Beach vs. Boat Diving

[Aquaphile]

This was a question posted on a local board. It got quite a response. I'm curious about the general diving population:

Of your dives in the last 12 months, what percentage of your dives has been from a beach (as opposed to from a boat)? (not counting training/in-class dives, just talking about pleasure diving)

If you don't do any beach diving, why not?

 

[Mike Newman]

I may be skewing the result a little. I am obliged to make more beach entries because my 'home' dive site is an inland quarry. While I might prefer the more exciting diving offered off a boat, the opportunities do not regularly present themselves.

But I am hoping to rectify this situation in due course!!!

MN

 

[art.chick]

I am starting to do more boat dives, but beach diving is cheap & requires less pre-planning. If I had to pay for boats every time I went out, I would not be a very active diver.

 

[MerKiwi]

Boat dives definitely, for lots of reasons:

-No wave action throwing you about when you enter/leave the water
-No sand stuck over all your gear
-Generally better viz off a boat
-Bigger more interesting fauna
-Less energy expended swimming out to a dive spot, you jump off the boat and you're there.
-Greater number and variety of accessible dive spots when on a boat
-If there's a compressor aboard then you only need 1 tank

Hmmm... anyone please feel free to add to the list.

 

[Walter]

It'll take awhile for me to count, but I'll do it.

 

[scuba-sass]

We've had two tropical vacations this winter where all our dives were boat dives. For a number of reasons, we haven't had much time for local (beach) diving this spring / early summer, and are headed to Wreckmania this weekend - all boat dives.

Happy Diving (from whatever platform!),

Scuba-sass

 

[dkerr]

So many great shore dives on Cape Anne in Ma so I have no great desire to pay $50-60 for a boat ride. I had to vote for the 25-50% because of the 12 month time frame. Any time my wife and I travel we always schedule boat dives.
If I had my own boat or access to one then I am sure I would be doing a lot more boat dives locally (any one interested in taking me out on their boat?).

 

[JDostal]

Being that I live in Central Wisconsin and dive mainly inland lakes and quarries, I don't really have a need for a boat. However, I do have to say that I prefer diving from a boat. No sand in your gear, you go straight down to see what you want to see, and it's just a blast being on a boat out in the water. I've made two trips to the Great Lakes to go shipwreck diving now and I can't wait for the next trip next month.

While I do have fun diving from a boat, many of the more spectacular dives I have had are from shore - diving an old abandoned pier on the shore of Lake Superior, swimming through an underwater forest in Lake Wazee...all from shore, and all a blast =) And it doesn't take too much effort to rinse the sand from your gear either

 

[Welshman]

Beach diving is great value provided there's something to see. In Thailand the beach we stayed on (Kata) had a little headland separating it from the next beach. There was a lot of life on that reef - moray, rays, octopus, bat fish, pipefish. Best of all was the routine: 10.00am -get off lounger and walk to dive shop - 75 yards - pick up gear and walk back to beach - 75 yards - kit up and walk to sea - 25 yards - dive for 50-60 minutes - repeat exercise in reverse then order beer from waiter - 2.00pm repeat.

If you really wanted to extend it you could dive 5 minutes away by long tail which would add around 15 minutes total to the exercise.

 

[Walter]

22 from shore, 88 from boats. 20% from shore, 80% from boats.