tekkydiver
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In South Florida and the Keys, the best way to enjoy the reefs and wrecks is to dive on a private vessel.
So as a boat owner, who frequently dives with friends and occasionally friends of friends, and sometimes want to open a vein than spend another second with some interesting passengers, here are a few do's and dont's which will give you a better-than-average chance of being invited back.
1. BE ON TIME. nuff said. If you are meeting at a home where the boat is docked, car pool if possible. Generally the fewer cars at the house the better.
2. Don't board until you are asked.... wait for the capt. before you grab a line. If you are not sure, ask.... please ask.
3. Don't expect the captain to lug your gear. The capt. more than likely has his stuff on board and the boat ready. You and other invited guests load the boat. The capt. will tell you where to stow gear. Don't BS around, we want to get going. If you have questions, ask.....please ask.
4. Don't come empty handed. Unless you are told otherwise, drinks, snacks etc... are your responsibility. You don't need to provide a gourmet dinner.... just don't cheap out and show up with an opened bag of chips and half a gatorade.
5. Make sure your gear is in working order the night before. If you have any doubts, go to a local dive shop and rent what you may need. Don't expect the Capt. or other passengers to lend you gear. The thinking is that if you can't keep your stuff working, I don't want you using mine.
6. Bring your own spare o-rings, weights and mask defog.
7. The capt. should give you instruction where to get your gear together. If you are not sure, ask... please ask.
8. Okay, we're heading out.... please don' tell the capt. what the boat needs. My guess he is well aware of how the vessel is equipped and what other options are available.
9. Please don't "suggest" any operating assistance to the captain (at least until you are asked or have earned credibility as a regular crew member. Not that you may have valid suggestions, but things are learned and implemented over time. Get a little experience with the vessel and personalities, otherwise you come across as a know-it-all. If we wanted to dive with the "experts", we would just go on the cattle boats.
10. Follow any instructions regarding diving. This is your first trip just bear with it. If you can't live with it, feign a headache and decline to dive. That means if you dived with Cousteau we really don't care. It is your first time aboard making you a rookie. An experienced capt. will recognize your dive qualifications by your behavior. He will accommodate your ability as he deems reasonable.
11. Thank the capt. on the way in. Be appreciative. DO NOT ASK IF YOU CAN HELP WITH GAS. Fuel is $4.50 a gallon on the water. Of course you can. Most vessels over 28 ft get 1.0 -2.5 miles/gallon when running at speed. Not to mention oil for 2 strokes, maintenance etc... I would say just give the capt. 30 dollars for a local trip. You are still way ahead compared to going on a cattle boat. You might even get some back. Once you are a regular crew member, the capt. might not even take money.I can tell you the owner never makes money taking friends out on a boat. They truly are money pits. The fact is the owner is going whether you are along or not. Your money is more a sign of appreciation than anything else. (This doesn't apply for keys or bahamas trips where expenses will be split accordingly.)
12. The trip doesn't end at the dock. Again.... don't ask if you can help with the boat, rather ask, "Where is the deck brush and soap?" or something like that. Usually a genuine offer to help is more than enough.
13. Tell the capt. you enjoyed it and would like to go again. If you don't get a call, figure you were a blind date that went bad. If you get the call... congratulations.... you made the cut!
14. The idea is to have fun..... no one wants to be Capt. Bligh. So if you are not sure just ask.... please ask.
15. BTW if you are a regular and you dive all year and don't pay for gas, and want to show your appreciation, it would be a nice gesture for the group chip in to get the boat professionally detailed once a year. It would knock the captains socks off. Make sure you can access the boat without getting in trouble.
Happy New Year and Be Safe!
So as a boat owner, who frequently dives with friends and occasionally friends of friends, and sometimes want to open a vein than spend another second with some interesting passengers, here are a few do's and dont's which will give you a better-than-average chance of being invited back.
1. BE ON TIME. nuff said. If you are meeting at a home where the boat is docked, car pool if possible. Generally the fewer cars at the house the better.
2. Don't board until you are asked.... wait for the capt. before you grab a line. If you are not sure, ask.... please ask.
3. Don't expect the captain to lug your gear. The capt. more than likely has his stuff on board and the boat ready. You and other invited guests load the boat. The capt. will tell you where to stow gear. Don't BS around, we want to get going. If you have questions, ask.....please ask.
4. Don't come empty handed. Unless you are told otherwise, drinks, snacks etc... are your responsibility. You don't need to provide a gourmet dinner.... just don't cheap out and show up with an opened bag of chips and half a gatorade.
5. Make sure your gear is in working order the night before. If you have any doubts, go to a local dive shop and rent what you may need. Don't expect the Capt. or other passengers to lend you gear. The thinking is that if you can't keep your stuff working, I don't want you using mine.
6. Bring your own spare o-rings, weights and mask defog.
7. The capt. should give you instruction where to get your gear together. If you are not sure, ask... please ask.
8. Okay, we're heading out.... please don' tell the capt. what the boat needs. My guess he is well aware of how the vessel is equipped and what other options are available.
9. Please don't "suggest" any operating assistance to the captain (at least until you are asked or have earned credibility as a regular crew member. Not that you may have valid suggestions, but things are learned and implemented over time. Get a little experience with the vessel and personalities, otherwise you come across as a know-it-all. If we wanted to dive with the "experts", we would just go on the cattle boats.
10. Follow any instructions regarding diving. This is your first trip just bear with it. If you can't live with it, feign a headache and decline to dive. That means if you dived with Cousteau we really don't care. It is your first time aboard making you a rookie. An experienced capt. will recognize your dive qualifications by your behavior. He will accommodate your ability as he deems reasonable.
11. Thank the capt. on the way in. Be appreciative. DO NOT ASK IF YOU CAN HELP WITH GAS. Fuel is $4.50 a gallon on the water. Of course you can. Most vessels over 28 ft get 1.0 -2.5 miles/gallon when running at speed. Not to mention oil for 2 strokes, maintenance etc... I would say just give the capt. 30 dollars for a local trip. You are still way ahead compared to going on a cattle boat. You might even get some back. Once you are a regular crew member, the capt. might not even take money.I can tell you the owner never makes money taking friends out on a boat. They truly are money pits. The fact is the owner is going whether you are along or not. Your money is more a sign of appreciation than anything else. (This doesn't apply for keys or bahamas trips where expenses will be split accordingly.)
12. The trip doesn't end at the dock. Again.... don't ask if you can help with the boat, rather ask, "Where is the deck brush and soap?" or something like that. Usually a genuine offer to help is more than enough.
13. Tell the capt. you enjoyed it and would like to go again. If you don't get a call, figure you were a blind date that went bad. If you get the call... congratulations.... you made the cut!
14. The idea is to have fun..... no one wants to be Capt. Bligh. So if you are not sure just ask.... please ask.
15. BTW if you are a regular and you dive all year and don't pay for gas, and want to show your appreciation, it would be a nice gesture for the group chip in to get the boat professionally detailed once a year. It would knock the captains socks off. Make sure you can access the boat without getting in trouble.
Happy New Year and Be Safe!
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