Miami Beach charter leaves divers in open waters off Key Biscayne

[Wookie]

The DAN tag method relies on divers to: check out when they go diving, and: Check back in when they get up. Now, these missing divers may be upset that they were left behind, but relying on divers to check themselves in and out is a worse folly than shouting a roll call. I think it's a piss poor method to ensure divers are on the boat.

 

[mike_s]

Yep, the only time I saw the DAN tag used. I saw the boards on other boats, but not used.

I've seen the "DAN TAG BOARD" in use by Down Under Dive Charters in Gulf Shores.


the board is located on their aft camera table on their boat. You tag in and out each dive. (plus roll call and head count by at least two people).



You can see their DAN TAG BOARD (rear of it) on the aft camera table in this pic.

The DAN tag method relies on divers to: check out when they go diving, and: Check back in when they get up. Now, these missing divers may be upset that they were left behind, but relying on divers to check themselves in and out is a worse folly than shouting a roll call. I think it's a piss poor method to ensure divers are on the boat.

On each dive, they had several divers that didn't think to put their DAN tags back. So they had to go around and say "who has tag #12" or something like that, and chase down DAN tags after each dive.

Extra steps/work, but how well it worked I'll let you be the judge of. (you run dive boats and I don't).

 

[Wookie]

I have dove and will continue to dive with this operation frequently.

They *always* perform a roll call. I repeat *always*.

My question is: who on the boat answered "here" when their names were called.

Brian makes an excellent point. It happens all the time that folks answer up when they hear their name, or someone else's name called. I've had boats with 6 Chris' onboard. I've had multiple Mikes and Franks, and when I say Frank, people hear Mike. The only way to avoid that, to my way of thinking, is to call roll so you can see who is answering. That way, you stand a better chance of catching someone answering up for someone else.

 

[melanie.]

It is not that hard to make a reliable roll call work - even with with multiple johns, mikes etc.

Simple - you call out first name, and they answer by calling their last name.

 

[DandyDon]

It is not that hard to make a reliable roll call work - even with with multiple johns, mikes etc.

Simple - you call out first name, and they answer by calling their last name.

:laughing: How long does it take the divers to learn to do that right, and how long before they screw it up?

At best, all 3 Mikes answer at once.

 

[reefman]

minor update

Stranded Divers Rescued Off Key Biscayne « CBS Miami


reefman
key largo

 

[DandyDon]

minor update

Stranded Divers Rescued Off Key Biscayne « CBS Miami

Some changes to the captain's story and quotes.

 

[reefman]

My cell phone is good to 3 ft for 30 minutes.

There was a couple left overnight off of Key Largo years ago. They spent the night on a buoy I think, no one missing them. I think I heard the resort even called the guys office looking for him before they go word because he hadn't returned his rental gear. The resort became one of the safest to dive with after that but I heard that the skipper lost his license. Oh, I think both of the dives were lawyers. I don't remember the name of the place now. I think it was bulldozed to make room for hiway expansion.


Not their fault? Maybe not but I like to book with the party responsible, not just call a boat.

Divers’ 25-Hour Left at Sea Case Resolved: Undercurrent 04/2001

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-conch-divers/25379-key-largo-any-recent-experience-2.html

post#18 is the federal courts news release


reefman
key largo

 

[cruiser]

Liveaboards I've been on utilize a sign-in board with entry and exit times.

I've been on liveaboards that use this method and it is NEVER reliable, although it's a simple system and works in theory.

 

[Splitlip]

Brian makes an excellent point. It happens all the time that folks answer up when they hear their name, or someone else's name called. I've had boats with 6 Chris' onboard. I've had multiple Mikes and Franks, and when I say Frank, people hear Mike. The only way to avoid that, to my way of thinking, is to call roll so you can see who is answering. That way, you stand a better chance of catching someone answering up for someone else.

I frequent JDC here in Jupiter. It's nice that the captains, hands and guides know me. That aside however, when the rosters are delivered to the boats, they go to the captains. They come off the bridge and call the roll. The captains look at every person who responds, and even engage in conversation at times. When I first started diving with JDC, I was always more comfortable with that system than having a deck hand do a head count while standing on a cooler. At JDC, when "x" number of divers is back on deck, the captains come down from the bridge and repeat the procedure. And..one time I remember, the roll call identified a solo diver who was missed at the head count. What made that worse, the diver did not have the requisite SMB. But Capt. Mike found him. I was talking to a group of spearos at the time. We all thought that Mike was looking in the wrong place. But all agreed he knew better. Sure enough.

On another note, I've heard people bitch about their policy that bottom time be limited to 45 minutes "for their convenience". Well, true there might be a group of afternoon or night divers waiting at the dock, but it is more than that. It is highly unlikely that most of us could make the swim to shore from some of our reefs because the gulf stream swings East and the coast bends West.
The captains know the water, weather, currents, bottom and drifts. Much easier for them to find a diver if they know he has left the bottom within a certain window. They also know losing a diver means lots of paper work. And they all, as well the owners of the local ops, hate paper work.

FTR, the JDC own their boats, and the captains are their employees. And the shop is on the water, with the boats out the back door. (OK, I've done my part for the Jupiter Chamber of Commerce. )