Well good luck trying to surface 30m from a boat where I dive if slack is over...
People commenting should really keep in mind that diving conditions around the world vary wildly and what holds in one place won't work elsewhere.
You're making a rather sweeping generalization there.
I think it all depends on whether or not the boat in question is the one they dove from.
You ever done a 15 min deco with a lift bag in 20 knot winds? There are exceptions to every situation so don't be so quick to generalize.
Saspotato; plan the dive so that the tide comes into play.Thats what I used to do when diving in such a area.Locally we have an inlet in the Shinnecock (Long Island NY) that these abilities come into play.
Idocsteve; very funny.I have seen boats come back with more people on it than when they went out with
Walke: There is absolutely an exception to every rule.The idea here in the northeast in the ocean of the south shore of LI or offshore NJ on wreck dives is usually to make ascents on the anchor line and do any required deco there.If we have to do deco on a lift bag its usually because of either poor navigation skills or oops didn't watch spg and started to run low on gas.
Here locally we have anywhere from 2' of vis to 15'..In LI Sound 5' vis is considered a great day.During training dives I have students do the tour with me after skills are completed and at the end of a 20 minute tour we are usually back at the anchor line or within 20' of the boat.That is with 5' or less of visibility using compass and natural landmarks to navigate.