Two Scuba divers killed by a speedboat

[fisherdvm]

I think many boaters think sausages and floats are water toys that needed to be rescued and given back to the kids on the beach.

The analogy to over head diving is interesting.

 

[sermar]

Not too many Zodiac among boaters ... an not enough spear fishermen in the water!
Most of the recreational boater have no clue of regulation and signal in the water.
They should be more astringent regulation and license for pleasure boats.

 

[fisherdvm]

I think there is strong polical pressure state goverment NOT to regulate boating. The pleasure boat industry doesn't want to cut down their marketshare. In the same way, one can argue that all hunters must take hunter safety class. But I dare say, less than 50% of all states have that requirement.

Shouldn't gun owner have mandated gun safety class? Definitely yes, but it will never happen.

Scubadiving is the only "self regulated" sports industry in the US, and I think they've done a good job at self regulation.

 

[Splitlip]

I think there is strong polical pressure state goverment NOT to regulate boating. The pleasure boat industry doesn't want to cut down their marketshare. In the same way, one can argue that all hunters must take hunter safety class. But I dare say, less than 50% of all states have that requirement.

Sadly, I think you are correct.

 

[Missdirected]

I can happily report he is now fully aware of the responsibilities of a boat operator to steer clear of a dive flag. Who says there is never a cop around when you need one?

*giggle*

 

[Jim Lapenta]

This thread is a good reason to carry a couple good solid beer bottles. Fill one with air at 20-30 ft and launch it into the bottom of the boat. Or a nice length of heavy nylon line to let float up into the prop. Jet skiers could pose a different problem cause they are so fast. ANyone know of a personal torpedo that will do 40 knots or better. Release, buzz, BOOM! No more yuppie idiot!

 

[AY]

This thread is a good reason to carry a couple good solid beer bottles. Fill one with air at 20-30 ft and launch it into the bottom of the boat.

Would that actually work? I thought if that was would happen during my advanced deep dive when the divemaster filled a water bottle with air at 100 feet to demonstrate the pressure change from depth to the surface.

Here in Canada, it will be mandatory by 2009 that all small motorized craft operators carry a "Pleasure Craft Operator Card", which basically proves you know the rules of the water.
Currently, all PWC operators must have this certification.

Correct me if I'm wrong, the problem is enforcement.
Although many boaters here have their Pleasure Craft card, I'm sure many do not.
And what about the rental places like at Wasaga Beach? Do they check for PCOCs before they rent out, of just require a deposit?
I have seen much police presence there during summer long weekends, but I don't recall seeing them on (or near) the water.

As for other countries and resorts, I'm not knowledgeable on their rules of the water, so I cannot really comment, but a diver down flag, is a diver down flag, and ALL boaters should know and recognize both flags, and exercise caution.

I dove in the Toronto waterfront last summer, and there was a ton of boats. We carried a flag, and everything was alright.
On PWC operator approached us when we were almost at shore to chat, but he had his machine off and didn't come near us when we were under water.

I hope boaters are getting the picture, its a scary thing to hear their motors whizzing by when you are under water.

 

[dhaas]

Amigos,

Not to make light of the poor guys who were killed in the beginning of this thread, but I have a hilarious video of my departed friend Paul Caputo who co-owned Quiescense Diving in Key Largo.

He was leading a group I had brought down to FLA on a drift dive on Outer Molasses, where we were in a bit deeper water of 50' - 75'. Paul was linked to a BIG Orange float with Diver's Down markings on it. All of a sudden, a 25' or so boat ZOOMS IN over our group of 8 divers and a guy proceeds to grab the buoy and try and drag his trophy aboard. This despite the viz is at least 75', he can SEE all of our bubbles (and likely US!) down below and such.

So Paul lets the guy reel in a bit and then pulls back He wasn't going to pull the bozo in, although I'm sure he and I thought about it! But not knowing if the guy had anyone else in the boat discretion was the better part of valor.....

Finally, Paul surfaced and likely politely asked the bozo what he thought all the bubbles, continuous line down to it, etc. were and what the heck did he think he was doing? Paul was always polite that way

Me, I would have surfaced with my knife extended pointing at the guy Plus I really like the idea of carrying a bit of loose line in your BC for just such events.....

Be aware, stay down and pay constant attention when surfacing......

Dive safe!

dhaas

 

[ladbak1]

I have been hit but not hurt once by a boat being propelled by an electric motor. Just shook me up a bit. Had a couple of brushes being driven over by my dive boat on the Cooper River. Very close call with a prop. The prop wash blew off my mask it came by me so close.

Last summer I had a guy in a 23 ' Grady White buzz me . I was in a boat displaying a dive flag with one diver still in the water near my boat. He came about 20 feet from my boat and I yelled to him to stay away as I had a diver in the water. We were in about 10 feet of water at the time. VA state law is to stay 75 feet away from a dive flag and divers are required to have a flag when diving is underway. He hollered back that the diver needed to carry the flag. I advised him he was too close and that my flag was properly displayed and to stay clear. This guy went down about 100 yards and turned around and came past me again, this time coming within about 10 feet of my boat. He yelled at me and said I did not know the law.

I was getting pretty tired of this guys antics so I then produced my state LE badge and told him I was the law. He replied that he did not give a F#*&! who I was as he drove past. I took my knife and scratched his registration numbers into the gunnel of my boat. It took me a couple of trips to his apartment before I caught him at home. I can happily report he is now fully aware of the responsibilities of a boat operator to steer clear of a dive flag. Who says there is never a cop around when you need one?

Bet that felt great!!!!

 

[james croft]

A friend of mine was towing a rubber inner tube with a dive flag on it around a lake. He heard a boat coming. The boaters stopped and began pulling him up. When he got to the surface he went limp like he was dead and then suddenly screamed. He said it scared them pretty good.
It seems to me more boaters are ignorant of dive flags and rules of the road than those who are aware of what a dive flag means.