Palm Beach diver loses arm as group hit by boat - Florida

[Steelyeyes]

If I see a vessel headed my way I try to make eye contact with the operator. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. Once my adult son (commercial salvage diver at the time) and I were shore diving in Cozumel. Two dive boats approached headed north after their dives, I assume. We made sure they saw us by waving. Their initial course would have put them close but they'd have passed. Right after that their course altered so there was zero angle on the bow, they were headed directly to us and we started swimming 90 degrees to their course and prepared for a rapid descent. Just as we were venting our BCDs the boats made a sharp turn to port and the operators gave us the one finger salute. We made the rest of our transit submerged.

 

[scubadada]

If I see a vessel headed my way I try to make eye contact with the operator. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. Once my adult son (commercial salvage diver at the time) and I were shore diving in Cozumel. Two dive boats approached headed north after their dives, I assume. We made sure they saw us by waving. Their initial course would have put them close but they'd have passed. Right after that their course altered so there was zero angle on the bow, they were headed directly to us and we started swimming 90 degrees to their course and prepared for a rapid descent. Just as we were venting our BCDs the boats made a sharp turn to port and the operators gave us the one finger salute. We made the rest of our transit submerged.

Were you on your SMB?

 

[BRT]

If I see a vessel headed my way I try to make eye contact with the operator. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. Once my adult son (commercial salvage diver at the time) and I were shore diving in Cozumel. Two dive boats approached headed north after their dives, I assume. We made sure they saw us by waving. Their initial course would have put them close but they'd have passed. Right after that their course altered so there was zero angle on the bow, they were headed directly to us and we started swimming 90 degrees to their course and prepared for a rapid descent. Just as we were venting our BCDs the boats made a sharp turn to port and the operators gave us the one finger salute. We made the rest of our transit submerged.

When shore diving in places that may have boats my plan is never to come up in open water. I consider the surface a hard ceiling and the only reason I would come up is if I were in an emergency situation and had no choice.

 

[Altamira]

If I see a vessel headed my way I try to make eye contact with the operator. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. Once my adult son (commercial salvage diver at the time) and I were shore diving in Cozumel. Two dive boats approached headed north after their dives, I assume. We made sure they saw us by waving. Their initial course would have put them close but they'd have passed. Right after that their course altered so there was zero angle on the bow, they were headed directly to us and we started swimming 90 degrees to their course and prepared for a rapid descent. Just as we were venting our BCDs the boats made a sharp turn to port and the operators gave us the one finger salute. We made the rest of our transit submerged.

There is a good chance they thought you were in distress since you were waving, hence the course change to you.

 

[Bob DBF]

There is a good chance they thought you were in distress since you were waving, hence the course change to you.

Depends on the wave, I use the same one hand slow wave the same way I would if in my boat. A greeting, and acknowledgment that I see you, I'm ok, have a good day.

Sometimes, since divers are uncommon, they do come by and chat. I try to give them a good experience if they do, as it helps me, and other divers, over the long haul. In lakes I point out I can't take their fish, the fact that the fish are not afraid of divers, and where I've seen them while diving. I haven't received a one finger salute yet.


Bob

 

[divezonescuba]

I think that there are irresponsible boaters and captains everywhere including Cozumel.

Last year a small vessel passed almost directly above me at high speed while I was on my 20 foot safety stop. I had a 6 foot fully inflated dsmb above me.

Don’t clip a dsmb to any part of your body.

 

[scubadada]

The OK sign is one or both hands above your head making a O. The emergency sign is waving one or both hands above your head. Perhaps your message was misunderstood. I ask again, were you on your SMB? Perhaps your signal was misunderstood? Waving means an urgency.

 

[tursiops]

The OK sign is one or both hands above your head making a O. The emergency sign is waving one or both hands above your head

Unfortunately, that's diver-talk, not boater-talk.

 

[scubadada]

Unfortunately, that's diver-talk, not boater-talk.

Yeah, so maybe diver and boater talk should be the same?

 

[jeffsky29]

None of my boating friends know the scuba ok signs. Even if they took a recreational boating course, I don’t think is is taught. I have to check 6 pack or Captains course, I don’t remember it being taught there either.