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Currents

	Currents
Author: captharv Posted: 14-Feb-07 IP: Logged	I am a licensed Master captain and a divemaster, although I am not currently working in the trade. This happened a few years ago down in the keys. We dived French reef and were headed to Molassesfor the second tank. My boat's electronics indicated a knot and a half current, which may have been part of the Gulf Stream, running parallel to the outer reef. About a mile from the dive boats on the mooring buoys, I spotted 2 divers in the water--with the textbook example of being in trouble--mask on forhead, eyes wide open, and unresponsive to my "OK" signal (hands in a circle over my head. We came along side and asked if they needed assistance. After a while one said that they got down current from their dive boat and were out of air. I had them hand me their gear (rented) and got them aboard. Now, I asked for the name of the boat they were lost from. ( The boat was calling a lost diver alert, but I had the radio turned down to hear the divers). They didn't know the boat name. Now I asked the shop name, and after getting that I called for [shop name] boat on Molasses. they replied that they were looking for 2 missing divers. I said I had them. After transferring them to the dive boat, their Capt. asked them if they were OK? Yes! Then he said "You didn't do what I told you to, dive into the current, and drift back to the boat". They shook their head no. He told them "Take up tennis, at least if you screw up, it won't kill you". (As a licensed Capt, I can understand his anger. We can loose our license and/or be sued for something someone else does stupid) The capt met me at the marina that evening and we discussed the things divers do (or don't do) You can see why I am very particular about who I take out on my personal boat....... Captharv     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: d2reid Posted: 24-Apr-07 IP: Logged	Good story, I have been on both ends. The picker upper and the lost at sea. I will caveat in that the lost at sea that was my fault was very early in my diving days. And yes we did dive into the current and drift back. What we didn't know (local knowledge always helps) is that the nice shallow ledge we where on off of Boynton was in the tidle flow, incoming on the north side of the inlet. Or a south bound current. Odd for that location. So off into the current we go. At 2000 pounds we stop and check location to boat. A little further than what we anticipated, but no biggie we will go faster with the current and we had lots of air. Little did we know that the current had ever so subtly changed, no it was not a strong current. You could easily swim against it, but alas, it had changed early and we realized it to late. When we finally ran out of air we where less than 100 feet from the boat. But as those things go, the current on top was stronger than the current on the bottom. The current on the bottom was gentle and you could make good headway, on top it was a struggle to make a foot. Then we made our real mistake, we split up. I being the stronger swimmer, and after all it was only about 125' was going to dash to the boat with just fins and snorkel, whilst my partner, held the gear and floated leisurly. ( My partner is also my wife). So I head into the current and after about 30 minutes of struggling reach the boat, hands and legs shaking crawl on the boat and try to spy my partner. No sight. With that gut wrenching panicky feeling I start the boat and pull the anchor. Heading in the heading that I took while in the water I searching for my partner. After traveling a mile another dive boat comes abeam and asks if I had lost something.... at which my wife emerges steps around from behind 2 very young and robust looking firemen. Good and bad. A good story comes from a possible calamity. However we did learn our lesson and are very cautious when anchor diving by ourselves. Please share more stories from you days as a commercial captain. I beleive that if we all take a moment to share our experiences it helps someone else down the road make the correct decision. In our case we have never spit up again. I was worried sick about her being alone in the ocean.     Reply | Report to Moderator
Author: captharv Posted: 21-May-07 IP: Logged	We captains go thru a lot to take out divers. It's not the glamorous job that ya'll think it is. For example, we start our job way before the divers get there. Check the engine, tranny, and all the running gear out. Now, the electronics and especially the radio. If it don't work, they boat stays in port. (CG rules. Next, clean the boat up. Now, after the divers arrive, check c-cards, and logbooks. Just because someone has an advanced rating and an impressive log, they could still get in trouble. In theroy, if a diver gets in trouble in the water, the boat captain can't be sued? Wrong! Then theres the pre-underway instructional. Gotta show them where the lifejackets are, and even how to put one on. (again, CG rules). Then afetr selecting the dive site, a brief overview of what its like and what to expect. So someone says they fear diving over 60'? Select another site.... do this again. When I am about 10 minutes away from the site, I inform them to start gearing up. They may be done by the second dive---- After anchoring, or coupling to a mooring buoy, I help the divers into their gear that they cant remember how and what it does, and had to loan out weight belts, fins, masks, and such becasue of the broken or forgotten equipment they pull out of their bags. Famous last words: "It was OK when I checked it out last knight".. Ever see a tank get installed on a BC upsidedown? This is where the diver complained that he did not remember the hose being that short. Gotta keep a straight face here. After all, they are a paying customer. Not to mention the times a regulator was installed with the hose over the wrong shoulder. ( note: they freeflow in the water with the second stage upsidedown) Then, they gear down for theSIT and get ready for the second tank. Rules I had: after getting to 1500#, surface and locate the boat, and give the OK sign (unless its a drift dive, with a real divemaster with them). At 1000, better be near the boat, and back in at 500. Yes, we check the gauges. Some "lighter" moments: Ever see someone barf underwater thru the regulator? One trip, we had a group of macho cops. The biggest, strongestlooking one usually barfs, except they used the mask rinsing bucket for a target. Hope they shoot their weapons with better marksmanship. One instructor had a problem with a woman who had great difficulty doing the mask clear in a 20' deep spring. Next day, they went offshore for the 2 open dives for certification. The students were at dockside, and one asked what are we going to do. Mind you, they did all their tricks day before in the spring, so this was 2 experience dives. The divemaster, who worked with the woman for 20 minutes the day before, said "we do a drift dive at 60'and ya'll have to completely remove the mask and put it back on and clear it". I thought the woman was going to mess the deck on me. Then he let her off the hook.. Most divers are OK, in that they know what is going to be done, gear up for it, and have a good time. There are a few who don't know what they are doing, or don't care, and ruin a trip for the others. I prefer 6 pack boats where the group rents the boat for the morning or afternoon and I just take them there and back. They usually watch out for each other. I now have an indoor job in electronics, and just dive for fun.     Reply | Report to Moderator