Shot line etiquette?

[neilh]

had a bit of fun on the weekend doing ascent/descent on a line that turned out to be rather busy and some discussion afterwards got me wondering - is there any generally accepted rule for right of way on a line?!

The view at the time was that we should have been left on the line as we were ascending and may have been doing a stop, but were forced off the line by descending divers.

At the risk of starting a bunfight over competing views, is there a general rule?!

[ahar]

I would have thought that ascending divers would always have right of way on a shotline - unless the current is running hard, it's much easier for descending divers to go around you and still follow the shotline

[The Purist]

I always make room for anyone else regardless of which way I'm/they're going - no need to come totally off the line if there's a current, but you can hang a long way to one side of it and leave plenty of room on t'other.

[ray]

Hi.

Its never been a problem, every body just goes carefully around each other, I do give way to divers that are ascending or hanging on fizzing off.

[Nick Kay]

You can argue this one either way...

1. The divers coming down the shotline get right of way - the decoing divers could either use a Jon Line or let go & deco under a bag

2. The divers coming up the shotline get right of way - the descending divers either shouldn't be there (theres a current running and therefore why are they descending?) or theres no current, so they can let go and go around the decoing divers

Of course, all divers should have good enough buoyancy control so as not to need to hold the shotline (if theres no current)...

[Lou]

I would say that both sides need to have some common sense and basic courtesy. there should be room for both on the line, but if not try and make some. if that still doesn't work then ascending divers should get priority if they are doing a stop - in theory the consequences of them coming off the line could be worse.
A descending diver cannot assume that an ascending diver is in a position to leave the shotline safely and hence, if push comes to shove, should give way - they can always abandon their dive, no damage done, or get put back ont he shot by their skipper.

Lou

[Garf]

I hate coming up a shot, especially if I have deco obligation. I'd much rather free ascend, or come up on my on blob line. IF I absolutely have to come up a shotline I'd rather clip off the jonline and have a wee snooze..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[wreckweasel]

Exiting diver has priority. They are at risk, since they have a deco obligation etc.

Common sense should prevail..... the man with the scallops has priority

[Digger]

I think it's only going to be a problem if there are several of you, and I find an easy way (provided there's not too much current, in which case I'm bagging off on most dives anyhow) is to just hold on to the side of your buddy furthest from the shot, and they hold on, or vice versa. This keeps the line free, and with a lot of mates this has proven to work well. It can also be a good way of keeping out of the current if it's running a lot and you have to stay on the line to get behind someone. They take the current for a few minutes, then swap. Also keeps you busy and passes the time when you've got a long wait!

[onthetrain]

neil,

you don't say who's shot it is? If it was my shot and some uninvited divers dropped on my head I might be a tad annoyed. A different matter if it's a permanant bouy of course.