West Palm Beach Diving 9/22 thru 9/27

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And as I was sternly told by a captain last weekend, a SMB or liftbag is not a substitute for a dive flag after I shot a liftbag to ascend on after my buddy and I got separated. But I'll also say, buddies do get separated from time to time and when (not if) it happens again, I'll ascend on a liftbag versus nothing at all to mark my position.
 
Were you drift diving? Did he expect every diver to have a dive flag? We have never done that either when we shore dive. Only one person has a flag.
 
It was a drift dive in Pompano Beach, about 12 divers and 4 flags (so 4 groups). I thought the captain was somewhat out of line because it wasn't like I continued the dive after we got separated, I simply shot the bag after realizing we were separated. I simply don't think it's safe to ascend without something to mark your position to other boats (including the one you're on).
 
I agree. It may not have been a flag....but it was something.
 
denisegg:
Were you drift diving? Did he expect every diver to have a dive flag? We have never done that either when we shore dive. Only one person has a flag.
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Hello

Only the Dive Master carries the flag normally in Palm Beach diving - although in Boynton you could form your own group and have more than 1 flag going - I've not seen this in WPB or Jupiter.

You are close to some of the best "domestic" diving in the country - WPB - try Jim Abernethy (he's out of Riveria Beach - close to where you are staying)

You should also try Jupiter - dive with Jupiter Dive Center; really professional; excellent operation - I think Jupiter diving is fantastic - very similar to WPB and southern Palm Beach diving but to me better because the Gulf Stream comes closest to Jupiter, bringing in clearer water (normally) and larger animals. You stand a better chance of seeing "stuff" in Jupiter. Plus, the diving is easy; you float withthe current along a reef line that is sometimes 3 feet, 5 feet or as much as 20 feet in relief (height).

Be a shame to be so close and not experience some of the best diving available certainly in FL and arguably in the USA.

PS - Re your wet suit; I use a 3mil suit in Jupiter during the summer because I'm on nitrox and the dives are 50 - 60 mins Yours will likely be shorter so you are probably fine

H20 per my gauge a week ago was 84 on the 1st dive and 85 on the seccond.
 
Sounds incredible!!
 
I have still got to call the dive shop and make plans. I have been so busy getting work caught up and getting ready to go on vacation I haven't planned vacation. I hope it is not to hard to get a seat on the boat.
 
deepstops:
And as I was sternly told by a captain last weekend, a SMB or liftbag is not a substitute for a dive flag after I shot a liftbag to ascend on after my buddy and I got separated. But I'll also say, buddies do get separated from time to time and when (not if) it happens again, I'll ascend on a liftbag versus nothing at all to mark my position.
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Interesting - The Capt is correct that a SMB/liftbag is not a substitute for a dive flag under international and many state laws. There is no law requiring boats to stay away from an SMB or lift bag as there are for dive flags. Oh and the dive flag would not be the traditional read/white diagonal stripe. It would have to be the Alpha flag which is blue and white to carry protection under the law (In international waters - inland waters such as lakes are different)

Many dive ops don't use dive flags at all for drift dives, they use small orange float balls. They all do fly the correct flags on the boats however.

I shoot a SMB on almost every drift dive I do. I am usually with students whose air just doesn't last like those with some experience under there belts. While doing a safety stop your going to drift away from the float/flag so you really don't have a choice. I'm not going to carry a flag u/w in my kit:)

At the end of the day I would offer that most of the 11 million boaters in this country haven't a clue what an Alpha flag means, or how far they are required to stay away from it. Most would recognize the red/white diagonal stripe as a dive flag, but still would be clueless as to how far away they should be from it.

So using something that might help a boater stay away from you, or to help a dive op find you is a good thing. An SMB is better than nothing, but it is not highly visible in any kind of a sea or when the angle of the sun is reflecting off of the water.

Another interesting note is that the US Coast Guard has recently recommended that all dive boats require divers to carry SMB's.

Cheers

Steve
 
Gilless:
Interesting - It would have to be the Alpha flag which is blue and white to carry protection under the law (In international waters - inland waters such as lakes are different)

Cheers

Steve
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That wouldn't be much comfort to me that I was legal when a boat was speeding towards me..:D
 
denisegg:
That wouldn't be much comfort to me that I was legal when a boat was speeding towards me..:D
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And that was the point I was hoping to make - better to not get run over than be legal. Also that even with an SMB you may still not be seen.....

I fail to understand why that Capt would make an issue of this - oh well

Hope you enjoy your diving down here

-s
 
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