I don't think I can ever remember a time that I would have wanted to take my gear off prior to getting on the boat. This includes many days going out with Frank Hammett, who would take us on tech dives, even if the seas got to 7 to 10 feet ( though typically this would be an end of dive scenario, more than a before you go out scenario).
Frank had a platform that slanted down actually into the water. Bigger waves would make getting back on board easy, as long as you watched for the rythym of the
platform ups and downs...you would just time it, and "belly up" like a Killer whale at Sea World....at no time are you helpless, being beaten up by waves, and without air to breathe...and you always have your fins on, so if need be, you are always able to propel yourself where you need to go.
Frank's boat was easy for this even in flat water, as the platform actually went into the water. On many diveboats, even with ladders, as long as you have a decent wave height, bellying up is quite easy.
Anyway, I hate ladder boats....and I don't like ungearing before getting back on. I'd have to have a really good reason. This would be almost onconditionally for diving a single tank rig. With doubles, there would be situations with deco where you would avoid the exertion potential, and undo gear with aid of a safety diver
in-water...and with large wave heights and some boats, then yes..ungearing may need to occur. But never with single tank
.
DanV
