Mayhem on Scylla

[Hickdive]

Well, Puffin know all about dangerous boat handling - closest I've ever been to being killed whilst diving in 21 years was down to their incompetent rib cox'n

[Frankie Price]

I find it is sometimes better on a busy wreck to put up my SMB, move off the shot and drift away from all of the action. Once on the surface I always manage to get the attention of the closest boat, who can then attract my boat for a pick up. Last time I dived Scylla there was about 10 divers doing 3 minutes on the bow line with several RIBs buzzin about top side. Me and my buddy left the bow line, sent up SMB and drifted for 3 minutes ending up about 75m from the buoy, and were promptly spotted. We were back on board in no time with no problems.

[Hazel W]

glad its not like that up here

[jorawley]

Originally Posted by Hickdive

Well, Puffin know all about dangerous boat handling - closest I've ever been to being killed whilst diving in 21 years was down to their incompetent rib cox'n

Really? Have to say i thought them to be most professional and Iain (the skipper) was very good. Mind you they are quite expensive ....IMHO

[espritdiver]

A common practice among those i dive with is to drift off the wreck. Pop the dsmb and await collection. All the skippers we dive with are quite happy with this as they don't have to get involved with the usual bunfight of eight boats retrieving divers off the shot. As long as the smb is marked so the skipper can identify it and follow at a distance then there is no problem.
Unfortunately with so many boats, be they RIBs or Hardboats, on a dive site there is bound to be some rules broken. Some skippers can easily end up with a sort of tunnel vision and tend to only think of their own divers when they're in the water.

[Hickdive]

Originally Posted by jorawley

Really? Have to say i thought them to be most professional and Iain (the skipper) was very good. Mind you they are quite expensive ....IMHO

Yes, really. It was a while ago but the Cox'n, a skinny speccy streak of urine called Stewart, after an incredible series of blunders, did his best to decapitate me with a prop.

Maybe they've improved but I'm not prepared to be left with a bloody stump of neck instead of a head after testing the theory.

[ratcliffe]

I didn't realise the popular wrecks were this busy these days. Thats quite a sobering thought. I like Frankie's Idea about drifting away from the wreck, as long as its not a turbo drift!

[Steve Summers]

not dived the scylla yet but it was like that on the JEL the 5 times I have been there with boats patrolling [usually ribs] with eyes for their own divers only.

Safe diving,
Steve

[jlwarlow]

I dived the JEL yesterday and Sat and the Scylla on Sun, the number of boats there appeared to be the norm for this time of year. I did see on several occation large RIBs moving at spead around the wreck which I wasn't too happy about. What horrified me was the number of divers who were surfacing near but not on shot without using a DSMB or flag, which is right in the area these speeding RIBs are heading to. I'm surprised there haven't been a large number of accidents there.

[Brian of Aquanauts]

There is a code of conduct for diving on the scylla you can find it on the National Marine Aquariums page, it was taken from the printed Plymouth local Code of Practice that you can find in most local dive shops. We gave out loads last year. The main COP is used by all the hardboat skippers in the area and is written to provide advice and guidance to all club boat operators. It was well written with the attitude we dive here all the time and are available on Ch9 for advice. We'll help and assist RIB Coxs where needed etc as you may use us in the future, please ask us before using our shots etc etc Please speak to the boat on site while approaching so that we can let you know how many divers we have i the water and where they are...

I'll get the main COP put up on my website... in the next day or 2

Originally Posted by NMA

DIVE BOAT - SAFETY CODE

Before approaching the diving area, communicate with any vessels already there, ideally by radio, or by giving the UK OK signal. They should tell you how many divers are down and where they are. It is possible that some divers will be using rebreathers and will not be easy to locate due to lack of bubbles.

Scylla Reef and James Eagan Layne dives sites are likely to be popular at certain times. Be prepared to wait until there is a space for you. Agree a plan of action with the other dive boats present.

If practical, consider paddling your boat or using the wind and tide to get into position.

Never go near divers' bubbles with your engine in gear.

Position yourself as far as possible from other divers.

Never drop your anchor or shot line when divers are under the water. If other boats are present, agree a course of action.

Never let an inexperienced person take charge of the boat anywhere near the dive site.

Before engaging your engine, check for bubbles. Look all around your boat including the stern. Do not motor unnecessarily or patrol the area, it adds to the danger.

Never manoeuvre at more than tickover until you are a considerable distance from the dive site. Divers may come up away from the site, especially down tide.

When within Plymouth Port Control limits it would be in your interest to advise them of your diving plans on VHF Channels 14 or 16 (call sign 'Longroom') or telephone 01752 663225.

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