First, let me say thanks for taking the time to reply, this board has been an invaluable tool for a new diver! I'm looking for a little insight of how a boat dive goes, I will be diving in the Florida panhandle next month. I have read/viewed quite a few articles and most vids don't show any prep work on the boat. I truly get the main points like listen to the dive brief, follow the captains orders, keep your "stuff" tidy, that’s a given and for sure not all operations are the same. Now, once you get to the dive spot and the boat is in position what normally happens once you have your gear on? Stand in line to get in? raise your hand? Take a number? Ha Ha.. Second, once in the water and out of the way, do you just wait for DM? is there a huddle per say? Thanks for sharing your prior experiences.
Questions about my first boat dive
- Thread starter Gary_D
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thelmuth
Registered
Follow the instructions of the crew, they will make sure you get in when it's time, just be ready when it's time. Then it really depends on the dive op. If you are following a DM/Guide, you enter, swim away from entry point and wait for DM to signal descend. If no guide, enter, swim away from entry point and wait for your buddy to be ready to descend.
Oh no! You're trying to boat dive without the Boat Diver Specialty Card! What happens is the seas swallow your boat whole.
Failing that, presuming it's a guided dive, you wait for the DM to drop in the water or tell you to do so. Then you do either a giant stride or a backward roll, depending on what is more comfortable. Again the DM will show, suggest or tell you, it's usually the roll on smaller boats, the stride if you're a few feet above the surface.
Once in the water, you stay on the surface and wait for the DM to give you a "go down" signal, then descend together. Some (few) will go down without signaling, just follow them and look out for further signals.
Failing that, presuming it's a guided dive, you wait for the DM to drop in the water or tell you to do so. Then you do either a giant stride or a backward roll, depending on what is more comfortable. Again the DM will show, suggest or tell you, it's usually the roll on smaller boats, the stride if you're a few feet above the surface.
Once in the water, you stay on the surface and wait for the DM to give you a "go down" signal, then descend together. Some (few) will go down without signaling, just follow them and look out for further signals.
noj3333
Contributor
IMHO, it's not a bad idea to tell the DM or Captain it's your first boat dive when they have a free minute... They should be a little more accommodating and helpful if they know your level of experience. It never hurts to give them some extra information in this instance.
Edit... if they're extra good to you don't forget that when it comes time to tip them!
Edit... if they're extra good to you don't forget that when it comes time to tip them!
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noj3333, I'll do that for sure, just trying to get more SA on this, I like being prepared as much as possible, I'm a fish in the water. But boat diving in the gulf is a little different from shore diving in a lake.
Not just keep your stuff tidy, but pack as small as you can, I was told. If you can keep your stuff to one bag, it's best. And have some sort of a dry bag for your clothes, phone, wallet. Make sure you have your c-card on you. My first boat dives are Sunday. Enjoy! 
Most people have learned to dive from a boat in tropical waters. You won't be the first first-timer... maybe not even the first that day.
I vaguely remember my first boat dive, also my first outside a pool. I was fiddling with my equipment, worrying about anything but the boat. The actual water entry was a bit off-putting for two minutes seconds - roll backwards? - so I made sure my reg and octo were breathing, my inflator worked, my mask strap was tight (mistake, don't do that), and then it was over in two seconds.
It's no deal at all. Boat entry is the easiest way to get into the water. It's getting out of the water that takes all the effort - swimming up to the boat, taking off the fins, climbing on, all usually easy, but gets trickier the rougher the seas are.
I vaguely remember my first boat dive, also my first outside a pool. I was fiddling with my equipment, worrying about anything but the boat. The actual water entry was a bit off-putting for two minutes seconds - roll backwards? - so I made sure my reg and octo were breathing, my inflator worked, my mask strap was tight (mistake, don't do that), and then it was over in two seconds.
It's no deal at all. Boat entry is the easiest way to get into the water. It's getting out of the water that takes all the effort - swimming up to the boat, taking off the fins, climbing on, all usually easy, but gets trickier the rougher the seas are.
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