Travel Luggage Bags on Dive Boats? Are You Crazy?

[ProfessorAronnax]

If someone showed up on the boat I was on with one of those, they'd be packed inside, well weighted, then float tested.

I used to be guilty of the big rolly bag transgression, but as I did more and more boat dives, I've been able to whittle down the amount of gear needed (the stuff packed in a bag, anyway) to a mesh bag with fins, mask, wetsuit, booties, gloves and weightbelt. My bp/w is assembled with regs and other misc. accessories already attached. I find it easier to rinse stuff off at the end of the dive with a mesh bag and with a minimum of things to get ready, I'm already at the back of the boat ready to hit the water as soon as the captain declares the pool open.

Never acually brought on charter boat, but they are really sweet. I put a drain valve in and total cost was about $50.00 at Home Depot.

Gotta say, I thought out of the threads out there today this would be least likely to become hostile- It's the Mesh! Stay away from the MESH!

 

[Missdirected]

I was mellow till I saw this silly man rolling this huge steamer trunk like thing down the ramp on the dock to the boat. I thought to myself, please Neputune, let him be on another boat. The Sea Gods were good to me that day, he went on another boat. I glanced at the other divers watching this huge bag put on thier boat, thier eyes were rolling. Capt of the boat said nothing.

...you were mellow. This didn't just happen today.

If I didn't know all the things you claim not to know. I couldn't get angry at that person. No way, they might be just like me. I would grab my buddy or the dm and speak with them, if they were encroaching in my space. If the DM or captain did nothing I then I would make friends with this person. Than in casual conversation discuss the options. Heck, they may have taken the advice given and went with what the LDS told them to. Since, that is what one is "supposed" to do, right? Perhaps he is good at following directions. I certainly wouldn't, when I am on here claiming to learn myself, take a knife and gut him in front of everyone else. Heck, you aren't even sure if someone didn't speak to him later.

I hope this fellow isn't a member of this board. U did name the boat and all and people may know him. I am always asking for peoples thoughts on my diving and what not. I would be mortified if someone then turned around and posted something as mean as this.

Further, I have owned my own boat and my own business'. Personally, I have to look at the bigger picture sometimes. The dm or captain may have let it go b cuz there was enough room. Maybe his bag was for two. Maybe he didn't want to upset customers he knew were already going to be angry later in the day. For instance, I was on a boat once once where the dm was occupied with some neewbie the entire dive, who I still swear had never been certified. I could see how some wouldn't be very happy about the situation. Especially if they were new themselves, warned the DM, yet the DM chose to spend the entire dive taking care of the neewbie, basically being his buddy. Some would consider that quite unfair and be perturbed. Captain sometimes has to pick and choose.

Why isn't this in Whine and Cheeze? Putting down others shouldn't be a basic dive discussion. Let me see, does anyone have experience on how to sucker punch someone? If so, could you direct me to that informative thread, please. Cleary I am being sarcastic but....

Perhaps if this thread was edited, and the useful information extracted and title renamed, I wouldn't find it so offensive.

 

[pilot fish]

Pilotfish,
thanks for bringing this subject up. I have one of those big bags on wheels. I haven't dove off a charter dive boat yet but I am planning on it by the summers end. I now know not to take it with me, and to get a mesh bag. I'm sure my future fellow boat divers will thank you as do I.

Actually I will be diving with my two kids, so I would have shown up with 3 big roller bags. I hesitate to ask what the other divers would have thought of me....

You are a very considerate person to say that. It shows you care about your fellow divers. Good luck diving and have lots of fun with your kids.

 

[Missdirected]

It should be clear and concise. Just like I let the DM know when booking where I am at in my diving and any requirments I may have. Meaning if the point was to start a thread for useful information than leave the extra bits out.

 

[Christi]

Different things are clearly appropriate on different boats and in different environments. People shouldn't get hung up on mesh or whatever, its just a common example of something that works well in some situations, especially the warm water dayboat thing. If your bag or container fits your space and you aren't doing the yard sale thing it's fine. The problem is when people simply aren't aware of the issue or don't care. If someone is new and hasn't figured it out yet that's cool but it's good for someone to clue them in. If someone is just rude/oblivious with no excuse that's another matter.

Perfect...this actually sums it all up nicely.

Different situations/environments require different things.

Thanks Damsel!

 

[pilot fish]

If someone showed up on the boat I was on with one of those, they'd be packed inside, well weighted, then float tested.

I used to be guilty of the big rolly bag transgression, but as I did more and more boat dives, I've been able to whittle down the amount of gear needed (the stuff packed in a bag, anyway) to a mesh bag with fins, mask, wetsuit, booties, gloves and weightbelt. My bp/w is assembled with regs and other misc. accessories already attached. I find it easier to rinse stuff off at the end of the dive with a mesh bag and with a minimum of things to get ready, I'm already at the back of the boat ready to hit the water as soon as the captain declares the pool open.

That first sentence caused me to lose my Pepsi. Thanks for the laugh

 

[pilot fish]

divers with meshbags who let their gear everywhere on the boat are more inconsiderate than the ones with a reasonable sized hard container who put all their gear in it as soon as they dont need it.

Yes, they would be considered very inconsiderate, and foolish. But that's a different question

 

[pilot fish]

I take the big roller Scubapro Bag to from the car to the boat. If it looks too crowded, I would unload and leave it in the car, dock, or shop. (gear shed at Sam's) but 99% of the time it gets stowed below, out of the way. People who get upset about all this are making grief for themselves. I need my roller bag because I bungee the camera on top and it is the only possible way I can handle my gear. I am not going to kill myself because some grouchy person thinks my bag is too big...people like that should just buy a boat.

Aloha,

Catherine, when I get my boat only mesh bags allowed ,or you'll be hung from the yardarms. Be considerate and don't block the aisles signs should be posted as you board. Same thing on a plane- if it fits in the overhead or under your seat, fine. If not, stow it.

 

[Jorbar1551]

I have the big akona roller bag, and I agree that you should not bring it on for the boat dives...But when you are driving over a thousand miles to get to your destination, along with flying just to get back home, sometimes, the last thought in your mind is to bring a mesh bag. Plus, diving with a 7mm wetsuit and hood takes away a lot of room in your dive bag.

 

[pilot fish]

Perfect...this actually sums it all up nicely.

Different situations/environments require different things.

Thanks Damsel!

Well, yeah, sure, if you are diving in the Artic, any form of Polar ice diving, then whatever you need to bring is fine. I'm sure they are prepared for that, and recommend that. This is about Caribbean ,warm water diving where you don't need to bring your LDS with you in a steamer trunk on wheels.