Moke
New
Anybody use a waverunner to access dive spots? I am a new diver, and don't own a boat, but we have two waverunners. Just wondering about attaching equipment safely to machine during transit.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Wave runner diving
- Thread starter Moke
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I am sure somebody does but somehow I cannot imagine a worse boat for diving. N
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Not the most convenient of vessels to use, but if it works for you, go for it!
Be sure to clearly mark the Waverunners with Diver Down flags per your local regulations and anchor them securely. I've seen waverunners pull free quite easily a number of times over the years in seemingly calm waters. The movement of the ocean could easily have you surfacing to one heck of a swim to shore!
This also reminds me of an occurance here in Southern California a few years ago that happened to a couple customers of mine. It happened to a couple Kayak divers but I can easily see something similar happening with the waverrunners. The 2 divers paddled out to a nice offshore reef in Laguna that more advanced divers will commonly make long swims and dives to. They had done thier GPS homework, had a great anchor, used the appropriate flags and even contacted the local lifeguards to let them know what they were doing.
They picked a nice day, paddled out, geared up, secured the boats and enjoyed a nice extended dive on Dead Man's Reef. To their dismay upon surfacing they found no kayaks to be found anywhere! Not only did they have a very long, exausting surface swim to shore, once there they were no place near where they'd left their car which meant long hot walks in wetsuits to get to a cell phone and wallet in order to report the "theft".
As it turns out, a passing boater came across the kayaks well offshore and incorrectly assumed they had blown off shore. They towed the kayaks to the local Marina, which is about 5 miles in the wrong direction for our 2 wayward divers and turned them into the harbormaster as "lost". It took local law enforcement several days to put 2 and 2 together.
I'm sure there must be some sort of a moral there, but unsure what it might be. Just goes to show that even when you've done everything you think you can to ensure things don't go wrong. They can still go wrong.
Be sure to clearly mark the Waverunners with Diver Down flags per your local regulations and anchor them securely. I've seen waverunners pull free quite easily a number of times over the years in seemingly calm waters. The movement of the ocean could easily have you surfacing to one heck of a swim to shore!
This also reminds me of an occurance here in Southern California a few years ago that happened to a couple customers of mine. It happened to a couple Kayak divers but I can easily see something similar happening with the waverrunners. The 2 divers paddled out to a nice offshore reef in Laguna that more advanced divers will commonly make long swims and dives to. They had done thier GPS homework, had a great anchor, used the appropriate flags and even contacted the local lifeguards to let them know what they were doing.
They picked a nice day, paddled out, geared up, secured the boats and enjoyed a nice extended dive on Dead Man's Reef. To their dismay upon surfacing they found no kayaks to be found anywhere! Not only did they have a very long, exausting surface swim to shore, once there they were no place near where they'd left their car which meant long hot walks in wetsuits to get to a cell phone and wallet in order to report the "theft".
As it turns out, a passing boater came across the kayaks well offshore and incorrectly assumed they had blown off shore. They towed the kayaks to the local Marina, which is about 5 miles in the wrong direction for our 2 wayward divers and turned them into the harbormaster as "lost". It took local law enforcement several days to put 2 and 2 together.
I'm sure there must be some sort of a moral there, but unsure what it might be. Just goes to show that even when you've done everything you think you can to ensure things don't go wrong. They can still go wrong.
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I have seen one run out to Molasses Reef in Key Largo, hook up to a mooring ball, hoist the flag & back roll off.
I laughed my @$$ off. But you know what? They were still out there diving just like the rest of us.
I laughed my @$$ off. But you know what? They were still out there diving just like the rest of us.
If I can get mine running again, I'd love to use it for some diving. I figure a tank on each side of the seat, with appropriate fastenings and all, should allow for a nice two-tank dive trip into some of the local bodies of "water".
OceanObsessed
Guest
Keep in mind that your center of gravity would be higher than normal no matter where you attach a tank and it would make it more difficult to balance.... especially in a chop. It may be difficult keep the waverunner balanced while re-attaching the tank back on the waverunner after the dive. I'd give it a practice run real close to shore first 
A solution for anchoring is to tow the thing with you. I know you can drift dive with a kayak by treating the kayak as a towable flag, just clip a reel off to it. Waverunners weigh more, so this might not work. Can any chime in?
Or if someone wants to loan me a wave runner, I'll let you know myself
Or if someone wants to loan me a wave runner, I'll let you know myself
Tell you what, I loan you mine if you get it running. (I'll pay for the parts. It just needs a new battery, probably a carb, and a few little things like a start/kill switch replacement.)JahJahwarrior:Or if someone wants to loan me a wave runner, I'll let you know myself
Just don't get it confiscated when you use it to dive Ginnie.
DennisS
Contributor
I've seen big surf films where the waverunner has a "trailer" towing a second lifeguard. They pull up, the guy on the "trailer" grabs the victim and they take off before the next wave breaks. Why not a "trailer" for your gear
http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/wrunner.html
http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/wrunner.html
RonFrank
Contributor
A wave runner would be more difficult to steal because they have a kill switch thingy-doodle that you can take with you diving, and then they won't start.
A good sized wave runner should be able to handle a full set of gear, and even two tanks. I've seen them hanging off of the balls on Largo dive sites, so someone is doing this.
A good anchor is KEY! It may also be a very good idea to go with a buddy (two wave runners), and diving with a buddy is generally a good idea even if some subscribe to solo diving.
On a different thread, some indicated that they put on the BC, and head out with the tank on their backs. That would eliminate balance issues, but would require one to be fully geared up, or maybe the do this sans the wetsuit, and inflate the bc and put it on in the water.
Actually on that note, that would likely be the best way to get in, and out of your BC, in the water.
Try it, make sure you have your stuff together, do it close enough to shore on the first attempt so if things do go wrong your not far from shore or help if needed, and let us know how it goes!
The *trailer* idea is good. You could tow a rubber raft. That however would slow you down considerably.
Most have some on board storage. You could likely wear the BC, stow the mask and *maybe* fins. If you could find a way to attach a second tank, you would be golden!
A good sized wave runner should be able to handle a full set of gear, and even two tanks. I've seen them hanging off of the balls on Largo dive sites, so someone is doing this.
A good anchor is KEY! It may also be a very good idea to go with a buddy (two wave runners), and diving with a buddy is generally a good idea even if some subscribe to solo diving.
On a different thread, some indicated that they put on the BC, and head out with the tank on their backs. That would eliminate balance issues, but would require one to be fully geared up, or maybe the do this sans the wetsuit, and inflate the bc and put it on in the water.
Actually on that note, that would likely be the best way to get in, and out of your BC, in the water.
Try it, make sure you have your stuff together, do it close enough to shore on the first attempt so if things do go wrong your not far from shore or help if needed, and let us know how it goes!
The *trailer* idea is good. You could tow a rubber raft. That however would slow you down considerably.
Most have some on board storage. You could likely wear the BC, stow the mask and *maybe* fins. If you could find a way to attach a second tank, you would be golden!
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