Closed ladder with fins on?

[lowviz]

As far as I'm concerned, here is the best ladder around here:

 

[Gilldiver]

Yep, I remember how nice it was when Steve had that one made. Before it was a closed ladder on the Wahoo/Garloo.

 

[Hammerhead]

she experienced difficulty boarding the closed rung ladder with her fins and I was commanded to "STOP HELPING HER!" as I attempted to guide her fins into the rungs.

I really hope your reply was as simple as mine would have been

 

[Armymutt25A]

Off NC, they trail a tag line off the back of the boat. There doesn't seem to be any sort of rush to get back on the boat - divers just hang on the line (sometimes body surfing, though once, I swore I could have water skied) until it's their turn to board. I usually take my fins off right before mounting the ladder and hand them up to the crew. Once the wave action drops the back of the boat, I step as high on the ladder as possible and wait for the stern to move skyward. After that, it's an easy step or two up and onto the platform. The crew member then secures you by the tank and escorts you to a seat. I would rather have the high friction rubber sole of my boot on the ladder than the hard plastic of the fin. If I fall back in, the tag line is an arms reach away. No one that I know of swims to the ladder.

 

[hudson]

In any sort of rough sea with wind and/or current where its foolhardy to stay holding onto anything on the boat to take them off when the ladder is moving up or down 4-5ft every few seconds. Fully kitted is the only safe entry. If you want to risk a boat on the head, a ladder on the head, being dragged under the boat or being unable to swim back to it should you lose your grip by all means try to remove your fins but if you're sane keep them on and climb fully kitted.

How frequently do you encounter current/rough sea situations where a current line is not deployed? I don't have much experience diving from boats, so I'm curious.. I'd think it'd be common practice so people don't have to risk life & limb loitering close to the boat & ladder.

(My problem with fin removal is full-foot fins.. no straps to hang on to so you really need to hand them up or risk losing them)

 

[String]

How frequently do you encounter current/rough sea situations where a current line is not deployed?

Quite often, especially where the boat isn't moored (again more often than not in rough conditions).

Current lines arent much use if the wind and current are in different directions - means the boat is going one way the divers another and the pull on the line is enourmous - pretty much impossible to stay on or pull yourself close along it.

 

[TEArrington]

I had one shady dive operator outside the US tell me to hand up my fins and my bcd when we were unmoored with current (and no line was deployed nor were there rope loops along the boat to hang on to) while the 25 divers boarded. I nicely told him to get the heck out of my way, I was boarding with my bcd on and my fins in hand. Ok, perhaps I wasn't nice, I was stubborn and firm but I didn't curse. Close enough.

 

[tridacna]

I really hope your reply was as simple as mine would have been

I'm sure that the captain was more concerned about her falling back on top of him. Positioning yourself below a diver climbing a ladder is generally not a good idea.

 

[rk288]

I have never climbed a ladder with fins on. In heavy seas on the last steps the Captain had one hand on my tank valve, the other hand on his ship, the strength to manage both and his DM in the water behind me...DM and Instructors last out...that's the way I would do it if it were my boat.

 

[rk288]

Oh, and the DM/Instructor kept my fins with them until I was safely onboard...good people...4 to 6 ft bounce one day when we were out.