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Small Boat Diving. We will cover. Types of craft Advantages and disadvantages Use of small dive boats Good practices Care and maintenance Summary. Types of craft. Semi-rigid Inflatables Collapsible Inflatables Size 3-8 metres overall length Power Outboard Engines (Single or Twin)
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We will cover • Types of craft • Advantages and disadvantages • Use of small dive boats • Good practices • Care and maintenance • Summary
Types of craft • Semi-rigid Inflatables • Collapsible Inflatables • Size • 3-8 metres overall length • Power • Outboard Engines (Single or Twin) • 20 - 200 Horsepower
Advantages of Small Boats • Stable • Good loading capacity • Seaworthy, buoyant • Reasonably fast • Low free board (exit - entry)
Disadvantages of Small Boats • Space is limited. • Diving equipment must be well stowed • Rough, wet ride • Poor manoeuvrability at low power or when paddling • Low position in water • poor sighting from/to craft • Vulnerable to damage
Key points in the use of Small Dive Boats • Teamwork • Launching • from a slip • from a beach • Coxswain has full control of boat • Divers kitted-up • Practise • backward roll exit from boat • re-entry to boat after dive • Use of “Divers-down” flag essential
Good Practices • Limit travel time to site - 30min • Lookout appointed • Track divers when underwater • Give Estimated Time of Return to Shore Marshal • Keep in contact with other boats using VHF radios • Protect against wind chill • Maintain boat gear in top condition
Summary • Types of craft • Advantages and disadvantages • Use of small dive boats • Good practices • Care and maintenance
You may launch a boat from a slip: • “Bow” first • Side first • “Stern” first
You may launch a boat from a slip: • “Bow” first • Side first • “Stern” first
Divers about to enter the water from a small boat should do so by making: • Giant strides together on opposite sides? • A sitting backward roll, one at a time, on the same side? • A sitting backward roll, together on opposite sides?
Divers about to enter the water from a small boat should do so by making: • Giant strides together on opposite sides? • A sitting backward roll, one at a time, on the same side? • A sitting backward roll, together on opposite sides?To avoid any imbalance in boat
A diver-down flag should be flown when diving from a small boat: • As soon as the boat anchors? • Only when divers are in the water? • As soon as the divers are in the boat?
A diver-down flag should be flown when diving from a small boat: • As soon as the boat anchors? • Only when divers are in the water.When Divers are in the water, not necessarily underwater. • As soon as the divers are in the boat?
Launching a small boat involves: • Reversing the boat trailer into the water fully laden • Dropping the boat over the quayside into the water • Carry unladen boat to the water and then load the gear
Launching a small boat involves: • Reversing the boat trailer into the water fully laden • Dropping the boat over the quayside into the water • Carry unladen boat to the water and then load the gearThe correct method is to carry the unladen boat to the water, then the gear. Not possible using RIBS in which case (a) would apply - not necessarily with a 4WD vehicle.