Posted by Karen on April 30, 2004 at 21:12:46:
In Reply to: Coast Guard Proposal posted by Jon on April 30, 2004 at 18:04:41:
I dove off a live-aboard in Australia a couple of years after the incident with the American couple who were allegedly left behind. As with our local boats, a DM noted the time you entered the water and the time you arrived back on-board. The catch (putting the responsibility on the diver's shoulders) was that you had to sign in within 5 minutes of getting back on the boat. No sign-in and you're aboard, no subsequent dive. I thought the system worked very well.
I suppose if you got back in the water to snorkel or splash around, then the DM signs you out again and so on.
No tags or bracelets to get lost or caught on something. The DM and diver share the responsibility to make certain the diver is accounted for, but ultimately it's the diver himself who is responsible for checking in. It seems this diver community is all for self-reliance and responsibility, so let's do it!