Taking GPS coordinates of a site... captain's permission?

[Tug]

I see nothing wrong with that policy. Sometimes people just need to create something to complain about.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.......figure it out

now Steve, that would never happen on ScubaBoard

 

[manni-yunk]

Funny Thread.


First of all - Google earth...Really? To find a dive site?

As someone who has spent the last 15 years finding fishing locations and the last 5 learning where to look for wrecks to dive - I assure you that MOST, almost ALL, published numbers are NOT very accurate. YOu might find a GPS list of wrecks - but most of the wrecks are anywhere from 100 feet to 100 miles OFF. Even on charts. Until a fishing boat or diver has marked it with the sounder, then saved that specific spot - you wont know where the wreck or good part of the reef is. The Captains that spent time to do this dont wnat to share the info easily.

I tend to share info with local dive boats and fisherman all the time.


BUT - It is common courtesy and etiquite to ASK the captains permission to bring a GPS of any kind.


Ive had several guys ask me - and I always say yes. If I caught someone doing it without asking - I would be mad.

WHen I dive on charter boats or other private operations - I would never even think about bringing my GPS. I would just ask the captain if they would share the numbers with me. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no, and sometimes we trade info on wrecks that one of us knows and the other does not.


Sure - you can get away with a camera or a phone with geotagging - but - it is in bad taste and not good etiquite.

Its up to you how you want to behave. I consider myself an up front and direct person, who would rather have a conversation and ask for the numbers, instead of sneaking technology on board.



ALSO - I find it ammusing that some of you guys are die hard instructors or "Do it right" advocates in the scuba world....but so quickly willing to bend etiquite to the boating side of this sport.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I'm not sure about NJ, but many reefs and wrecks in California show up on Google Earth exactly where they are at. I've used it many times to find high spots on several sites.
This is the Star of Scotland wreck near Santa Monica.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/1064/GoogleEarth_Image_1_.jpg

 

[manni-yunk]

I'm not sure about NJ, but many reefs and wrecks in California show up on Google Earth exactly where they are at. I've used it many times to find high spots on several sites.
This is the Star of Scotland wreck near Santa Monica.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/1064/GoogleEarth_Image_1_.jpg

I dont know how you quantify "many", but out of the 5000+ shipwrecks in NJ - you MIGHT find accurate publishing of 1% of them (State reef site lists, google earth, charts, etc)

AND.....the ones that are accurately published, are the ones that none of the captains care about in terms of bringing a GPS on board and would say "yes" if asked.......


But - you wont know until you follow etiquite and ask.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

A good part of it is what's your intent to use the GPS numbers for. With today's technology, its a feature lots of us like to use it just like stamping the time and date on a picture. Heck, I just plain like knowing where I am at in case the worst happens. Anyway, its the 21st century and some people haven't adjusted yet...

Using the numbers to go back to the site on another boat is a different story. The boat captains don't really know what your intention is and some may take it the wrong way if they don't know you.

If its a secret site and they ask you not to use a GPS, that's fine with me. Its their boat, their rules, but if they don't tell you and they get in a huff about it, that takes care of the tip issue. If they try to toss it overboard, loosing the tip will be the least of their worries.

 

[Reck Diver]

Well then I'd not take the gps receiver. Just my phone to take pictures. With gps positioning enabled. Each photo would have the coordinates. If a crew member threatened me with destruction of my property the first thing I'd do is notify the local authorities. Then I'd post their ops name and theirs here and on my facebook page and what they said. You're over a dive site open to anyone with access. Not a treasure site with a legitimate claim.

If you were aboard my vessel, and used a gps after I made it clear no such device was allowed, I would toss it in the ocean and you would never again board my vessel. I make that clear in advance to all passengers on the few occasions when it is appropriate.

 

[vladimir]

If you were aboard my vessel, and used a gps after I made it clear no such device was allowed, I would toss it in the ocean and you never again board vessel. I make that clear in advance to all passengers on the few occasions when it is appropriate.

There's the important distinction. The OP was not made aware of such a policy. Very few would argue in favor of flouting explicit boat policies. I have yet to board a boat that made such a policy explicit, but most of my wreck diving was done in the LORAN days.

 

[Gombessa]

GPS is not one of the battles I'd find worth fighting with the crew of a boat I was on. Their boat, their rules, and I'm sure there are much more worthy topics of debate (how they deal with your gear, safety issues, closing off the head at the site).

Whether it's a secret site or not, or if they think they can detect all the phones, cameras or almond-sized standalone GPS receiving units brought on by clients and prevent dissemination of numbers, this practice will quickly become nothing more than a historical oddity, simply by the steady march of technology.

The boats who are really serial about it will install radio jammers or broadcast false numbers so all your readings point to downtown Topeka Kansas, at which point they shouldn't care if you're packing a GPS.

 

[Zieg]

Ok, I get it. GPS is really a euphemism for Banana.

 

[vladimir]

GPS is not one of the battles I'd find worth fighting with the crew of a boat I was on. Their boat, their rules, and I'm sure there are much more worthy topics of debate (how they deal with your gear, safety issues, closing off the head at the site).

Whether it's a secret site or not, or if they think they can detect all the phones, cameras or almond-sized standalone GPS receiving units brought on by clients and prevent dissemination of numbers, this practice will quickly become nothing more than a historical oddity, simply by the steady march of technology.

The boats who are really serial about it will install radio jammers or broadcast false numbers so all your readings point to downtown Topeka Kansas, at which point they shouldn't care if you're packing a GPS.

GPS jamming, and jamming devices, are illegal in the United States. Serial offenders will face serious consequences.