Scooter-ed Into Gill Net

[Rick Inman]

Diving a local lake a few days ago (this is a BIG lake, and it’s 1200’ deep), scooter-ing along at 80’, we came across a big gill net. I was on my hopped-up Mako and my two buddies on their slower :eyebrow: X-Scooters.

We stopped in front of the net to access our situation. The net went off to the right and left as far as we could see, and up above us 40’. The vis was great, so we could see the top of the net 40’ above us. Here’s what a gill net looks like:

http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/nets/images/gillnet.gif

The team leader signaled for us to ascend up and swim over the net, then head back down and continue our dive. We all agreed, and up we went – scooters OFF, of course.

At the top of the net, my buddies kicked over and onto the other side of the net. As I was coming over the top, the lower handle on my Mako below me snagged in the top rope of the net, and when it did, it triggered my scooter on (the Mako has two trigger handles, but most people just use them one handed, with one handle on top, and one on the bottom).

Suddenly I was on a wild spinning ride! My scooter jumped forward. But then, being caught in the top of the net, spun me upside-down, around and back head-on right into the net!

I had a real moment of, Oh crap! I flailed around a bit trying to get righted, not wanting to be caught upside-down in this thing, and I managed to get righted somewhat. This all happened in just a few seconds, but I can remember seeing my buddy off to my right watching this all play out, and thinking, if I really get wrapped up in this net, I know he’ll cut me out, and I have lots of gas. Still, getting all wrapped up in this net with a run-away scooter wasn’t my favorite idea.

Of course, in the few seconds this all took place in, it never occurred to me to just stick my hand into the prop and stop the scooter – which is what I should have done. Fortunately, the net did it for me. Somehow a piece of the net ended up in the prop and stopped my thrust into the body of the net. Once the forward momentum stopped, the top rope slipped off my trigger and the scooter turned off. With just a little bit of net clearing, I was able to extricate myself, back out and be free of the net.

I held for a bit, catching my breath, returned the OK to my watching buddies, and we continued the dive. The remainder of the dive was uneventful – 80 minutes bottom time, with 75 of those minutes on the scooters.



This is what I concluded:

The net never needed to be cut, but it was reassuring to know that there were 3 sets of shears and three knives between the team members.

I‘d have hated to be solo on this dive.

I am very seriously thinking of removing the bottom trigger on my Mako.

This could have been worse, and I was lucky I didn’t get wrapped up in a big mess.

I was with my regular buddies, and it was reassuring to know that I could depend on their help, had I needed it.

Lastly, gill nets suck.

[cool_hardware52]

Yikes!

Glad to hear you are OK.

Tobin

[Melicertes]

Rick, this sounds like one of those situations where you you don't say a word to your buddies about any of it, take them for a few shots of tequila after the dive (provided you're not planning any repetitive dives,) then you suddenly look over at them and say "Helluva thing that with the gill net don'tcha think?" :D

That must have been a pretty scary experience when you're both the one being zoomed around as well as a buddy looking on. Glad you're ok! :coffee:

[FishNut]

Another thing to ad to my list of why i hate gill nets :) never thought that SCUBA divers would be the bi-catch :) At least it turned out good.

[Teamcasa]

Glad to hear you are OK. What the heck is a gill net doing in a lake? Looking for Loch Ness?

[TSandM]

Wow, Rick, that must have been scary.

I haven't yet stuck my hand in my prop to stop my scooter. Intellectually, I know I can do it, but my gut likes my hands the way they are :)

[jagfish]

Wow, Rick, way to keep your head.

[fppf]

WOW, now you know what a pair of pants feel like on spin cycle.

What about a trigger gaurd? or a better one?

[do it easy]

Thanks for sharing- I'm glad to hear that you survived your "fishing accident" ;)

[Diver Dennis]

Good job keeping calm Rick. It's amazing how quickly things can go from good to crazy bad.

[Ben_ca]

If you were on an X it would have never happened ;)

(Add that to your list) :D

ps... would that be a gear solution to a skill problem?

[Rick Inman]

What the heck is a gill net doing in a lake? Looking for Loch Ness?
This is a BIG lake. In fact, the Navy has a submarine training base here. The net is an attempt to eradicate a non-native species of trout.

If you were on an X it would have never happened ;)

(Add that to your list) :D

ps... would that be a gear solution to a skill problem?
:rofl3: Right on both, friend.

[TSandM]

Just wanted to share some info Peter gave me from the scooter workshop he did with AG . . . Apparently, the construction of the clutch on the Mako scooter is such that stopping it by impeding the prop can damage the clutch assembly. (This is in contrast to the X's, which have an electronic clutch that senses overload on the prop and cuts the power.) You might want to have a look at that part of your scooter and make sure it wasn't damaged in the incident.

[JeffG]

If you were on an X it would have never happened ;)

(Add that to your list) :D

ps... would that be a gear solution to a skill problem?

Tee hee...I didn't want to be the first one to say that. ;)

[Rick Inman]

Just wanted to share some info Peter gave me from the scooter workshop he did with AG . . . Apparently, the construction of the clutch on the Mako scooter is such that stopping it by impeding the prop can damage the clutch assembly. (This is in contrast to the X's, which have an electronic clutch that senses overload on the prop and cuts the power.) You might want to have a look at that part of your scooter and make sure it wasn't damaged in the incident.

From what I was told, when the soup-up was done, the clutch was replaced with one that doesn't have that issue. But, it's not electronic. So I'll take a gander at it. Thanks!

[cool_hardware52]

The net is an attempt to eradicate a non-native species of trout.

What species of trout are you? ;)

Tobin

[Rick Inman]

What species of trout are you? ;)

Tobin
BULL trout!

[limeyx]

This is what I concluded:



How about locking (both?) triggers when swimming/stowing the scooter ?

[Rick Inman]

How about locking (both?) triggers when swimming/stowing the scooter ?
Yeah. That is the right (meaning, not lazy) thing to do.

[HBDiveGirl]

Thanks for talking about this, Rick, so your internet teammates can learn from it. I'm also relieved to hear you weren't hurt. Isn't it amazing how many things rush through your head in "those" moments?

I haven't yet stuck my hand in my prop to stop my scooter. Intellectually, I know I can do it, but my gut likes my hands the way they are :) DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!! Successful practice of this will calm you immeasurably if/when your scooter sticks "on". I spend tons of time in thick kelp with a scooter. Inadvertant trigger activation happens with the hundreds of kelp stipes all around me, and knowing that I can solve it with two fingers into the prop has turned it into a stress-free issue.

Yes, I lock down the trigger most of the time... but it's impossible to do it all the time considering my diving environment.
The Hand2TheProp-Stop is a safe and useful skill.

~~~~
Claudette

[Peter_C]

The lower trigger is removed on my Mako. Even if the main trigger fails, you still have the little button deal to turn it on. Many will remove the lower handle but I left mine on. Anyone can then use the scooter by just holding it in their hands, plus my harness wraps around it.

ALL triggers must have the ability to be pinned. I painted the spot where I store my trigger pin white so it is easier to spot in our often poor vis. It really is not hard to do, and if you need pictures or anything else just let me know.

FWIW I have my scooter set up to clip off like a stage. Makes it nice for tooling around looking at stuff, hands free. Trigger is pinned when stowed.

[Rick Inman]

... and if you need pictures or anything else just let me know.

That would be great, for me, and anyone else who might run accross this thread in the future.

[Peter_C]

I just went out and drilled four holes in my compass plate and swapped the Oceanic compass for an SK7 in a DSS mount. So much for using a free compass...it sucked! It was too hard to see when scootering due to design. The zip ties will remain until I have used it once, to make sure of the positioning, then I will bolt it. Of course I may have to raise the compass mount up yet.

In the first photo you can see how the trigger is pinned. The hole needs to be pretty close to the handle.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45821&stc=1&d=1210834429

Moving the pin is pretty easy underwater (FYI I wear dry gloves), but I found it even easier with the storage hole marked in white paint. You can also see the extra on switch at the left of the picture. The pins might be had at a marine store, but McMaster Carr has them...unfortunately in bulk. The pin itself is probably considered an 1 1/2".
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45822&stc=1&d=1210834429

The very large snap bolt is for my harness (It is just wrapped around the front handle for storage), and the smaller one is what I use to clip off to the left chest d-ring. It seems to ride pretty well there, much like a stage, except heavier.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45823&stc=1&d=1210834429

[Jim Ernst]

Rick.

Sorry for my ignorance...

Why do they put a gill net in a lake??

Sorry everyone .... I am lost as to why???

Great job Rick.

[Rick Inman]

In the first photo you can see how the trigger is pinned...

Nice pics, Peter, thank you. Yeah, I have the pins, but didn't use them. :shakehead:

Rick.

Sorry for my ignorance...

Why do they put a gill net in a lake??

Sorry everyone .... I am lost as to why???

Great job Rick.
They are trying to eradicate two species of trout that s not native to the lake - lake trout and rainbow trout. Personally, I think it's a shame and I'm rooting for the trout. There is a bounty on them for fisherman, and the nets to attempt to collect them. They keep the net deeper than the bass and spiny rays usually go, and away from spiny ray structure.

We didn't see one fish in the net (if you don't count me).

[Doc Intrepid]

Hey Rick,

Glad you had no worse issues.

I hate gill nets too.

;)

I'm back in the Tri-cities now (sorta, I'm in Russia for the next couple weeks, but will be back by the end of the month). Lets get together some weekend for lunch or something.

I need to learn more about Bull Trout!

Doc

[Rick Inman]

Lets get together some weekend for lunch or something.

let me know as soon as you get back!

[allenw1972]

I just went out and drilled four holes in my compass plate and swapped the Oceanic compass for an SK7 in a DSS mount. So much for using a free compass...it sucked! It was too hard to see when scootering due to design. The zip ties will remain until I have used it once, to make sure of the positioning, then I will bolt it. Of course I may have to raise the compass mount up yet.

In the first photo you can see how the trigger is pinned. The hole needs to be pretty close to the handle.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45821&stc=1&d=1210834429

Moving the pin is pretty easy underwater (FYI I wear dry gloves), but I found it even easier with the storage hole marked in white paint. You can also see the extra on switch at the left of the picture. The pins might be had at a marine store, but McMaster Carr has them...unfortunately in bulk. The pin itself is probably considered an 1 1/2".
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45822&stc=1&d=1210834429

The very large snap bolt is for my harness (It is just wrapped around the front handle for storage), and the smaller one is what I use to clip off to the left chest d-ring. It seems to ride pretty well there, much like a stage, except heavier.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45823&stc=1&d=1210834429
Hmmm. That trigger pinning looks easy. I wonder why Rick doesn't use his pins? I looks like something that a buddy could get pretty upset over... you know... jeopardizing the team and all. ;)

[Rick Inman]

Hmmm. That trigger pinning looks easy. I wonder why Rick doesn't use his pins? I looks like something that a buddy could get pretty upset over... you know... jeopardizing the team and all. ;)

Well Al, thanks for chiming in. Yes, I guess you do have the right to talk, since you did a text-book plow-nose-first-into-the-bottom when you had your tow rope wrap around your trigger Sunday. Hope you didn't scratch the nose of the lovely new X of yours. :D

[allenw1972]

You got me!

Seriously, Rick did a great job of dealing with the situation in a calm and controlled manner. I was standing by watching the whole thing.

[justleesa]

Wow what a ride! Kudo's to you for keeping your cool!

[PuyallupCoug]

Diving a local lake a few days ago (this is a BIG lake, and it’s 1200’ deep),



Lake CDA perhaps?

[Rick Inman]

Lake CDA perhaps?

Nope. CDA is only 150'. Guess again.:D

[PuyallupCoug]

Nope. CDA is only 150'. Guess again.:D

I didn't realize CDA was only 150' deep. You must have been at Pond Oreille :D

[Rick Inman]

I didn't realize CDA was only 150' deep. You must have been at Pond Oreille :D
Bingo! :D Come join us some time.