Weather or Not to Dive

[GDI]

What do you consider the point to call a dive due to weather conditions. For me it is Hurricanes and Northern Gales, But then I just head to Cave country

 

[eandiver]

What do you consider the point to call a dive due to weather conditions. For me it is Hurricanes and Northern Gales, But then I just head to Cave country

Three factors.....the size of the boat in relation to the size of the waves, the ability to get from the water back into the boat (getting in the water is easy, it's called gravity) and will the boat still be in the original spot when I return.

 

[scubafool]

Lightning will do it every time. We were planning to head over to Blue Grotto this morning, but the forecast for Ocala is calling for thunderstorms. Multiple expletives deleted. Oh well, guess it's an sb day. Somebody on the board has this signature "I'd rather be diving than talking about it."

 

[pipedope]

Is that there comes a time when you have to end the dive and get out of the water.
If the weather on the surface is such that being in the water is safer than not or is likely to be that way at the end of the dive then it is probably better to go home and play on the computer or something.

Remember, if you are boat diving the crew must survive the conditions and be able to recover you when you come up.

Sometimes you have to get creative.

I have had cases where I needed to pull some pipe plugs before the storm arrived so that the drain system would work. With lightning so close we had to work fast and risk damage to the plugs that normally was not acceptable. I would rather cut up a $6000 plug that get a diver or tender hit by lightning.

Remember, if it is not fun, or you are not getting paid, WHY do it?

 

[Rick Inman]

About 2 weeks ago, I went TEN DAYS without diving due to surface temps. Air temp was -20f with wind chills to -50f. Thank the Lord were havin' a heat wave now, back in the 30's!!:mostlysun

 

[scubafool]

Hey, the sun is coming out here! Time to check on Ocala!

 

[pt40fathoms]

Lightning, that’s a biggie. If I'm on a boat, and the weather makes re-entry onto the boat hazardous, the dive is called. All you really need to do is use a little common sense, and make sure that ego or bravado is left sitting on the dock or beach.

I don't like wimps, but will tolerate them, just as long as they don't try to foist their wimpieness on everyone else and try to ruin a good day. However I dislike false macho people who try to goad others into dangerous situations even more than I dislike wimps. Fortunately I have been blessed with having lots of levelheaded buddies.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

What do you consider the point to call a dive due to weather conditions.

For me taking divers out here in the Lower Keys..when the wind approaches 17 knots and out of the south I cancel.

17 knots out of the north & I may go/no go depending on how hearty the divers are (or--think they are).


Wind at 17 knots out of the south produces pretty constant 3 foot seas at Looe Key..with a good many 4's & the occasional rogue 5 rolling through.

The fish are generally well fed once we leave in those conditions.

 

[Diver0001]

What do you consider the point to call a dive due to weather conditions. For me it is Hurricanes and Northern Gales, But then I just head to Cave country

As a general rule a force 5 (Beaufort) is about my limit in terms of wind. Air temps never get cold enough to be problematic where I live now and lightning is a show stopper.

R..

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

As a general rule a force 5 (Beaufort) is about my limit in terms of wind. Air temps never get cold enough to be problematic where I live now and lightning is a show stopper.
R..

Roger that.