recover the anchor and line he ditched, I asked him to leave the engines running while I did these dives, LOL.

Six drops yesterday, I went to bed early last night.

Wonder if the nice fisherman will ever try to help out a few divers again?

i enjoyed the story, seems like the real lesson here is to learn more spanish

 

[johndiver999]

i enjoyed the story, seems like the real lesson here is to learn more spanish

Perhaps. Maybe I am weird (-er than most) but situations like this remind me of how weak the county has become (from a national defense perspective), when a significant portion of the population can not communicate with each other on the most rudimentary basis.

If the SHTF, it makes things much more challenging for everyone.

In retrospect, once I realized my boat had "lost me", I should have immediately entertained the possibility that the boat had broken down - since I could not see it. I then might have chosen to stay with (or in the vicinity of) the fisherman's boat - which was probably safer than drifting off in the current on the surface with a floatball 100 yards away from me.

I couldn't figure out what happened and came to the (erroneous) conclusion that the fisherman was being a dick and I didn't want anything to do with him. My error, even though I was hindered by the inability to communicate.

The whole situation was not a huge deal, I just thought the circumstances were unusual.

 

[tarponchik]

But was it really necessary for your buddy to interrupt your dive?

 

[coldwaterglutton]

Well going back to things you could have done, if the float thief had his engine off then surface astern of the vessel and cut his fuel line with your dive knife. If the engine was on then feed the polypro rope into the prop.

Or get one of these and take an AR-15 with you while diving.

Large or Small Weapons Shoot Through Reusable Waterproof Bag

Product DUI Part Numbers: Large Weapons Bag: 401411 Small Weapons Bag: 401409 NSN: 8465-01-487-3681 Waterproof weapons bag made from rugged nylon trilaminate (TLS) this bag was designed to allow the operator the capability of shooting through the bag without removing the weapon from the bag...

military.divedui.com

 

[johndiver999]

There was no float thief. Just a guy who tried to help out and got a bunch of crap for it.

It was bad enough that the thread starter screamed at the poor guy, I can just imagine if he damaged the guy's boat.

In retrospect, the friend operating the surface support boat should never, ever have requested the spanish guy try to assist, it was a misunderstanding waiting to happen.

LOL, I only yelled "let go". I perhaps should have said please.

As for my buddy who was on a disabled boat requesting another boater to assist a "lost" diver... that happens and is a reasonable decision.

I have been lost drifting and picked up by "other" boats. too many times to count. Sea tow a few times, private boaters, charter boats, even the coast guard. Also, even more frequently, I have asked the boat that finds me drifting to just call or signal my boat and have them come and pick me up, rather than going through the trouble of getting on a strange boat, piloted by a captain who may not be used to handling a boat around divers.

I've assisted or picked up lost drifting divers quite a few times. The situation of a local diver drifting at the surface and in need of a pick up is not particularly unusual.