In Reply to: Re: What type of cheese with that whine? posted by Erik Wade on October 16, 2005 at 22:02:09:

Two pieces of information regarding the complaint about the Great Escape.
1) The calendar page for the boat (http://www.diveboat.com/great_escape_dive_calendar.shtml) states very clearly, in red text (and it's been there for at least 5 years) that each diver's tank should be full when the tank is brought aboard the boat or there will be a $4.00 charge.
The reasons for this are numerous, the main ones being related to compressor wear and tear. It's like starting a cold car engine and driving just a block and then turning it off. Also, through experience, divers don't all tend toward concurrent disclosure of empty tanks. If a substantial number of tanks need to be filled, typically there has been disclosure to the captain before the trip, and having known Tim for a number of years, he makes accomodations in those cases. Also, having know Tim, if you treat the boat and the crew with respect, Tim would give you the shirt off of his back.
2) The crew is never the proper forum for any kind of grievance or complaint that ultimately needs to be brought to the captain of the boat. The crew is controlled by the same federal regulations that the boat and captain are governed by, and their prime duties are maintaining the deck, and ensuring the safety of the passengers. If any passenger has a complaint, query, or would like to provide feedback of any sort, the proper process for that is either by approaching the captain directly or by asking a crew member to summon the captain.
The stress, both physical and mental, on crew members/deckhands is substantially more than most passengers could understand. The added burden of complaints regarding things over which they have no control is more than they are contracted to deal with. The captain/Tim on the other hand is very happy to receive input, both negative and positive, and he is the proper person to either make corrections or ensure that appropriate corrections are made.

One last item about diving Farnsworth Bank, I've been a customer of the Great Escape since 1997, and a crewmember almost as long, and I've never been able to dive Farnsworth Bank. I've only been on the boat once when it was able to make it there, and unfortunately, that trip, the cook was missing and I had to work the galley. But that is the nature of the sea. It is often too rough for the passengers in places they are hoping to go. But due to the captain's responsibilities, the safety of the passengers being the foremost, Farnsworth is an advanced dive and the captain has sufficient experience and training to make the determination of whether the site is diveable by all of the passengers on any given trip. If he makes a determination based on all of the evidence, then that decision must stand, for everyone's safety and well being.

• Limburger, Steve Walt 16:45:46 10/17/05 (2)
  • spot closed Chris 17:32:58 10/17/05 (1)
    • Hope it opens again Walt 17:46:46 10/17/05 (0)