Very Basic Charter Boat Question

[northwind]

Greetings all..
Great group, I've been checking things out for a while, Lot's of great info. Just signed up & this is my first post so bear with me.

I've been certified / diving since '84 but all my dives have been shore based or from private boats on anchor. On our own boats we always use the anchor line to decend and for safety stops. After all these years I am finally getting around to diving somewhere other than the cold murky New England waters, we are going to Hawaii this fall and I have a trip booked on Maui. This will be my first time on a charter boat. My question (finally) is this; how do the charter boats handle the down line situation? I assume they don't use anchors over the reef. Do they drift? have perminant moorings? No down line??

Thanks in advance.

 

[ClassAction]

I've only done charters in Aruba, but they usually did not have a line available...

 

[DeputyDan]

The answer to you question is - All of the above. Sorry, but that answer did not help much.

At alot of reefs there are permanent mooring lines in place for the dive boat to tie off to. This saves the reef from anchor damage.

Some place will do a drift - some will do a hang line and some will drop a weight on a line down 15-20 ft to give you a safety stop reference.

You will really need to check with the specific LDS you plan to use.

 

[MadisonK]

The dive boat I went on in the Florida Keyes anchored on the reef. This actually surprised me but they know where to anchor so as to do as little damage as possible. They dropped a weighted line of the stern. The guide didn't want us anywhere near the anchor in case it came loose and pinned us down. Just one experience :10:

 

[cindye]

I dove off of Maui with Lahaina divers, good group, I belive they dropped a line down w/ weight at 15 ft. "Not to miss in Hawaii is the Molikini crater to dive and a helicopter ride. Enjoy your time there.

 

[CaptSaaz]

Off Grenada there was a mooring line anchored just at the edge of the reef for dive boats to use. I guess you'll see every device used depending on where you go.

 

[sea nmf]

Here on Oahu, every single charter boat dive that I have been on (I belong to a club) hooks up to a permanant mooring ball so every one has a down line.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Mooring lines are quite common in the more popular areas. Anchors where the bottom permits, and drift dives on the back wall of Molikini.

If you are not yet set on a dive operator, I might suggest Ed Robinsons Diving Adventures. They are top notch! The dives are guided dives (which are good since you probably do not know the area already) they split into groups of either 4 or 6 divers to a guide and away you go. Diving in Hawaii is expensive so be prepared for $120 or more per day for the diving, plus more for gear rental.

If you have never been at 100 feet and seen the bottom below you at 250 feet get ready for some fun! Remember to take a light because you will loose the color at that depth.

Have fun,

Mark Vlahos

 

[northwind]

Thanks for all the response.

Yes, I am going to Maui W/ Ed Robinson, We are supposed to do the back wall at Molikini, conditions permitting. I plan on bringing my gear with me.

 

[jkennedy]

Most of the dive sites have a mooring bouy and you can use it for a descending line. With the vis you are going to experience its more fun to free fall. Enjoy your trip and come on down to the Caymans.........