Safety on the Dive Boat

[Jax]

re--emoreira's list: All the saftey things to me are of course imortant. As far as the comforts go, as long as there is a head (dirty is fine) and they let me collect shells, I'm happy.

Eeeeewwwwww . . . :yuck:

I like emoreira's list . . . but more as a "If I could have everything, I'd want . . . "

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I think this is a really good thread, and it got me thinking. What do I expect from a dive boat? I expect to get what I pay for, and that varies a lot from one location to another. If I am paying $140.00 for a two tank half day excursion, I expect full tanks, a clean and orderly boat, no more divers on board than was represented when I booked, and appropriate first aid/ safety equipment on board. I expect a trained captain and crew, properly licensed and permits in hand. But when I am in my favorite little village in Mexico paying $25.00 per dive or less, I just expect the boat to get me to the site, pick me up, and get me back. I'll check my tank for proper fill and O ring before boarding. Of course, there are lots of other variations, but in every case, I expect the following of a dive boat I have paid to be on:
Be on time for departure, as posted
Don't overfill the boat
Get me to the dive site you promised
Don't come back without me
Don't act like you are my kindergarten teacher or drill instructor- you work for me, I don't work for you
Treat my equipment as you would your own- and don't break anything
Maintain a positive and friendly atmosphere, however luxurious or spartan the boat
Pay attention to your customers- be available and responsive- don't spend the day chatting withyour fellow crew and act like there is no one else on the boat.
Give me a full tank of clean air
I am a tipper. I tip for good service. The measure of good service is whether I got what I paid for. Simple enough. Sometimes I paid for a boat ride. Sometimes I paid for a lot more.
DivemasterDennis

 

[Wookie]

I'm getting a lot of good responses about what I want in a DIVE boat (as far as diving goes), and that's all well and good, the purpose of the thread is to see what lengths folks will go to ensure their own safety on the boat. Many folks have responded that they are responsible for their own safety. The real question is, what do you do about it? Do you carry your own CO2 inflatable work vest in other countries? Do you see something unacceptable to you (loose deck hatches, no working VHF, no life jackets) and step off?

Do you just trust the captain (in many countries, the captain is a congested divemaster) for your safety, then get upset when an accident happens? Do you trust USCG standards and the window sticker on your boat, or do you poke around? I remember a captain of a non-US-flagged liveaboard telling me when I was in the yard last year that his flag-state inspection consisted of airfare for the inspector, a $600 check, and a bottle of Johnny Walker green label. The inspector never stepped foot on the boat.

 

[The Chairman]

What safety do I require of a dive boat?

EPIRB
Float away raft
Life Preservers (Though, I'll grab my BC if I can)
Sound deck and hull
No unpleasant noises or smells (signs of trouble)
Escape routes
A competent captain and crew

What do I provide myself?
Nautilus Life Line (Waterproof VHF Radio/Locater beacon)
O2 analyzer
Whistle
SMB and Spool
3 cutting devices
BC

I need to carry a CO analyzer as well, but I don't really like any of the providers yet.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Wookie that is a deal I would want a much better single malt so as I filled in the inspection sheet it would be perfect in case of an accident.

Like diving in la paz, I would use my compass and land memory also I look at all the dive sites that are available before I even go somewhere and then see how the tides and currents move in the area. and of course open ocean I never second guess time or where the boat is.

I have always made a request on anything that was needed attended to and you get hey that's a good Idea.

I remember there were two bathrooms on a boat on catalina, and in a breifing the DM mention she had to clean so please be considered. there were woman on bored and to me it seemed to be a safety problem when before first dive they were in hurry as one bathroom was locked and they could not open it. After 20 mins I open it and not sure they were happy as now had two clean two bathrooms. All the other days were fine as there were only 6 divers max two couples and I solo dove and so did Dr Bill, and only two gals on board.

 

[Jax]

That's one thing that would make me not come back, if the crew did things for their own convenience even if it inconvenienced the clients. I would suspect those people would also take shortcuts on safety.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Well Jax they did not stop me from doing so, yet did not make an effort as had a bathroom.

 

[Akimbo]

Wookie: Can you describe your method for making sure everyone is onboard and what channel you want to monitor for divers that have a Nautilus Lifeline (default is channel 8).

Regarding non-safety features, a diver’s elevator like some of the boats in the UK would be nice.

 

[danvolker]

What do I really expect from a dive boat ?


1. Beyond the norm air quality.
2. Tanks filled to 3000 psi, not less in well maintained tanks (I'm not mentioning other gear as I always use my own gear).
3. Enough space for each diver, so as to be able to don and doff dive gear and suit comfortably.
4. A safe count system so as no diver is left behind.
5. Drinks and light food.
6. Enough boat speed so as to arrive and go out to/from the dive place in less than an hour.
7. A well maintained dive boat. Paint, gear, comodities, machinery, etc.
8. A private and comfortable dry place to change wet clothes.
9. A hot shower for those cold days for wet divers.
10. All the safety gear quickly available and well signalized.
11. A clean bathroom.
12. An easy way to climb the boat from the water after dive.
13. Availability of minor dive tools and hardware (tools, o-rings, mask and fin straps, reg plugs, some wet jackets, hoods, etc.).
14. A rest space for inter-dive time.

This list is pretty standard on 99% of the Palm Beach dive boats.

 

[Wookie]

Wookie: Can you describe your method for making sure everyone is onboard and what channel you want to monitor for divers that have a Nautilus Lifeline (default is channel 8).

Regarding non-safety features, a diver’s elevator like some of the boats in the UK would be nice.

Sure. All divers are checked off the boat by their bunk number. As they re-board, they are asked for their max depth and bottom time. This is not necessarily to nanny them, but in the event of an accident, I have a record of their dives, especially if they don't use a computer. So, first check of back onboard is by a questioning divemaster. Then, the captain does what's called a "welfare check". Every diver is looked in the eye and asked how they are feeling. It's amazing how many divers will look you straight in the eye, and with one eye twitching like mad tell me that they are fine, or as they rub their shoulder, or their hip. We had one girl lifting her leg to go over the knee knocker as she came in and out of the house. If a diver has made a dive, they are woken up for every welfare check regardless if they made that dive or not. If a diver has stopped diving for 24 hours, or a guest is a non diver, we just verify that they are physically present, but don't necessarily wake them up. Additionally, before I move the boat, I look for a snorkeler/swimmer in the water and for missing gear on the dive deck.

This accomplishes a couple of things. The captains learn the names of every diver (you can't just call them "bunk 11" for the entire week), the divemasters learn the name of every diver, and the cooks learn the name of every diver (can't be helped, folks like to hang out in the galley). It's interesting. Every liveaboard I've ever been a passenger on has had a place that is off-limits to the passengers. One boat captain went so far as to tell us during his briefing that "it was the only place that the crew could get away from the passengers". Everyone who comes on the Spree is a Guest or a Customer, the only place they are referred to as passengers is in the logbook, because it is a term required by the Coast Guard. No place on the Spree is off limits to our guests, although some places require an escort. If you want to inspect my bilges and thru-hulls, you are welcome to do so.

Regarding boarding elevators on dive boats. The Coast Guard takes special interest in elevators that can carry personnel. It's kind of like a hot tub. You'll never see either one on the Spree.

Spree always stands by on 16 and 19. If I used a Lifeline, I'd have it on 16, the "international hailing and distress frequency". 8 around here is where the pilots chat privately.