Posted by Chuck Tribolet on October 25, 2002 at 19:17:48:
In Reply to: Here is my 2 cents worth....Some things to think about... posted by Ed on October 25, 2002 at 15:35:35:
A cove or sheltered place is rarely an option in
Monterey. The better sites are offshore in open
water. The first order of business on the dive
is to check the anchor, and relocate it as
required.
There's no protection from careless boaters except
surfacing right next to you boat. Learn to
navigate back to the anchor.
It's unlikely you can get into any small boat
with your tank on. However, even a small swim
step is adequate to get you back on with your
weight belt on, and then you don't run the
risk of dropping it, either to the bottom, or on
someones foot or camera in the boat.
It's a lot easier to get out of your BC if it's
just barely positive. It's also easier to stay
on the surface with your belt and without your
BC if the BC is a bit negative with an empty tank.
For the AL80 folks, this means putting a few
pounds in the BC.
Boat owners quickly develop a healthy dislike for
weight integrated BCs. They are WAY harder to
pull into the boat.
I have a three rung telescoping ladder that
swings up and lays on top of the swimstep. I grab
a the bottom or next to the bottom rung and swing
it up parallel to the surface while I'm taking
my fins off.
Silcone spray in the foot pocket every 15-20 dives
helps the fins come off.
I have a written set of instructions on how to
start the boat and how to use the VHF taped inside
the top of my dry box, and I show (not tell) it
to guests. I also let my regular guests start and
drive the boat now and then.
Find out what the dive boat working channel is in
your area (Monterey is 69 and occasionally 67) and
monitor it. You'll get good intel on where to
dive (and, more importantly, where NOT to dive).
A polypropylene (pool rope) current line doesn't
need floats except for a small one on the end
for the current to grab. 100' minimum, but
you don't need to put it out unless the current is
blowing.
Wind won't blow a diver.
It's rarely an option to leave someone on a small
boat.
The bitter end of your anchor line should be
clipped to the boat with a carabiner (NOT a small
clip). If you need to go pick someone up (or
go help with a real emergency) you unclip it from
the boat, clip it to a fender, uncleat it and
pay it out as you back away. MUCH quicker than
pulling the hook, particularly if it's stuck.
Short lines over the side are good for clipping
off gear. The current line is way too long, and,
in my boat, attached to the stern, which is the
wrong place to pull out gear. There are also two
long (12'+) bungees for cameras. They are long
enough to keep the cameras below fin range.
Learn to use your GPS when the surface vis is
good. Learn to fly IFR in VFR conditions, then
you'll be able to do it in IFR conditions.
See http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/whaler/
for more.
Chuck