Unattended surface "vessel"

[chrisch]

Following an interesting point about dive canoes and similar surface craft what is the viewpoint of the coastguard about this practice?

Solo diving

If the diver(s) call in to inform the coastguard the "vessel" (sorry can't think of a better word) will be unattended is this OK and will it prevent the lifeboat being called when not needed (something we all would agree is best avoided).

This practice is common in the Med with a full sized RIB, but could also be practiced with a smaller inflatable in UK conditions provided the divers understand the currents and tides involved???

So coasties if we call you up on the VHF before and after the dive will you give us a hard time or not??

Chris

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by chrisch

If the diver(s) call in to inform the coastguard the "vessel" (sorry can't think of a better word) will be unattended is this OK and will it prevent the lifeboat being called when not needed (something we all would agree is best avoided).

Chris

Chris,

I'll try to give you information from my experience as a diver / skipper and a bit from my limited experience from being a coastguard.

I have seen these dive kayaks, but the ones i have seen have been YELLOW and rigid plastic carry a ' A ' flag on the bow and also one on the underside in case the thing tip's over . I have done a drift dive from one of these things and i thought they were bloody great.

As the BETTER DIVER would inform the local coastguard of his dive plan and ALL intentsions wether it be from a kayak or a shore dive, then at least they are semi prepared knowing all your craft details, your position and intended time to surface..........

Originally Posted by chrisch

This practice is common in the Med with a full sized RIB, but could also be practiced with a smaller inflatable in UK conditions provided the divers understand the currents and tides involved???

Chris

Something i would recommeded, especiallly if you had a buddy pair surface in the pooh , and really you have no surface cover to go and collect.

Having seen a local hard boat do this stupid thing on several occassions, one which nearly got his anchor warp severed and the boat taken in salvage leaving him and his 12+ divers below. well that takes the pi$$.

Originally Posted by chrisch

So coasties if we call you up on the VHF before and after the dive will you give us a hard time or not??

Chris

Personally I wouldn't, ,( but would have taken advice from my senior officer first ).

[Hazel W]

this is only acceptable if the vessel is at anchor ... leaving a vessel of any sort on the end of a piece of string (with a diver on the end of it) is monumentally stupid and is going to end in tears. if the surface conditions change then the diver/s could be dragged to the surface or the string might part. also the line might get tangled leading to all sorts of sh1t.


H

[milldog]

I have done this off the coast of devon with a large rubber ring type inflatable attached to a dive cord whilst looking for lobsters and crabs until the inshore boat started pulling on the cord up

immidiate thought "what the F***" got to the surface and was about to give whoever rock all and discovered local bods dragged out of the pub to come to my aid ...............a walker saw the boat and called it

i dont do that anymore