Missing Boat ???

[DI_Guy]

I just got back from diving in the Carribean and wanted to pose a question.

I went diving one day with my dive buddy and the DM from the local dive operator. The weather was poor, waves were very choppy. When the boat captain got to the dive site, he could not find the "marker float". After a few moments we found it partially submerged and it had a slow leak.

The three of us did our dive and when we surfaced, the boat was no where in sight. The DM asked if we wanted to wait there or start finning to shore ( about 1 mile away ). We elected to stay and wait for the boat. The boat did return after 10 minutes.

My question is... What should have we done about the errant boat captain ? I did not think they were supposed to leave the general area of the dive site when there are divers still diving ? We did not make an issue of it but in the case of an emergency, it could have been very bad for us.

Any comments ? Does this happen often ? Apparently he left to get a new "marker float"

DI_Guy

 

[DivemasterSteve]

What should have we done about the errant boat captain ?
DI_Guy

IMHO you should have shot him, at least thats what i would have wanted to do.

steve

 

[Buoyant1]

HOLY OPEN WATER Batman!

I would have been a tad tweaked myself! yikes!

 

[SueMermaid]

It would have been nice if he would at least have told you what he planned to do so you didn't have to guess.

 

[miketsp]

He could at least have left a bottle with a message - or didn't you think to look?

Seriously, rather bad form, what! :11:

I've had something similar a couple of times, once we were warned, because we were diving a new artificial reef whose position hadn't been published and the skipper told us that if any other boat came into the vicinity they would move off so the fishing boats wouldn't be able to get a sat fix.

The other, the boat had to move off to pick up a tourist that had been warned about the strong surface current but still decided to get equipped in the water and swim after her gear after throwing it into the water in a 2 knot current.

 

[el ridgeo]

HOLY OPEN WATER Batman!

I would have been a tad tweaked myself! yikes!

That's putting it very mildly.

 

[scubapolly]

First of all, I sure as hell hope you didn't tip the boat captain. I would have had some words with the captain and let him know why he wasn't getting a tip, and my concerns with leaving some divers at sea, in rough water. I assume you got hooked up with this captain via the resort you were staying with. I would have let someone at the resort/hotel know what happened, and why this is a concern for divers (realize that many places don't have clue one about diving so you need to explain why being left at sea is a problem, besides the obvious be sure to mention DCS etc.) If this guy runs regular dive trips it is likely that he is affiliated with one of the agencies, you might also contact that agency. Also you mentioned that a DM from your LDS was with you, if this was a shop sponcered trip, I would definatly mention it to your LDS owner.

It doesn't happen often, but it definatly happens more than it should. Sometimes caused by forces of nature (anchors come loose), other times as it sounds like this case, you just have an idiot for a boat captain. The problem is we don't have a means of control in these situtations. If it occurs in US waters the captain should be licenced by the US coast guard and there is a way to file a complaint. Many of the islands in the caribean all it takes to be a boat captain is to have keys to the boat (out of curiosity what island were you on?).
The captain in this case should have waited for you guys to get back up and to take a new float out on his next trip.

 

[DI_Guy]

Polly: Thanks for you comments,,, They are greatly appreciated....

To add some more info... The weather was poor enough that most divers had cancelled so it was just the two of us and the DM. The substituted DM was somewhat inexperienced and did take a wrong turn at depth. Both my buddy and I noticed we were heading in the wrong direction. When we did surface and there was no boat, the DM looked concerned and started blowing on a whistle. I did not bring my "sausage" that day and in retrospect, I should have. I did not tip the captain but I do put the blame on poor communication between the DM and the captain. It was not booked through a resort but was a reputable DIVE OP. I think we got a bit short changed because of the cancellations due to the poor weather. We'll be more assertive next time. Boat captains should not leave the dive site.

Thanks for your comments

 

[MSilvia]

I came up to find no boat on a dive off Goff's caye in Belize. In our case, we were on the surface for just over 2 hours before the boat came back.

 

[DI_Guy]

2 hours ??? Now that is totally unacceptable.... I would be all over the captain if it had been that long. What happened ? What did you do about it ?

DI_Guy