Bloody Divers

[hlb]

Returning from our soggy hols, we spent the last night up the river Yelm, before returning to Plymouth. It's just round the corner and is part of a spagetti type junction with boats going in every direction.

Yes I have read the other thread and Daka's comments.

So, just off the Mews Stone, there are two orange ribs, no dive flag visible, maybe there was one, but there nearly imposible to see. But anyway one of them sped towards me, so I gathered that orange ribs behaving strangly, stopping, starting and generally going round in circles, equalls diving. Mind it did take a few years before this became apparent.

So instead of turning right for Plymouth, I had to turn left and go round in a big ark. I felt a bit sorry for disturbing the little Bayliner who looked like he was fishing right in my path. Apparently, just as I passed him, concentrating on all the other boats comming and going from umpteen directions. Acording to Deborah, he had reached round his canopy and proceeded to hold up a diving flag. A bit late since I'd already passed him.

Is diving one of these new chicken sports, like jumping off cliffs and piers, hoping to miss the rocks.

Find the busiest corner possible, hang up a droopy rag, simillar in colour to a blue sea with little white bits, thats only visible from about fifty foot, even if it is held up square on to every boat around.

 

[mjf]

Tombstoning is indeed the sport !

 

[DAKA]

[ QUOTE ]


Is diving one of these new chicken sports, like jumping off cliffs and piers, hoping to miss the rocks.

Find the busiest corner possible, hang up a droopy rag, similar in colour to a blue sea with little white bits, .

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes, and the best one I saw was off Whitby, there were 20 of us charging down the coast on the same track 1 or 2 miles apart.

coast guard put out a warning of a dive boat

" Working boat with divers down about 5 miles SE of Whitby "

Kin el /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif that covers about 40 square miles, like we are really going to slow down.
Why didnt they give lat and long /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Anyway sure enough there was a soddin big boat not underway so we slowed down and I VHF back to me mates and gave a lat and long.
Off we go again.

3 or 4 miles on there is a fishing cobble with a hand held creating H F to the Coast Guard in one hand and waving a little flag in the other, he was the work boat with divers down getting passed both sides by 20 knot stinkers.

By fluke I was able to slow down and VHF me mates with an update, I went passed at 7 knts 1 mile off and didnt see anything, one of the cruise members slowed to 3 knots as he was close.................there were 8 people in the boat fishing with feathers /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


This dive crew wanted the extra sensation if having a hook rip through the leg as they surfaced.

Like Tomb stoning through a bramble bush /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Those that are familiar with the Whitby Cobble also know what a grand dive boat it is /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[mjf]

Oh yes, the old beach launched Cobble. Fab boat for the NE Coast.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Good point, Haydn, giving the other side of the story after mitch's post. I definitely think that divers should consider carefully where and when they go into the water and take extra precautions if their dive area is busy with other traffic. A little black RIB and a 1ft square A flag is not enough IMHO

 

[mitchc]

yep, agree completly with what you are all saying!! I've pointed this out on the dive forum too!!

 

[hlb]

There needs to be a box type thing, about six foot square,that can be seen from all sides. Mounted ten ft up. It might be impracticable from a rib. But on the other hand, I dont want blaming for shredding a diver with a little blue flag either.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Hello Haydn and welcome back to "The Old Curmudgeon's Club" We kept your seat by the fireside for you!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[hlb]

Thanks, but is it ok to smoke in here these days??

 

[jhr]

[snigger............. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif]

 

[deborahann]

been thinking on that one, now you have nabbed my first suggestion, another one, why not a low ish flying kite with an agreed bright colour, so everyone knows what it is. or if there is no wind, a large blow up inflatable square on the end of a pole.

 

[adey]

I know what you mean. I was out on Sunday and there were loads of dive boats around. I was trying to give one plenty of room when I realised it was moving west!
When I got closer it was obvious that all the divers were on board and he was heading off somewhere else.
Are they supposed to fly the damn flags all the time?

 

[DAKA]

[ QUOTE ]
been thinking on that one, why not a low ish flying kite

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif like this one ?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qA9PGpzOw0Y

 

[jhr]

[ QUOTE ]
Are they supposed to fly the damn flags all the time?

[/ QUOTE ] Signal Flag "A" means "I have a diver down below" (snigger, guffaw). So no - only when there is actually someone in the water.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, but is it ok to smoke in here these days??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. Go ahead.

 

[mitchc]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
been thinking on that one, why not a low ish flying kite

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

]http://youtube.com/watch?v=qA9PGpzOw0Y[/url]

[/ QUOTE ]

perfect! where do I get one!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[longjohnsilver]

Grumpy old fart, did you make it to CI and France?

 

[Howardnp]

Interesting few comments about divers, including the other thread.
I dive and instruct in it and go boating, the latter lasts longer and generally not as cold so do more of it!!

There aren't two flags for a start (original post on other thread), in the UK the one to use and know about is the A flag. The other is American and not an international code flag as far as UK diving is concerned.

On a small dive support boat it is supposed to be a rigid replica of the A flag, as per one of the posts on t'other thread.


When I'm in a diving area and going through or near dive support boats, I don't make a huge detour just drop the speed and keep a good look out while at the same time giving them some space.

The big problem the dive boats have is that in most instances they have absolutely no idea where their divers are as they don't (generally) use a surface marker buoy until the end of the dive.


If they are diving in an obviously bad place as far as other vessels are concerned... complain (formally), they will if they think you're too close.

 

[deborahann]

can honestly say that the vast majority of diving boats we see around Devon & Cornwall, don't display a clear flag. I really really do think its time for some better form of marker, & in a bright colour. I was absolutely gob smaked at the bayliner type boat holding out for us to see finally, what had been his limp flag dangling on the other side of his canopy to where we had come at him from.

We've had quite a few daft instances, and its not as if its sensible to go back & explain we can't or didn't see their flag.

 

[DAKA]

Do you see any evidence of dive gear and did you think the Bayliner had a diver down ?

Certainly the Whitby Cobble I mentioned had no divers down, they were using the Alpha flag as a way to Stake out what they considered to be their bit of sea for the day.

The Whitby cobble even told the CG he had divers down, I reported him for it but didnt hear the CG reprimand the cobble.