VHF Chanel

[MaxE]

What Chanel do the dive boats use to chat in Cozumel? Planning ahead for an upcoming trip and would like to pre program the lifeline radio.

 

[ChuckP]

Near as I can tell, dive ops monitor there own channel numbers. Do they monitor a common emergency channel I do not know

 

[MaxE]

I was told on my previous trip that if I surface and another boat shows up to tell them the name of the boat and the captain would call my boat for me, so I assume they all (many) use and chat on a common channel.

 

[DandyDon]

Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) is the international calling and distress channel. Details at Marine VHF radio - Wikipedia or the channel link posted.

 

[MargaritaMike]

As I recall, the dive op I have been diving with, Tres Pelicanos, end their briefs with "Your boat is Loan Shark (or Skinny Shark) on Channel 6". I actually used that information once when I thumbed a dive for myself very early. After letting Guide and buddy know I surfaced. The boat had moved further down-range and wasn't looking back where I was. I hailed a boat that was about 75-100 yards away. When they came over to me, I assured them that I was okay and then gave them my boat name and the channel. Before long Compeche showed up and I got aboard, so listening to the brief about boat name and channel paid off. YMMV

Cheers -

Edit: Changed one word for another and fixed a typo

 

[DandyDon]

Aren't all VHF radios made to monitor ch 16 even if their preferred channel is another?

 

[MargaritaMike]

Aren't all VHF radios made to monitor ch 16 even if their preferred channel is another?

I thought so, but only marine radios. Other VHF radios do not. I would use 16 only in an emergency.

Cheers

 

[Russjstewart]

I have not encountered any marine radios that will monitor 2 channels at the same time, it is a bit pointless as you would only hear the stronger station. What most radios have is a dual watch facility, where the radio is set to the working channel you use and flicks back to ch 16 then back again. When a signal is received on ch16 the radio will stay on 16 until the signal stops. The effect is that conversations on the working channel sound a bit broken up. Normally if you press the transmit button you will transmit on the working channel, not 16. Some radios may do it differently.

 

[DandyDon]

What most radios have is a dual watch facility, where the radio is set to the working channel you use and flicks back to ch 16 then back again. When a signal is received on ch16 the radio will stay on 16 until the signal stops.

And that's what I meant. Thank you for explaining it much better than I could. So if an emergency is heard on 16, the receiver can switch to 16 as needed for two-way communication. The distressed user can try his primary channel first, then switch to 16 if needed to hit all stations in range. Do I have that right?

 

[D_Fresh]

I thought so, but only marine radios. Other VHF radios do not. I would use 16 only in an emergency.

True that only Marine radios have 16 Monitor option, but 16 is not only for emergencies, but also for all vessel hailing, navigational warnings("Security, Security, Security....."), and other uses. It is standard practice for any vessel on open water to monitor 16* at all times.... else they miss your Mayday call...

*In some regions, 9 is used instead of 16