Safety when tying off to a wreck

[jgoodstein]

I'm going out on a personal boat this weekend and need to tie off to the wreck we are diving.

The tie off is at about 60'. Most dive boats send a guy down and then he pops right back up. Whats the proper safety procedure? do i need to do a safety stop?

 

[Fishpie]

If you have experienced divers and Captain, don't tie off.
You'll have to guestimate the current and jump in upstream and descend quickly.
Shoot a SMB for ascent.

If you want to tie off, decide if you are going to use the boats existing ground tackle...anchor, or a separate line....release, short chain, rope and buoy.
Have all divers ready. the 2 most experienced divers jump with the line, tie off, ascend to 30-40' and wait for other divers if you all want to dive together. Last divers to ascend unties.

 

[keyshunter]

No safety stop is necessary on a typical bounce dive, particularly if the depth is only 60', however it is still very important to closely monitor your ascent speed.

Back in the bad old days before most wrecks had mooring buoys, the dm would "bounce" the wreck and do the tie in. Some wrecks had mooring lines attached to the wreck, and the dm would send the end up on a lift bag. Then he/she would come up the line, get on board, and assist with the dive briefing and gear up. For a while, I did this almost every day. If we had a small group of divers, or extra dm help on board, I would often stay on the wreck after I sent up the line.

 

[Doc]

What FishPie said and...

Tying off to a wreck causes it to degrade quite quickly. The pulling, yanking and jarring. Over time, this really deteriorates the metal. The Thistlegorm is an obvious example.

Better to anchor on non-coral bottom.

 

[smellzlikefish]

I'll cast another vote for anchoring nearby, especially if you have to tie off 60 feet down. I would even go so far as to send a buddy team down with the anchor to make sure it is dug in and not on the wreck. Then they start their dive before the other divers.

 

[captndale]

It is not for bystanders on ScubaBoard, passengers or even crew to decide how to moor to a wreck. It is both the responsibility and duty of the captain to make the call. Every case is different and no method can be used effectively and safely at all times and in all places. It is his experience and seamanship that leads a good master to make the right decision and, lawfully, it is his decision and his only to make.

 

[String]

ID say never EVER leave a boat unattended whilst diving off it. Can't begin to mention safety if you're doing that.

If you do have surface cover you don't tie off, drop a shot line in, go down that, drift off and SMBs for ascent. Far easier.

 

[jgoodstein]

I appreciate it it. The plan is not to leave the boat alone, but as a passenger I see dive boats do this all the time ( dive down and attach to a mooring buoy or direct to the wreck). I like the idea of having the most experienced divers go down with an anchor and anchor nearby where they can assure no damage to the wreck or local reefs. If I decide to do a bounce dive, it would be acceptable, just note your ascent rate.

 

[String]

If the boat isn't left alone the easiest way is a shot weight (4-6kg of lead if no current), some rope then a buoy/plastic bottle or float. Motor up to the wreck, check no other divers, throw shot weight and rope in.

Boat drifts off, divers kit up, boat approaches the float, drops divers who then descend. Boat drifts clear.

The divers can either send a DSMB after the dive to be recovered or if they insist come back up that line which is then recovered.

Big safety advantage here is a live boat - immediate response even if someone surfaces away from the line.

 

[buleetu]

when putting a line on thistlegorm our boat drops an anchor and seems to drift over the wreck,,then the guides go down this line with a line in hand they tie on to the blast site area near the back and then let the boat take up the slack,, we then all go down the line onto the wreck site and they decide which route to take depending on the current,,when were finished they lead us all up the line and when were all on the boat they go back down and untie it,, i have great respect for anyone who goes down the first time to tie on,,the current can howl by on the line and blow u off if ur not carefull,,i really dont know how they do it so perfectly,,well it looks perfect im sure its crazy down there