Scuba Brad:
Not to long ago I heard a story from a friend that occured on a dive trip. It seemed they had a rather anxious Captain who wanted to get the divers in and out and himself back to the bar. On this occation two of the divers stepped off the dive boat at the prompting of the captain, directly onto another diver.......causing some uncomfortable moments and some colorful use of the english language.
What thoughts to you have on Dive Boat Etiquette........what to do and what not to do on Dive Boats? Give us some great examples of both.
Happy Diving
I've never met a Captain who rushed divers into the water. The exception is drift diving when one must be ready, and the group needs to enter quickly one after another to avoid getting seperated at the surface, descend as a group, and to hit the reef/wreck before they blow past it.
Generally when drift diving the DM and Captain have a bit more strick timelines, and they EXPECT the divers to be ready to get into the pool when the signal is given.
As to Etiquette, common courtesy, and common sense along with a bit of experience, or the help of experienced divers/DM/Captain is about all that is necessary. If you can't get ready quickly, then suit up prior to the 10 minute call. If you are packed on a dive boat and in the front of the boat you may choose to wait (if the dive allows), and allow those on both sides to gear up rather than to squeeze into your spot at the discomfort of others (I've done this a few times).
Most divers like to get their first tank setup with BC, weight (if integrated), and Reg ASAP once on the boat. I put my fins right under my seat, hang my mask on my tank valve (until I'm ready to wear it MOF style!
) get into the bottom half of my suit, put on my booties, and am ready to don the top half of the suit, zipper up, climb into the BC, and put on the fins once the 10 minute call is made.
Keep your gear under YOUR seat and not spread out across the boat. Use the rinse buckets as instructed, don't just throw your mask in the camera bucket because it's closer. Listen to the Dive briefing, and pay attention to what the DM/Captain expects as to Bottom time, and safety. Discuss the dive with your buddy prior to the 10 minute warning.
Follow the rules when using the head, and if you need to puke, do it where the Captain has instructed which is generally near the back of the boat over the side. Ask questions, pay attention, be polite to others and treat them as you would like to be treated. If you are a new diver, ask for help.
Do NOT joke around when the captain is doing roll call after the dive has ended. Respect that the DM/Captain have a serious job to perform, and while boats are fun, and enjoying the trip is fine, recognize that when the crew is trying to communicate with the divers about the site, boat safety, ect. , even if you've heard it 100 times before, keep quiet, and show respect for those who may not have been on the boat.
Boats are generally easy unless they are crowded. I can not imaging someone jumping on top of another diver. I doubt that was the captain's intention even if he wanted to get back to shore.
It would be interesting to hear the other side of this story, as there are always two sides, and the old I heard this from someone who knows a guy side is generally embellished. :mooner:
