dumpsterDiver
Banned
- Messages
- 9,003
- Reaction score
- 4,652
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
Today we were snorkeling on some wrecks in 85 ft and my buddy accidentally drops his weightbelt.
So we yell for the boat, he comes close and the operator presses MOB on the GPS and I get in. We run up current a little and I grab my 13 cu-ft pony bottle and a reg and decide to swim down and try to find the lost belt on the bottom in 85 ft with around 2500 psi.
The other 4 freedivers are drifting off to the north and continuing to spearfish. There is one charter dive boat on site who we spoke to previously who has divers in the water and he sees us run up current and drop me in with the pony (at least I think he sees me).
I assume my boat will stay above me and follow my bubbles and “be there” for when I surface (hopefully wearing two weightbelts – and no BC of course).
Surprisingly, I quickly find the belt, put it on and begin a swimming ascent. I had intended to test the dive computer which was on the console, but I guess I forgot to push the start button.
I make it to the surface, but the other freedivers have shot a fish and our boat driver goes to help them (we had seen a large bullshark in the area). So I am kicking to stay on the surface and the scuba charter boat is really close to me and I just know he sees me there on this flat calm day.
Since my boat is down current and not coming for me, I decide to start the computer and drop down a little and check the computer and the depth calibration versus a freedive computer. That goes well also and I make a second uneventful ascent to the surface.
Now I see the charter boat coming toward me, I think “wow that is nice for him to come over and check if I am OK.. but he is kinda coming a little fast”, but then he continues to accelerate and I need to quickly swim to the side and away and the boat goes zipping by me. Pretty fast and pretty close. I’m surprised and pissed and yell - the captain comes off the wheel after he passes me and yells that he didn’t see me.
Can’t really blame him too much, but he should have been looking ahead when he operates the boat around a bunch of freedivers and scuba dives and he should probably stay at an idle speed too. And of course, if I had sent up an SMB and marked my position, I am sure he would have noticed me.
I ASSUMED my boat would follow above me and protect me and I ASSUMED the charter captain was seeing me on the surface. The captain apparently ASSUMED no divers were in the immediate area, so he could put the hammer down a little.
Three bad assumptions that almost had serious consequences.
Hey I got the weightbelt back!
So we yell for the boat, he comes close and the operator presses MOB on the GPS and I get in. We run up current a little and I grab my 13 cu-ft pony bottle and a reg and decide to swim down and try to find the lost belt on the bottom in 85 ft with around 2500 psi.
The other 4 freedivers are drifting off to the north and continuing to spearfish. There is one charter dive boat on site who we spoke to previously who has divers in the water and he sees us run up current and drop me in with the pony (at least I think he sees me).
I assume my boat will stay above me and follow my bubbles and “be there” for when I surface (hopefully wearing two weightbelts – and no BC of course).
Surprisingly, I quickly find the belt, put it on and begin a swimming ascent. I had intended to test the dive computer which was on the console, but I guess I forgot to push the start button.
I make it to the surface, but the other freedivers have shot a fish and our boat driver goes to help them (we had seen a large bullshark in the area). So I am kicking to stay on the surface and the scuba charter boat is really close to me and I just know he sees me there on this flat calm day.
Since my boat is down current and not coming for me, I decide to start the computer and drop down a little and check the computer and the depth calibration versus a freedive computer. That goes well also and I make a second uneventful ascent to the surface.
Now I see the charter boat coming toward me, I think “wow that is nice for him to come over and check if I am OK.. but he is kinda coming a little fast”, but then he continues to accelerate and I need to quickly swim to the side and away and the boat goes zipping by me. Pretty fast and pretty close. I’m surprised and pissed and yell - the captain comes off the wheel after he passes me and yells that he didn’t see me.
Can’t really blame him too much, but he should have been looking ahead when he operates the boat around a bunch of freedivers and scuba dives and he should probably stay at an idle speed too. And of course, if I had sent up an SMB and marked my position, I am sure he would have noticed me.
I ASSUMED my boat would follow above me and protect me and I ASSUMED the charter captain was seeing me on the surface. The captain apparently ASSUMED no divers were in the immediate area, so he could put the hammer down a little.
Three bad assumptions that almost had serious consequences.
Hey I got the weightbelt back!
