Reboarding inflatable boat scenario

[Frosty]

Heres the senario. A group of divers dive in choppy seas from a 16 foot semi inflatable boat anchoured in 60 feet of water which requires boat entry by rolling back over the side.
At the surface the chop has turned into 3 foot breaking waves so the surface isn't pleasant. The boat is dancing a bit on the surface.
The boat crew are ready to haul people out
You have 75 bar (given 200bar is full) in your tank
Other divers seem to be struggling a bit, not having a good time on the surface so you hang back to let them on the boat before you.
In this senario what would yo do to make yourself more comfortable whilst waiting?

My reason for asking is that I just dumped air from my BC and "stood" (feet down head up) with my head 2/3 feet below the surface and about 6 feet off the boat where the swell wasn't having the same effect on me
Is there anything wrong with that logic?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Well, I hope you meant to type 750 psi in your tank ... because at 75 psi air in your tank you won't be breathing off of it.

In your scenario I'd go in the opposite direction ... rather than going below the surface (particularly if low on air) I'd suggest getting your weights off (preferably handing them up to someone on the boat) before kicking back to wait for others to board. That's going to put you higher out of the water and make it easier for you to breathe, and to see what's going on. It's also going to make it easier for you to get out of your rig when it's your turn to get on board. I'd also ask for a tag line that I can hang onto so I can relax in the rough seas without worrying about separating from the boat.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Frosty]

sorry Bob--Ive corrected myself. I knew what I meant but got mixed between bar and psi when I typed.
I meant 75bar or 1100psi Basicly plenty of air

 

[scubamarketing]

As long as the waves aren't capping (and crashing on you), I'd go with Bob's recommendation. If the waves are getting really bad, try to let someone on the boat know, then do what you did. I've had to go both ways in similar situations and communication is key.

 

[Charlie99]

The only problems I see are

1) make sure others know what you are doing, and
2) I prefer to be deep enough that the boat can't hit me, so 10' or 15' is where I hang out waiting for others to board.
3. If there is wind, it will cause the boat to drift away from you. (currents aren't generally a problem, but wind is). But you will face that problem on the surface also, unless you have a tag line.

 

[rjack321]

I would not wait below the surface. You are hard to see there, can't talk to the skipper anymore, and more likely to get hit by a prop.

1) hand up your weight belt
2) wait in line until someone is ready to help you
3) ditch your gear while its tied off to a tag line on the boat
4) swim over the tube back into the boat
5) haul gear in behind you

RJ, owner of a 16ft RIB.

 

[Searcaigh]

I like that idea of handing in the weight belt.

Hate boarding RIBs that have no ladder, all boats should have at least one tag line for divers to use.

 

[cloudflint]

Alot of the guys i dive with have short lines with clips attached to their weight belt since we dive off a RHIb quite a lot. It means that even if the crew are busy helping someone else you can clip your weight belt to the side of the boat, then release it from yourself and you then have no buoyancy worries and can get yourself about much easier.

Also this way if someone is struggling and the boat crew are busy helping them it means you can clip off your weight belt, attach your BC to the boat then just haul yourself in, a nice big push with your arms while fining upwards ive found is enough to get people up and over the tubes. You just have to remember to make sure its pulled into the boat before you head off otherwise it can have rather interesting effects on the boats trim