Dive boats again

[TigaWave]

As a diver, the recent discussion prompted me to look at what dive clubs or organisations promoted. The reason is that most dive boats I've used or seen don't comply with colregs with regards to size and visibility of A flag.

It made interesting reading, and I couldn't come up with one photo from any dive site that showed a dive flag as is specified.
There are however photos of dive boats obviously not on station with small A flag still flying. This is not recommended practice by the combined dive associations.

Whats more the advice in the combined dive association guide for safe operation of dive boats does not advise conforming with colregs! you can read it here. Page 4.
http://www.bsac.org/uploads/documents/Diving_Safety/cda_boating_guidelines_04.pdf
These are the guidelines advised by BSAC.

It would seem that the dive organisations need to do some education. Perhaps a member of bsac or sub aqua association could bring this up.

I does appear something needs to be done from both sides.

Bsac website dive boat no all round A flag

A dive training centre image

Advise from another dive training site.
Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters or where their diving operation will impede the normal flow of waterway traffic. Divers also should follow all of the water safety rules themselves.

 

[wotayottie]

As a dinghy sailor, do you always follow the colregs? If you do, then you are unusual to put it politely. I guess diveboats are the same.

Might be a bit philosopfical, but do rules really exist if they are never policed and enforced? On these forums, yotties often bleat about colregs, but when did you last see one using a motorsailing cone? You dont, because colregs apply to other people.

 

[mitchc]

Hmmmmm. where is all this going to lead? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It's apparent from the post i placed on a diving forum, that divers didn't realise boaters didn't realise that divers did'nt know that boaters didn't know.....if you follow me?
Hopefully next time we come across each other the divers and the boaters may give each other a bit of an easier time... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mitchc]

Tigawave,
totally agree with your post!!
Just goes to show how easy it is to get it wrong.....on both "sides"

When I teach PB2 boat handling for divers I always emphasise the "don't drop divers in busy bits".....not sure that all agencies do though?... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ean_p]

"Diving flag Alpha
For the purposes of diving operations the vessel should
also carry a replica of the ‘A’ flag. This should be capable
of being displayed fully extended preferably rigid and
should be as large as possible. It should be displayed at
all times that divers are in the water. It must not be
displayed once all divers have been recovered"

This seems good advice to me and apart from quoting the size required sounds about right too..........is it not ?

 

[TigaWave]

Very true wotayot, but as a motor sailing yacht you are not at great risk of sustaining serious injury as a result of mis identification.

Any dive boat not recognised as such in good time risks the lives of those surfacing, as other vessels may get too close. It is in their interests to be recognised correctly and at a safe distance. What surprised me was that the official advice did not match with that from colregs. As others have stated in the unfortunate event of an injury conforming to regulations will be an important factor in any costs or compensation.

As a dinghy sailor I do as far as I am aware always sail in accordance with colregs, and as a commercial skipper I will also advise others to do so if I am on their boat. I don't do it full time but want to be able to continue to do occasional deliveries, and skipper charters from time to time.

 

[TigaWave]

Yep it is good advice , but my point is that it is open to interpretation, where as, the regulations state specifics or minimums. As the regulations are in place why are these not mentioned in the advice for dive boats?

A dive boat could easily conform to this advice but be well outside what is required by law.