Protocol of diveyaking

[Nemrod]

Simon, I am also new to kayaks and have little knowledge of sit in side yaks. I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and they had a self rescue kit from ---Walden or Old Timer---??? in any case it had an inflatible bag that could be inflated inside the kayak, it also had a small plastic bilge pump and a sponge and some other odds and ends.
No, my OK and no sit on top I know of has bulkheads. If they are flooded and heavily loaded they might sink. My Scupper has rudder cable holes on the aft end and if it went bow low if flooded from a loose front hatch then it would float bow down because of the tank etc (maybe) and then the air would escape from the rudder cable holes and I think it would deep six!!! BUT--with the bag inflated and inside the hull and a safety sausage inflated and tethered off and a Life Vest and an Inflated BC I think I could get control of the thing or at least stay afloat and get rescued!
I fully admit I have never done the above exercize but it is my plan in case of that scenario. At least I have a plan ---what do you think? Is this workable or is there some better method?
On another note, I have pracitced doing 360 rolls in a pool in my Scupper, loaded with gear I doubt this would work. The main threat to sinking is flooding the yak through the open hatch--do not open hatches until you are settled in and in control and do not leave the hatches open only long enough to remove or stow a single item. So I was told. N

 

[Nemrod]

I apologize, I am always making double posts--I just went and looked at my Scupper, the aft rudder cable guide holes are undrilled. They are only drilled if you install a rudder--so--I guess the thing would float with the stern sticking up and trapped air would have no place to escape so it would probably remain afloat. I guess--I am planning to add the rudder so this is another thing to consider if I do.
Stupid me--all this time--I thought those holes were predrilled out. They are there--just not drilled. I guess I should pay more attention. N

 

[simbrooks]

in any case it had an inflatible bag that could be inflated inside the kayak, it also had a small plastic bilge pump and a sponge and some other odds and ends.

Was the bag only just large enough to fit over a paddle blade? About the size of a piece of letter-sized paper? I have mostly seen pumps and sponges with this size bag. If so, its a self-rescue device for getting yourself back in - you pop it on the end of the paddle and use it as an outrigger - the other end you slip under some deck rigging. Then put your weight on the kayak, but keeping the centre of gravity on the outriggered side you lift up and lie on the deck - roll over and slide inside. If the inflatable bag is about the size of your legs put together its a floatation bag. Even so, i think i will need some work on the whole don/doff thing and loading/unloading the yak in the middle of the water - sure that will be fun!

 

[Pez de Diablo]

I have also done 3 tank days off of my kayak. It is heavy in the water but possible. The 3rd tank sits on the forward deck well secured.

Also, equipment is put on in the water and taken off in the water with the exception of the mask and fins, I recommend to leave them on till you are in the boat and ready to stow them in a safe place - I have seen to many masks lost.

I just added a photo showing the 3rd tank on a kayak to my photo gallery since I can't seem to post it in this thread.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

I kayak and dive...the kind of diving I do I would never consider doing it from a yak...but that's just me. I want a bigger platform with enough umph to get me there and back quickly (bad weather, medical emergency, etc.) If it works for you ..enjoy. One thing I haven't seen posted is tying up to bouys...keep in mind that if the bouy is not placed there specifally for mooring (navigation marker), it is illegal to tie on.

 

[drbill]

Here in Kelp Kountry, towing the kayak behind is a major problem. When I used my kayak for free diving years ago, I could just tie it off to kelp fronds since I surfaced frequently. Will be beaching mine on future kayak dives since depths drop off quickly here on Catalina. Kit up on the beach and enter from there.

Dr. Bill

 

[Nemrod]

"the kind of diving I do I would never consider doing it from a yak..."

Well, OK, kayak diving is not mandatory--lol.--unless padi figures a way to make a profit on it and install a snorkel on it! You probably don't understand really what we are doing here in part. I have a boat with more umph!--a Boston Whaler, but, the kayak is much more useful than you can imagine until you try it. The kayak is used to extend the range of what would normally be called beach diving (in Calf) or to "beach" dive what is just out of range of a surface swim (in Fla) or to provide a surface platform and resting area and to do multi tank dives without having to return twice through a surf zone. In South Carolina as I remember that in addition to a live nuke bomb sitting in 15 feet of water most of the diving ocurrs many miles from shore. In such a case a kayak would have limited application--for diving. Beach/kayak diving is an awful lot of fun and is a different experince than what I get on cattle boats or my Whaler.
As to seaworthiness the kayaks are pretty darn seaworthy, Eskimos used them and other native peoples to range for from land and kill rather large critters (for food). You would probably surprised how agile and fast they are too but of course it would be hard pressed to keep up with my Merc 150!!!!!
I also want to say that you are probably using the sit inside kayaks, the sit on tops behave quiet differently actually, at least the ones commonly used for diving are fairly wide and stable. Think about this, I can drive to a dive site with access to the place I WANT to dive, launch the kayak straight out, dive two tanks, return to beach OR bust out the Whaler, launch at a lift or ramp 15 miles away, negotiate the no wake zones, get out of the inlet into open sea, dive and return the 15 miles. Get lifted back out--pay the lift fees, gas and wear and tear on my Merc, deal with towing the darn thing and all that. I love my Whaler but why use it for diving I can get to easily in a yak? I save the Whaler for fishing and diving far offshore, in some cases 20 miles or more--depending. Also, for people on a budget or younger divers still in school who cannot afford a boat with more umph the kayak let's them increase the dive sites available to them and increases safety as well.
Yep, nav bouys are not anchor points, generally, divers tow their yaks with them but anchor bouys are allowed for kayaks and I do use them the few times they have been available and I thought there no chance of my being swept away from my yak.

In any case, not trying to sell you on something you don't want to do in the kayak diving forum, just explaining it further. Good luck, how is the diving there in SC? N

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

Oh yeah, just like I've said on this board MANY times...to each his own...but I just can't imagine how I could get all the crap I carry to dive in a kayak......I see myself in one boat towing two or three others behind me...can't believe you admit in public you own a "black anchor" (hee hee)...Whaler's nice, but you really need to go with the 4 stroke Yamaha.

 

[SDAnderson]

Not that I have a lot of experience, but this is what I've found...

1. Tie up to a buoy if there is one or drag the kayak along? I would put a flag up on the kayak anyway.

Tie up or tie in, never anchor. I've towed them along and most of the time it hasn't been a problem but all it takes is a stiff breeze and the kayak becomes a dead weight - or a sail. If I don't carry the line, I don't go far from it, that's for sure.​

2. Put kit together on beach, tie it down into yak, paddle out, then what - either suit up in yak or inflate, drop in the sea and rodeo style don it?

Assemble the gear on the beach and strap it in - be sure to clip everything to the kayak. Mask and fins go on while you're on the boat, everything else you put on in the water.​

3. Same on return, doff in water and retrieve once in?

Doff in the water, except for mask and fins. I like to wrangle the gear up onto the kayak and clip everything in before I clamber out of the water - the extra weight in the kayak seems to help stabilize it a little bit. This doesn't work very well in rough water, but I generally avoid the kayak in all but calm water.​

4. Ever do two tanks worth? I guess only if you have the room and dont mind changing out stuff and the seas are flat.

Yes, just make sure everything is well secured. Wrassling the tanks around on the kayak has always been a pain, but less of a pain than paddling back to shore. ​

Just .02 from the gallery...

 

[Scuba Cowboy]

Good to see this new forum on kayak diving. I've been doing it for a few years now, really enjoy it!! I even teach a kayak diving specialty, its one of my funest class'. I always anchor the kayak, haven't lost one yet. I've had as many as 4 other kayaks tied to my anchored yak. The thing you need to do is make sure you have a good anchor, I use about a 10 pounder, heavy enough to not bounce around alot. Let out plenty of line, secure to kayak with good knot. And always descend anchor line to check placement.
The other trick I use is a reel. Clip reel to anchor, reel out as you dive, reel back in to anchor. No surface swimming or complex navigation, you'll come up under the yak everytime. If you want to cover larger area, carry 2 reels. When you hit the end of the first one, clip on number 2 and keep going. Reels do take practice to use properly and your buddies need to know how to work around a reel line as well. When you get it dialed in its great.