Is it illegal to scuba dive in a public pool with people?

[abyss_scuba]

Loganhand ;I wanted to know if this is illegal because my friend wants to do it and im not sure if there is any law against it. I know that it amy seem like a dick move but it won't effect anybody negatively, because there are few people that actually attend this pool.

People like you ruin it for the rest of us. So you show up and if not allowed to dive it is a "dick move" given that attitude you seem like the kind of person who would let then know just what a "dick move" it is and all you do is turn people off to divers in general. If it is their pool then they have the right not to allow you, simple fact the lifeguards are not trained or equipped to deal with a scuba emergency. So who is being a "d$#k"?

 

[elmer fudd]

Not apocraphyl. It happended at a pool where I worked as a lifeguard. Two guys were on the bottom and a woman was swimming laps. she didn't think much of it until she was talking to the guys asking what they were doing and one replied "taking pictures of you everytime you swam by". It is a problem at water facilities that attract children as well. That is why many pools have policies against taking pictures of patrons unless you are a family member.

What is it about scuba gear that would make it any worse though? Anybody with a mask or goggles can swim underwater and ogle girls. Scuba gear would actually make it more difficult as it would draw peoples attention and a peeper wants to remain unnoticed.

 

[Skittl1321]

If it is a lifeguarded pool, you likely won't be allowed. The use of SCUBA equipment introduces new issues, and they would have liability for people in the pool. Though it seems absurd, breathing air in even shallow water could cause problems. Lifeguards don't want to deal with that (and may not be trained to.)

Not to mention the issue of the tanks/weights causing possible damage to the bottom of the pool.

If you aren't with a class that rents the space specifically (and likely carries insurance for it), you probably won't be allowed.

 

[loganhand]

People like you ruin it for the rest of us. So you show up and if not allowed to dive it is a "dick move" given that attitude you seem like the kind of person who would let then know just what a "dick move" it is and all you do is turn people off to divers in general. If it is their pool then they have the right not to allow you, simple fact the lifeguards are not trained or equipped to deal with a scuba emergency. So who is being a "d$#k"?

Sir you need to calm down. I said that it may seem like I would be doing the doing "dick move" because other people may not like it. No need to jump to conclusions such as "People like you ruin it for the rest of us." I was simply checking to see if there are any laws against it and clearly i would check with the manager before hand. This post in no way is harming our 'image'. I've never been or heard of a diver regarded with prejudice in any any way. This post was for offering knowledge to divers and for the well being for the non-diver people around us.

 

[covediver]

What is it about scuba gear that would make it any worse though? Anybody with a mask or goggles can swim underwater and ogle girls. Scuba gear would actually make it more difficult as it would draw peoples attention and a peeper wants to remain unnoticed.

Well, with gear you can do stationkeeping (stay on the bottom). It wasn't the oogling, it was taking video that got her upset. The pool get used quite a bit for scuba training and people checking out gear (it is a private club), so swimmers in the lanes on the surface are pretty oblivious to divers on the bottom. There has not been much problem with legitimate mixed uses.

Most facilities have policies against using cameras without the permission of the facility. The answer is usually "no" because of some of the sites on the internet that the photos get posted to. It is getting harder to do. though, now that every cell phone is a high res video and still camera. Its the reason patrons are not asked to take or place cel phone calls in locker rooms.

I will stop now and get back on topic.

Community pools are looking for ways to diversity their user base to increase revenues. Anchorage pools used to have "scuba nights" where, for the cost of a regular swimming entry the public could scuba, snorkel, or swim to their hearts content. This approach might work with your local pools if you can convince them that opening the pool to scuba would increase their revenue stream. When operating a pool, it is all about revenue. They are expensive recreation facilities to maintain.

 

[HJeffreyM]

Is it illegal to scuba dive in a public pool with people?

No, but I'm quite sure it is illegal to do so with orangutans.

 

[TMHeimer]

Well, with gear you can do stationkeeping (stay on the bottom). It wasn't the oogling, it was taking video that got her upset. The pool get used quite a bit for scuba training and people checking out gear (it is a private club), so swimmers in the lanes on the surface are pretty oblivious to divers on the bottom. There has not been much problem with legitimate mixed uses.

Most facilities have policies against using cameras without the permission of the facility. The answer is usually "no" because of some of the sites on the internet that the photos get posted to. It is getting harder to do. though, now that every cell phone is a high res video and still camera. Its the reason patrons are not asked to take or place cel phone calls in locker rooms.

I will stop now and get back on topic.

Community pools are looking for ways to diversity their user base to increase revenues. Anchorage pools used to have "scuba nights" where, for the cost of a regular swimming entry the public could scuba, snorkel, or swim to their hearts content. This approach might work with your local pools if you can convince them that opening the pool to scuba would increase their revenue stream. When operating a pool, it is all about revenue. They are expensive recreation facilities to maintain.

Good idea, but the number of divers using the pool that day would have to outnumber the swimmers who would use it by a decent number (considering possible pool damage, lifeguard training for scuba accidents, etc.) or it wouldn't be worth their while to set that up, no? Or I guess they could charge more for divers to cover those costs. I see they don't in Anchorage and it works, so maybe it would work in some other places.

 

[Shasta_man]

<<People like you ruin it for the rest of us>> HA HA... ruin what? The ability to scuba in pools, or the ability to peep at girls in pools... too hilarious.