Posted by Chris on May 04, 2004 at 04:49:12:
In Reply to: Dive Boat Suggestions posted by Jon Davies on May 03, 2004 at 12:39:57:
Any single system for accounting for divers method without a backup is destined to failure. The recent incident might not have occurred it there had also been a tank count, or other secondary method. Having a back-up method such as tank count or other is no guarantee of non-failure, but is certainly reduces the probability.
The problem is
Groups makeup and size differ markedly, so do boat layouts, and crews. There is no single method that can universally work for all, but there can be concepts that do. However any system should use the choice of the captain, since he is the one responsible. A DM should follow the captain’s system, unless he believes it is unsafe. Because all DM’s should have the responsibility of refusing to partake in any activity they view as unsafe.
Thus guidelines are good, but the boat captain should have the final say.
Chris
from Maimi