Just a question about dive boats

[Grounded]

I usually give $10. It seemed like the correct amount (about 20% of the cost of the trip). But I've never been sure where I fit into the continuum.

I just wanted to make sure I've been meeting the crew's reasonable expectations....

 

[douglasville diver]

Boat trips are with-out a doubt [ at least for me ] the most fun you can have with out beining in the water, so relax and enjoy.
If seasickness is a concern take your meds the night before and as said before arrive early to the boat ,always ask permission before boarding.
Nows the time to assemble your gear take your meds again then relax.
Listen to the D.M. when they speak , when you arrive at the dive site things seem to happen FAST stay relaxed and follow the dive plan.
I take a rubber pilsbury dough boy on crowded dive sites and clip it off on the down line so I know I'm on the right one when it,s time to come up.
Tipping is always good . 10.00 is average.
Let us know how it went and have fun.

 

[Steve_Dives]

I'll add taking the ditchable weight out of a weight integrated BC. The weight can cause the BC/Tank to tip if the boat is rocking. A tank that tips over, and falls off the bench will land on...the valve! While watching a tank and a BC go rocketing off into space would be fun, if it is yours, probably less so. Place the weights on your fins. Do no drop the weights on the deck - place them on the deck gently. Slide it under the bench and it won't go anywhere.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

You should have a great time with all of the advice given here...

 

[meekal]

WOW... great question and even better answers! just my $0.02 but you didn't say WHERE you'll be diving and things are a bit different at each location - don't be afraid to ask the crew about anything.

1. to make your trip as comfy as possible try to find a boat that holds the LEAST number of divers. ie: pick the boat that takes 12 people instead of the boat that takes 30 divers.

2. listen to the DM about the upcoming dive. if he/she says 30 minutes bottom time, they're not kidding. nothing quite like the feeling of a boat full of divers glaring at you that have been sitting around in the sun while you're down there for 45 minutes!!

3. if you're diving in West Palm Beach things are a bit different as far as getting in the water is concerned. it's more like parachuting from an airplaine.... literally... EVERYBODY (or groups) goes in at bang, bang, bang. the captain will call out DIVE DIVE DIVE and boy oh boy, you better be ready. they're not doing it to be mean, drift diving is a bit different from your average run of the mill kick around the reef dive. you won't be making any friends if everybody's standing on the stern waiting for you to put your fins on!

4. do you dive buddy a favour and make sure they don't have any 'maskOysters' hanging around and on THAT note.....

NEVER use the mask bucket..... if you don't believe me just look at the thing at the end of the trip..... ewwwwww

 

[DivingCRNA]

Wear your wetsuit and BC onto the boat.

Put your BC and regs on your tank right when you get on the boat.

Store your fins, weights, and mask under your seat until you reach the dive site.

Do not rinse your spitty mask in the camera bucket. I do not have a camera, but I hear the photo guys don't like it

Do what the crew says. If they say put your fins on while on deck, do it. If the say wait until you are in the water, do it. This is only one example. The point is that you paid the boat guys to help you have a great dive. Listening to them is using their experience to help you have a great dive.

Keep you mask on and reg in until you are on the deck of the boat. I dove with someone who always demasked (MOF) and took her reg out as soon as she breached the surface and then had trouble with the waves in her face and breathing the boat exhaust. Remember-they do not refund you for air you do not use.

Stand in the middle of the back of the boat and look at the horizon if you are getting seasick. Unless the deisel fumes are back there.

 

[DivingCRNA]

Let the folks who get seasick easy in the water first if possible. For their sake and yours...

That way the fish will already be there when you submerge!

 

[ItsBruce]

I've taken to using a 4 bag system. The big travel bag stays at the hotel or in the car. My towel goes into a small plastic bag and goes under my seat. That way it stays dry until I need it. My gear is in a mesh bag. That way it drains easily when I'm done with the dive. As soon as I board the boat I'll rig my BCD and regulator and hang my mask/snorkel fron the tank valve. That leaves just wetsuit, weights, booties and fins in the mesh bag under the seat until I need them. When its time to put on my wetsuit, I put my clothes into a second plastic bag to keep them dry until I've dried off and stowed the rest of my gear. This can go anywhere convenient for the boat.

I've recently decided to forego using the mask bucket at all. I'll spit in and clear my mask once I'm in the ocean. After reading some SB threads I've come to realize just how gross the bucket can be.

 

[Jandee]

Very seldom is there room for large dive bags with wheels. I leave this in the hotel room and pack a duffle bay to use on the boat.
Label your fins because they can get mixed up with everyone else's

 

[Bill51]

Great advice here, and I’ll add one I use since I hate standing in line and I like to be the first on the boat to get a prime seat. Check the operation’s website and see if they have their waiver form on line to print and fill out in advance. Especially on the cattle boats it seems like it takes longer for everyone to fill out the paper work than to load the boat and there’s never enough clipboards and pens.