Boat Diving and the Divemaster

1. Boat Diving and the Divemaster

2. Objectives • State at least five considerations for the selection of a boat for diving activities. • State four recommended procedures for chartering a vessel for diving activities. • List four recommended procedures to plan and prepare for boat diving in the local area. • List at least four pre-departure procedures for boat diving. • List at least five topics that should be included in the pre-departure briefing for a boat dive. • List at least three recommended actions to prepare for boat diving activities after arrival at the site. • List at least seven topics that should be addressed during the pre-dive briefing for a boat dive.

3. Objectives continued • List three recommended procedures for overseeing boat diving operations. • list three recommended procedures of post-diving actions a Divemaster should perform. • List three recommended procedures for taking roll of divers aboard a boat. • Define and briefly explain chartering requirements for commercial boats and small boats. • Discuss aspects of small boating safety. • Explain the emergency procedures for the emergency operation of a marine radio.

4. Boat Selection Considerations: • Proper licensing • Legally = most important consideration • Passenger capacity • rated vs. comfort • Accommodations, galley, compressor • Operating range • speed and comfort • Cost • Availability

5. Chartering a Vessel • Select appropriate vessel • Reserve with deposit and confirmation letter. • Obtain written information regarding: • costs • cancellation policies • refunds • diving rules • gear requirements • pass info on to customers as appropriate

6. Acting as Operator • Definition of a charter • Vessel licensing requirements • Vessel equipment and inspection • Personnel licensing requirements • anything of value changes hands

7. Planning and Preparing for Boat Dives • Visit and inspect boat in advance • Dive as passenger on boat if unfamiliar with vessel • Obtain and provide to divers: • directions to boat, • parking • boarding instructions, etc. • Collect all fees in advance

8. Pre-Departure Procedures • Greet and direct all passengers • Explain & supervise proper stowage of gear • Ensure all divers sign in • Roll/roster • Waiver • "Cert" card ) • Discuss schedule, activities, and procedures with captain and crew • establish chain of command

9. Pre-Departure Procedures continued Give pre-departure briefing: • Vessel orientation • game disposal • head, • guns • tank fills • Gates • storage • dry and wet areas • Estimated schedule of activities • Nature of planned dives • Boat and diving rules and regulations • Safety equipment location and operation • Etiquette • "Zero Tolerance" drug policy

10. Diving Preparations • Site Selection • Depth • Dive Objectives • Conditions evaluation • wind for: • swing • dropped object, • entry/return • current • kelp • surface conditions such as waves, swell, chop • boat traffic • Rigging and deployment of lines • Coordination with crew members (CAPT has final say)

11. Pre-Dive Briefing Given by both capain and divemaster • Site orientation (CAPTAIN) • Procedures orientation (DM directs dive activities ) • Expectations • Limits • Entry/Exit and Check-out/check-in procedures • Recall procedures • Assistance procedures • Gear Stowage • Tank filling procedures • Conservation/game laws • Area hazards, precautions

12. Overseeing Diving Activities • Use of safety assistants • Equipment checks • Record Keeping • Times • Depths • Roll calls • Don't dive directly under boat • Fly dive flag only while diving

13. Post-Dive Divemaster Procedures • Roll call procedures • see them • answer only once • Monitoring of divers • Booze • Food • Rest • Seasick • DCS • POP • Vessel inspection after divers have departed • remind divers to do a last check

14. Boating Safety Take a boating safety class • Safety Equipment • fire ex, pfd, bailer, paddles • Rules of the road • sailboat may have right of way • Boat loading and trim • Boat refueling ( • diesel v.s gas • non-essential personnel off • Docking procedures • don't jump on or off • Anchoring procedures • scope 5-7:1 • Coastal Navigation • red right return • Night operation • lights for navigation and diving • Vessel unattended while diving

15. Marine Radio Operations • VHF • Normal max range 20 miles • channel 16 is the emergency channel • Should be monitored continuously • SSB • Typically used for offshore cruising • Emergency Operating procedures • MAYDAY = grave and immediate danger and requests immediate assistance! "MAYDAY,MAYDAY,MAYDAY" • PAN (pronounced PAWN) = indicates a life threatening situation and requests appropriate assistance • (MOB, missing divers, DCI, grounding, loss of steerage, etc. • SECURITY (pronounced Saycuritay) = notifies other vessels of hazards to navigation, hazardous weather, or divers in the water

16. Helicopter Evacuation Boat Handling • Monitor radio continuously. • Clear, and mark or illuminate pick up area. • Lower any antennas, masts, light pole etc. • If possible arrange hand signals. • Position boat to ride as easily as possible with wind on port bow or as directed by pilot. • Maintain steerage way.

17. Helicopter Evacuation continued Litter management • Allow litter to touch deck or water before you touch it. • If a tether is attached to litter, once it has touched the boat or water, use it to guide and control the litter. • Never attach the tether to the boat. • Place victim in litter, and if possible include: • flotation • medical records. • Signal hoist operator to hoist. • Use tether or trail line to steady basket and to ensure the tether doesn’t become entangled with the boat or any loose items such as dive gear or divers. • Don’t get tangled. • Protect the eyes and hearing of rescue personnel. • It may be necessary to transfer the victim to the water and then perform the hoist.