Rob Murphy's Day in Court

[ONESPEED]

We were diving on Baracuda today, north of San Miguel and outside of the Cozumel Marine park - hearing very loud motors passing over us. Intimidating to be sure. We stayed together and one diver sent up a sausage on his spool well in advance of our ascent - and we watched as boat speed right by it, close enough the reel holder turned lose just in case. :shocked2:

I hope somebody in the party had an auxilliary trash bag, just in case.

 

[ONESPEED]

But on a serious note, I have had more close calls than I care to recall with boaters who clearly have no clue as to the significance of a dive flag, more education and stricter penalties for boaters who ignore or are oblivious to dive flags is crucial and way overdue.

 

[mselenaous]

But on a serious note, I have had more close calls than I care to recall with boaters who clearly have no clue as to the significance of a dive flag, more education and stricter penalties for boaters who ignore or are oblivious to dive flags is crucial and way overdue.

+1

(Agreeing with Chip..there's a first time for everything.)

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[cruiser]

But on a serious note, I have had more close calls than I care to recall with boaters who clearly have no clue as to the significance of a dive flag, more education and stricter penalties for boaters who ignore or are oblivious to dive flags is crucial and way overdue.

Here in the states all it would take is some enforcement of the laws regarding dive flags and awareness among boaters would skyrocket. When fines and tickets are involved it gets people's attention.

 

[ONESPEED]

(Agreeing with Chip..there's a first time for everything.)

Pete clearly hacked her account. :scorned:

 

[Splitlip]

Hey (neighbors) Guys:

Your thoughts...

I shoot a large marker before I surface. I was hit by a boat before we had the big ones.

Don't you think, that even if a boater did not know what a dive flag is, he would avoid a 6ft x .5ft tube sticking out of the water?

Or even if the boater were to approach it, surfacing directly under it a diver would stand a better chance?

Edit: assuming the boat pilot is not asleep at the switch.

edit: adding my thread killer vid.

http://s637.photobucket.com/albums/uu91/mm2002_bucket/?action=view&current=JDC032.flv

 

[Hockeynut]

Hey (neighbors) Guys:

Your thoughts...

I shoot a large marker before I surface. I was hit by a boat before we had the big ones.

Don't you think, that even if a boater did not know what a dive flag is, he would avoid a 6ft x .5ft tube sticking out of the water?

Or even if the boater were to approach it, surfacing directly under it a diver would stand a better chance?

Edit: assuming the boat pilot is not asleep at the switch.

edit: adding my thread killer vid.

JDC032.flv video by mm2002_bucket - Photobucket

I heard a story here in Mn about how someone was yanked to the surface because the boater wanted to see what the marker was for.

 

[Splitlip]

I heard a story here in Mn about how someone was yanked to the surface because the boater wanted to see what the marker was for.

Yup.

I've heard that about one of the local shore dives. Blue heron Bridge.

I want to believe we can educate the boaters. The locals know for the most part.

When Rob Murphy got hit, so many of the Diving Community took up the staff of education.

But to be pragmatic..if a boater pulls me up by my marker, I can pretty much be assured I won't get hit by a boat.

LOL.

Most of my diving is a mile or more off shore. Most of the boaters out there know the rules.

 

[cruiser]

In the Dallas area a dive flag/float attracts boaters when they don't know what it's for. Boaters will even pick it up out of the water and try to leave with it before they realize there's a string attached, pulling the diver to the surface rapidly. That's why I don't attach the reel to me, so I can let go quickly if I need to.

 

[DandyDon]

I hope somebody in the party had an auxilliary trash bag, just in case.

Yep, I used one on the second bag and had no problems, altho the exact reasons are up to debate so I don't suggest using one instead of a reddish or yellow buoy.

I heard a story here in Mn about how someone was yanked to the surface because the boater wanted to see what the marker was for.

Read more than one of those accounts, as boats well as and jet skis using them as turning buoys. Don't really have a better idea tho...