Kind of a random, but I was discussing use of navigation line in open water diving with a friend over a few pints.....
Basically, in our Lakes/Ponds/Rivers sometimes there can be a web of nav line run, sometimes there is nothing. Several of the more popular shore sites have nav line run from points at approx 20ft depth to "sights" such as sunken boats/cars/vending machines/trampolines/underwater sculptures/etc. I know that frequently the permanent lines are run by the local dive clubs/shops for training and since often our viz can run down to a few feet it is rather nice to have them in play.
My question runs more along the lines of running personal line for a short duration of time and what the etiquette is for how long to leave that line, specifically for inland lakes and waterways. As an example much of the shoreline along the lake I frequent is public access and I will roam around the lake looking for new dive spots either from shore or boat. Frequently with a boat I will record the stop on my GPS and drop anchor, descend to depth and run a few guide lines and then dink around using my lines as a boundary and seeing if I like the spot or not. If the spot deems a return trip within a few days I will sometimes leave the line and then retrieve it on my last dive, otherwise I will pull it prior to finishing the dive. Also, if I find something that I want to recover but am unable to during the dive I will typically run a line from that object to my anchor point or to 25ft off shore and return for it when I have the correct gear/support. There are a couple of good spots of the shoreline that I have been tempted to run a line and leave it there for an extended period of time but don't as it doesn't seem proper etiquette, and honestly I don't know if there are any laws regarding this. With these sites I will typically run a line perpendicular to the shoreline from my entry point, do the dive, and then return to the line and retrieve it on the way out.
I was never able to find any information in the rules and ordinances (city, county, park or state) for our lakes other than some requiring the use of a dive flag.
So, what are other divers thoughts?
Basically, in our Lakes/Ponds/Rivers sometimes there can be a web of nav line run, sometimes there is nothing. Several of the more popular shore sites have nav line run from points at approx 20ft depth to "sights" such as sunken boats/cars/vending machines/trampolines/underwater sculptures/etc. I know that frequently the permanent lines are run by the local dive clubs/shops for training and since often our viz can run down to a few feet it is rather nice to have them in play.
My question runs more along the lines of running personal line for a short duration of time and what the etiquette is for how long to leave that line, specifically for inland lakes and waterways. As an example much of the shoreline along the lake I frequent is public access and I will roam around the lake looking for new dive spots either from shore or boat. Frequently with a boat I will record the stop on my GPS and drop anchor, descend to depth and run a few guide lines and then dink around using my lines as a boundary and seeing if I like the spot or not. If the spot deems a return trip within a few days I will sometimes leave the line and then retrieve it on my last dive, otherwise I will pull it prior to finishing the dive. Also, if I find something that I want to recover but am unable to during the dive I will typically run a line from that object to my anchor point or to 25ft off shore and return for it when I have the correct gear/support. There are a couple of good spots of the shoreline that I have been tempted to run a line and leave it there for an extended period of time but don't as it doesn't seem proper etiquette, and honestly I don't know if there are any laws regarding this. With these sites I will typically run a line perpendicular to the shoreline from my entry point, do the dive, and then return to the line and retrieve it on the way out.
I was never able to find any information in the rules and ordinances (city, county, park or state) for our lakes other than some requiring the use of a dive flag.
So, what are other divers thoughts?