Interesting question came up while at Hollywood Divers - does head size matter?

[fnfalman]

I was picking up my tanks and trying out the Halcyon Infinity BC (ooh, mama, me likey), and another fellow was there getting kitted up. He's new to SoCal and have only done a few dives at Casino Point and he was asking about dive boats around the whole SoCal area. Which ones have nitrox, which ones are big, small, fast, best, etc.

Then he asked which one has better toilet facilities. At first I was flabberghasted but then I started thinking about it, I do favor the boats with the better heads: Great Escape, Spectre, Peace, Horizon. Is it coincidence that they have great crews, good grubs and good layout?

 

[stanky1]

Good head always matters.

 

[kelpmermaid]

If I'm going to be out all day on a boat, it's a consideration.

 

[Teamcasa]

Nothing is worse than a boat that has a lousy head.

 

[DwayneJ]

A good head with privacy is a must on any boat.

 

[muddiver]

After spending time abord naval vessels and working bardges where really good meals are important and the head appears to be an after thought, yes, a nice toilet facility is a deffinate plus to any boat charter. Those little chemical toilet thingys just don't cut it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Hollywoodivers]

I was picking up my tanks and trying out the Halcyon Infinity BC (ooh, mama, me likey), and another fellow was there getting kitted up. He's new to SoCal and have only done a few dives at Casino Point and he was asking about dive boats around the whole SoCal area. Which ones have nitrox, which ones are big, small, fast, best, etc.

Then he asked which one has better toilet facilities. At first I was flabberghasted but then I started thinking about it, I do favor the boats with the better heads: Great Escape, Spectre, Peace, Horizon. Is it coincidence that they have great crews, good grubs and good layout?

The briefing on how the head works is also an important part of this discussion....I can't believe this is a topic..but we had some laughs about this in person so why not. I love a boat with a good head. Ummmm hmmm why is it called a head ? Who knows this ?

 

[FrankPro1]

Ummmm hmmm why is it called a head ? Who knows this ?

From Wiki Answers:

In "the olden days", ships did not have bathrooms. As unclean as it may sound, their system worked for them at that time. Toward the bow of the boat there was a section of the deck that was simply covered with a grating, and was open to the sea below. Sailors needing to relieve themselves would do so over the grating and any waste fell through to the sea, keeping the area clean. This was a simple and effective system for the times.

In Maritime terms, head referred to the top or forward portion of a part of a ship. The head of the mast or the head of the bowsprit or the term dead ahead are examples. When a Sailor needed to relieve himself he would have to go to the grated section in the forward part of the vessel. So when he wanted to go forward he would simply say, "I need to go to the head of the ship". That terminology has stuck with us and to this day we nautical types still refer to the bathroom as the "head".

 

[stanky1]

Is that area also known as the "poop deck"?

 

[robint]

the only issue I have with some of the heads in Calif is that they also have a shower inside of them. This means that during the day there is always one Ahole who decides to take a shower, while other divers are waiting to pee. I have had to stand in line for 20 minutes of my SI just to go. Really ticks me off!!!

robin