fishing with divers.

[Big G]

Hi all,
I have no experience with handling divers and have not done it myself. I have been asked by a friend to take him out for a dive on the weekend. My boat has a transom door so access is fine but as the skipper what obligations and rules must I follow. Do I need any special gear on the boat. They have all the diving gear. This is a private boat and these people are friends not paying passangers.
I have private boat insurance with Club Marine.

I would appreciate any advice from any members that know about this.

thanks
Big G.

[Marlin_Mike]

you will need to go to bias boating or any marine shop somewhere and get a dive flag that has to be displayed when divers are down.


Mike

[Kiktz]

Yep Agree with Mike,

Its a burgee (spelling) Flag Blue and white, with the Blue to fly.

and for all the great info you get off us a couple of good marks wouldn't go astray.

Cheers Aj

[nigelr]

If the divers are experienced, they will tell you what they need you to do.
As stated, you will need a 'divers down' bouy and flag set-up, but the divers will probably have this.
If they are drift diving, they will want you to drop them and then pick them up at the end of their drift.
If they are stationary, they will most likely want you to mainly act as an observer.
Are they scuba divers or spearos?
If you get a chance, get down and have a look around, you'll love it!
Oh, must add, what a great boat you have, I'd love to be diving from it!
Cheers.

[Els7]

Yip, all the above info is 100% correct

[bushbeachboy]

Mate with your thread title I thought you might be using them for bait...:P

[PWCDad]

If there is a bit of current running (or even just a slight current) run a line out the back from the boat (20metres or whatever the divers say is enough).

It really helps with holding yourself at the back of the boat whilst you get ready to pull yourself up ... saves hanging onto boat bits and if the current takes you you grab the rope and pull yourself back to boat.

If a diver loses grip of the boat in current its hard to swim back in full dive gear and you cant exactly start the boat to get them with the anchor down !!

If you want .... and I always did .... run a float at the end of the rope with small dive flag on it .... kept other boats clear if they came around.

Make sure the rope is a floater dont want it sinking.

Regards
PWCDad

[Blue_Escape]

Big G,
I think the floating rope out the back is essential, a ski rope would probably do the job. Get the biggest dive flag you can get....'curious' boats passing at 40 knots are a real hazzard! An ascending diver will likely not see/hear the approching boat. Assume you have a decent (deep) boarding ladder (& handrail) on your transom...getting out of the water with dive gear on can be quite difficult.

Cheers
Blue
p.s. a shotgun / .303 for the sharks is a good idea as well ;)

[Nowhere Bob]

All the above plus boxes for dive gear, you dont want fins masks etc all over the shop.

I think your diver friends will be a bit suss on you getting a burley trail going when they are on the bottom, I've never fished & dived on the same trip [unless you include spearing.] You may like to arrange with the divers to head up current to keep away from your baits / hooks. I don't think it would be a good idea to just drop them off and pick them up later. It's comforting to have a boat as a refuge if a big bitey turns up.

Blue Escape, I don't know about you, but I've always heard boats when diving, after reading a dive medical book that described the damage a prop did to a spearfisherman, It's a sound that always gives me the Heeby Jeebies.
The go on boarding the boat is; hand up weight belt, tank & BCD then fins to a helper on board then climb up the ladder. Mates & I always try to out-tough each other just so we are not the first back into the boat.

From the title I thought you were using really big (& expensive) live baits, like the clowns who troll up & down in Whaler Creek Also known as the Noosa River towing live baits on tubes / wakeboards.

[Big G]

Blue and all others,
thanks for feedback.... I don't have a boarding ladder but I have a rather large duckboard between both engines with good grab rails down both sides... Will this be enough or should I rig something up.

And I don't have a shotgun or 303...I hope you are joking as I was considering having a go myself.http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/icons/icon5.gif:-/

thanks Big G.

[blaze]

when I was diving I had no ladder on the boat and used the fin on the outboard to climb in, sorta all depends on how long the dive is and how buggered the divers are but I reckon the boarding platform will do the job.
cheers
blaze
ps
jump in and have a look if you get the chance, make you a better fisherman and apriate whats under there.

[Big G]

nowhere Bob,
yes I agree I was a bit concerned to have Fishing and diving happening at the same time. That was the intention of the rest of the party but I think I will err on the side of safety and have two seperate sessions.... my burley has on occasions attracted a shark or two......chook pellets, left over pilchards & squid through a blender with a little added tuna oil frozen into suitable blocks works for me.

thanks
Big G.

[wessel]

With divers down there should always be a person left on the boat that can handle the boat in case the current turns and takes you for a ride i.e dont jump into the water and the only person left on the boat is a 5 year old.
While boarding, the engine is off - no discussion
While drifting along with the divers down, the engine is off = no discussion. It is better to drop them off, double check that everybody went down OK and then motor a 100 yards back up current before you start to drift with them. Just check what the wind is doing at the same time...
Once all the divers are on the surface you may start the engine and approach from down current. Set the boat up so that the divers can swim the last couple of meters to you.
Needless to say, at this point the engine is off.

Dive gear is stored in dive bags or milk crates - an experienced diver will come packing with all the right gear and first aid equipment
Dive cylinders are properly secured, a cylinder that falls over and gets it valve knocked off becomes a missile and can take your head off.
Your radio works and you know who to call when things end up southbound on a northbound camel.
The dive plan is left on board before the divers go down. You dont have to understand all their scribblings, but the plan has to be on the surface.
Everybody holds a certificate that dives - or else no diving off this boat. Go find somebody else that likes to play games with their own lives.
No re-compression dives i.e the diver stays down too long, comes up because his air has run out then changes onto a fresh cylinder and goes down again to do his recompression timings.

if you peed in your wetsuit, then rinse in the water first before getting onboard please
No stabbing your buddy at the first sign of toothy telephone poles and swimming away with your buddy acting as a decoy.
Please dont drop the weightbelt - or throw it at somebody that is in the water.

It is all common sense issues really, but there is no second chances with some sports.

Have fun and enjoy

Wessel

[nigelr]

Great reply, Wessel, thanks for that, I learn't heaps.
Cheers.

[Belly66]

If anyone in a boat that I was diving from let a burley trail go they would be in it themselves wearing only a weight belt. I've had the pleasure ( not ) of playing with a shark while diving for crays and can tell ya the color of adrenalin is $hi@ brown.

[Nowhere Bob]

Oh, and lead on weight belts mark gel coat.
won't tell you how I found that out.
:-/

[ovakil]

I also run a rope from anhor chain to stern,so if there is a bit of current I can pull myself along to anchor line then descend.Divers should tell you how long they are staying down so you can be prepared for when they come up or lookout if they miss the anchor & free ascent

[Big G]

I have some photo's of the duckboard and rails. I hope the rails don't restrict entry as they are closer at the rear entry.... do all divers take the tanks off when in the water or do they come aboard fully suited up.

[hondaguy]

Great advice guys.
Red and white flag for divers on air(scuba)
1800 088 200 is the Diving Emergency Number.
Ask for one diver to have surface float attached, especially if drift diving.
You don't know what being alive is until your freediving and a shark shows up and your heading up for air, or worst still near the surface ascending and some wan*ker goes directly overhead by a couple of feet. I would prefer the shark myself.
If they are AUF members, try to get the dive trip registered as a club event and it will go on the AUF insurance. Austrailan Underwater Federation.
Go and have a dive medical and see if you can Scuba dive yourself, another way to appreciate the great waters yourself.

[Pirate_Pete_Tas]

I used to have 2 lanyards with big brass dog clips on them hanging in the water off each side or the stern. When I got back to the boat I would clip it on to a ring on my weight belt & have a rest if needed. Then I would unclip & slip the lanyard through one arm hold of my BC & clip back onto the belt. I could then drop my BC & weight belt & climb back into the boat without any gear on at all. Once on board I could then unclip the BC & lift it on board, then the weight belt.

[dec0guy]

Red and white flag is a US thing, law here in Oz says you must have the blue and white flag!

Boats looks fantastic for diving!!!

[goldcoastau]

May i first say what a absolutely awesome rig you have there.
When we dive the person staying on the boat is called the BOATBITCH.
Indeed a very important job with big responsibilities .The best dive flag i have is from Whitworths, it is a large blue and white made of foam type material that stands straight without any wind.
If diving on the weekend choose your dive spot carefully. If there are to many boats about in pelagic season towing Hexhead lures at 15 knots and only looking backwards to see how their lures are going don't risk it. Now being mostly snapper season you should be right. While the divers are down turn your boats music off as sound travels amazingly far over water- one of your divers may want your attention .
The best tip i can give you is to make a Marker BOUY up using a sand anchor ,decent chain & rope and the biggest float you have ,could even be a 20 litre empty fuel can. Drop this right on the wreck or pinnacle you plan to dive.
The situation the BOATBITCH fears most is a lost diver's . A quick briefing plan will cover that. Could be something like if 1 of them gets lost -collect all the other divers .Brief all to try and return to marker Buoy and they should at least carry orange safety sausages that they inflate .Start a search pattern in the direction of the current going wider & wider returning each time to the marker buoy. If still unsuccessful set flare of and call VMR for help.
Please don't let all this talk scare you off- it is definitely worth the effort to see this magnificent blue underwater wonderland with weird and wonderful creatures and honestly don't worry about sharks. They are far more scared of you.-If on the rare occasion they hassle you stand your ground and keep eye contact with them. They will back off . I have had serious encounters with a large Mako and countless Large Tigers and Bulls while spearfishing with blood and burley and am still here to tell the tale.
May the visibility be good for you.
Cheers
Danny

[Big G]

Goldcoastau,
thanks for your advice. I'm determined to do the job correctly and the advice and encouragement has been great. I'm possibly more excited to be involved as the "boatbitch" and skipper than taking an inexperienced dive at this stage.
I will enjoy just doing my part correctly and may leave the dive lesson to another day.
The great advice and wisdom that has been shared will help me to organise a safe trip and dive. .....diving sounds like an experience I should undertake as soon as possible.

thanks to all the experienced divers for their thoughts.
Big G.
ps yes it is an awsome rig and I think it will do the job....Its got a full galley so the "boatbitch" will be able to have a hot coffee or two.:)

[mirage]

Hey Big G, great looking boat. Can't tell, is that a Sailfish?
Scotty.

[Big G]

Scotty,
Jaycat 6000 built by Offshore Marine Master at Caloundra.
Big G.

[mirage]

Looks the goods, thanks Big G.

[Nowhere Bob]

Pirate Pete Tas.
OMG. I've been diving off & on for almost 20 years and it never occured to me to make up a keeper line for weight belts & BCD /Tank.
Ohh my aching @ss, everytime I crawled over the side with more crap than batman attached.
How simple yet it would work so well.
I am in your debt sir.