Mouth Breather
Contributor
This happened a couple weeks ago but came up in discussion this weekend with a dive buddy. The dive boat's reaction/policy to what happened reminded me to post this and see what you all think about it.
It was a Saturday morning like any other on a South Florida charter boat. Seas were 2-3 and building, we were to do two 70' wrecks. Upon arrival at the 1st site the DM descended as usual to tie in. Back on the surface, she thew her fins on the transom and started up the ladder. The boat took a quick dip to the stern with a wave which swept her off the ladder and under the boat. She was overweighted as many DMs are as to reach the wreck quickly. Now with no fins, initially pinned under the boat and then sinking she panicked but eventually struggled back to the ladder, completely exhausted. She tried to deliver the report on conditions but became too emotional and had to take a moment to get over what had just happened.
We dove the wreck as usual. On the surface, the boat was tied in bow-first as is normal for bumpy conditions. However, when we got to the stern and granny line, it was tied so far away from the ladder that you had no choice but to swim to the ladder and hold onto it while doffing your fins. Most charters I've been on have this line in close enough proximity that you can have your fins on your wrists and pull yourself to the ladder. Because of this a whole boat full of tourists was eventually gathered around the transom/ladder in 3-5 foot seas. The DM and captain were clearly nervous about it and tried to instruct the divers to stay clear.
I mentioned to the DM, captain, and owner of the charter that all of this could have been avoided had
1. The granny line been closer to the ladder.
2. The crew had practiced and instructed to keep one's fins until they were ON the boat.
All three said in schoolmarm tone that you always want to swim to the ladder and take your fins off there, passing them to boat crew. Given the DM's incident and many near misses of the divers, this attitude really surprised me.
My take: On a flat "lake Florida" day, sure, do what you want. In rough seas, stay the hell away from the boat/ladder until you can get feet on it. Don't give up your fins else risk the chance of being pinned on the bottom like the DM nearly was.
It was a Saturday morning like any other on a South Florida charter boat. Seas were 2-3 and building, we were to do two 70' wrecks. Upon arrival at the 1st site the DM descended as usual to tie in. Back on the surface, she thew her fins on the transom and started up the ladder. The boat took a quick dip to the stern with a wave which swept her off the ladder and under the boat. She was overweighted as many DMs are as to reach the wreck quickly. Now with no fins, initially pinned under the boat and then sinking she panicked but eventually struggled back to the ladder, completely exhausted. She tried to deliver the report on conditions but became too emotional and had to take a moment to get over what had just happened.
We dove the wreck as usual. On the surface, the boat was tied in bow-first as is normal for bumpy conditions. However, when we got to the stern and granny line, it was tied so far away from the ladder that you had no choice but to swim to the ladder and hold onto it while doffing your fins. Most charters I've been on have this line in close enough proximity that you can have your fins on your wrists and pull yourself to the ladder. Because of this a whole boat full of tourists was eventually gathered around the transom/ladder in 3-5 foot seas. The DM and captain were clearly nervous about it and tried to instruct the divers to stay clear.
I mentioned to the DM, captain, and owner of the charter that all of this could have been avoided had
1. The granny line been closer to the ladder.
2. The crew had practiced and instructed to keep one's fins until they were ON the boat.
All three said in schoolmarm tone that you always want to swim to the ladder and take your fins off there, passing them to boat crew. Given the DM's incident and many near misses of the divers, this attitude really surprised me.
My take: On a flat "lake Florida" day, sure, do what you want. In rough seas, stay the hell away from the boat/ladder until you can get feet on it. Don't give up your fins else risk the chance of being pinned on the bottom like the DM nearly was.