Are current checks on divers' cert's/experience too lax?

[Fathoms Down]

I was reading the thread on O2 kits on charter boats and it got me thinking about the losses endured by skippers when something goes wrong and the danger it puts their clients in.

Picture the scene; its your first sea dive of the year and you've just reached the surface. You've had a brilliant dive but you're cold, tired in need of a pee and ready for a brew and a bikkie when you notice the boat heading off into the distance with a helicopter chasing after it, dangling a winchman.

This scenario raises a few issues; the safety of the divers in the water, the cost of the rescue to the emergency services and the cost of the extra boat fuel/emotional impact/loss of business to the skipper. So this got me thinking, are checks on divers rigerous enough? Do you feel you should be put at risk because someone hasn't used a drysuit before/is trying out new equipment/ hasn't dived for several months? Who should do the checks and would you get off a boat because a skipper is letting someone on who you feel is a liability? If you are a skipper, do you take the chance that they may be ok because you don't want to turn away the money?

I can't really think of a neat way to get around this issue unless its a club booking and the club takes responsability. So what does everyone else think?

[tom]

I don't think it's the skipper's responsibility to look after me. I think the model that says the skipper is a taxi driver, and what I do in the water is none of his/her business, is the best.

Divers and/or clubs should take responsibility for themselves: A commercial skipper is not a dive marshall or DO.

[abucksdiver]

I've opted for the "Too lax" vote, because I can't remember ever having had my certs/experience checked!

Andrew

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by tom

I don't think it's the skipper's responsibility to look after me. I think the model that says the skipper is a taxi driver, and what I do in the water is none of his/her business, is the best.

So who's is it then? I doubt that if I turn up on a boat and tell the skipper I'm not going to dive because I feel Bob Numpty is going to endanger the lot of us, I will get very far!

I should point out that I'm not saying that it is the skipper's responsibility as such, but if they are handling the booking (rather that a club) then doesn't that imply responsibility?

[tom]

I reckon it is your/my/our responsibility. In the situation you describe, it would be your call as to whether you got in the water or not. You'd still pay the skipper for the ride out to the wreck and back.

[Janos]

Firmly in favour of the water taxi model.

People should be able to make their own decisions, and a boat isn't going to steam off if there are still divers in the water.

I would have concerns if my buddy appeared to be a numpty, but someone on the same boat but a different dive doesn't really fit in to my risk assessment.

Laters,
Janos

[Sandman]

I have never been asked for any cert cards or a log book in the UK to get on a dive boat and I've only been asked for a card to buy mixed gases once.

Every dive centre I have been to abroad has asked to see cards and proof of my last dive before you get anywhere near the water.

I do think we are too casual about cert things in the UK and would be happy to get the cards out if requested by the boat skipper.

Cheers

Simon

[Odin]

On a water Taxi RIB in December. Myself and my buddy, two other pairs and an Instructor with 3 students. Instructor surfaced with his group, one of whom obviously in distress. Two other divers sat on the rib, looked away and carried on talking. I had to ask them to help move kit and assist getting the diver on board.
They seemed totally disinterested in the whole thing and even commented that it wasn't there job to help...
Unable to print my reply but something along the lines of JFDI!
Paul

[jptaylor9]

[wreckweasel]

"Personal responsibility". Whats the matter with people these days?

Please no more rules/regulations, Im sick of it in every aspect of life!