Left Behind

[Navy OnStar]

From the point of view of someone who has done aerial searches: The first thing we do is look at time in the water and current to figure out where you should be. We do start at the point where you were diving (Note: leaving an accurate dive plan with someone on shore helps us tremendously on this) and usually expand along the current line. I would probably find you quicker if you carried signalling equipment. I carry a strobe, 2 flashlights, an SMB, a mirror, and half of a space blanket on every dive. Wife has the same as well. They'll be able to see me from space!

My recommendation: Leave the name and number of the dive op, a time for you to be back, and the sites you are going to with a responsible adult for every dive. Give them explicit directions "If I haven't called by X:00pm (leave a little leeway) call me, and the dive op. If the Dive op hasn't heard from the boat have them get in touch, If the boat is back or they can't get in touch with the boat call the Coast Guard" Also, have the number for the Coast Guard on the sheet for the person to call directly. The quicker they are activiated the easier you are to find. They also have all the toys to help find you. (If you have a light, they can see that for miles on NVG's, I recommend a strobe because it is 360degrees)

[MSilvia]

It's not acceptable, but a lot of unacceptable things happen in the world, and in my opinion it's good to be prepared when they do.

[Navy OnStar]

Originally Posted by RecInstr

Ok, being a Recreational SCUBA Instructor, I get asked this a lot....And that darned movie didn't help.

Can someone tell me when it IS acceptable for a boat to return without a head count and roll call? The only thing I can think of is if someone is very badly injured, and needs to be taken for help....But....do you leave a group (i.e. more than one) of divers at sea even then? I thought you called the Coast Guard or something.

Again, I am not a boat operator, but I have made many boat dives many different places. I simply do not see ANY excuse for leaving divers out in the ocean. Please correct me if I am wrong......Cause I do believe that if this happened to me, me and the boat operator will be having a "Come To Jesus..." meeting when I did get back.....:-(

TD

NEVER. Call the Coast Guard!

[USF_Diver]

Yeah the only situation I could see that would require a boat to leave is if a diver had an extreme medical emergency I guess the capt could call another dive boat to maybe pickup there divers he left.

[BouzoukiJoe]

Originally Posted by rktman26

Another thing to think about- you normally surface because you are low on air.

I notice you are from New Bern. Do you dive offshore NC? If you do, that kind of dive plan (come up when you are low on air) will get you killed sooner or later.

I have never once surfaced because I was low on air. If you have to surface because you are low on air, something has gone very wrong and you better hope you have your surface signal/survival kit. Congratulations, on perhaps getting yourself lost at sea.

We come up from the wrecks on the anchor line. There is an unenforced buy-the-boat-a-beer penalty if you come up to the wrong boat.

The proper technique used around her for coming up off the anchor line should that ever be necessary is to shoot a bag and tie it off on the wreck, before ascending. You then use your line to ascend at a nice controlled pace and to keep you on the wreck. The divers should stay together and stay over the wreck if at all possible, since that will be the beginning point for any search. I always carry a reel with 250 ft of line, which is twice the 100-120ft depth that I typically dive.

Also, even if you have sufficient gas, you do not dive back down to tie off- assuming you could even find the wreck since you may have drifted quite a bit during your slow ascent. You don't do this because you don't want to be bent *and* lost at sea. One of them is quite enough.

FWIW, getting left behind is extremely rare. Becoming adrift/lost at sea is much more common. Be prepared to handle drifting in sporty seas- it will also help if you get left behind.

[rktman26]

I do dive offshore here. Maybe I didn't phrase my response correctly. What I meant was that when I surface, I normally do not have enough gas to make another dive to the bottom. I do have enough gas to make my ascent and safety stop.

I ascend on the anchor line, and the boat has always been there when I surface. I dive with Discovery, and the Jerry, Terry or Leroy (Captains for their boats) has always been there, clipboard in hand. He asks my name and checks me off the list.

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

I notice you are from New Bern. Do you dive offshore NC? If you do, that kind of dive plan (come up when you are low on air) will get you killed sooner or later.

I have never once surfaced because I was low on air. If you have to surface because you are low on air, something has gone very wrong and you better hope you have your surface signal/survival kit. Congratulations, on perhaps getting yourself lost at sea.

We come up from the wrecks on the anchor line. There is an unenforced buy-the-boat-a-beer penalty if you come up to the wrong boat.

The proper technique used around her for coming up off the anchor line should that ever be necessary is to shoot a bag and tie it off on the wreck, before ascending. You then use your line to ascend at a nice controlled pace and to keep you on the wreck. The divers should stay together and stay over the wreck if at all possible, since that will be the beginning point for any search. I always carry a reel with 250 ft of line, which is twice the 100-120ft depth that I typically dive.

Also, even if you have sufficient gas, you do not dive back down to tie off- assuming you could even find the wreck since you may have drifted quite a bit during your slow ascent. You don't do this because you don't want to be bent *and* lost at sea. One of them is quite enough.

FWIW, getting left behind is extremely rare. Becoming adrift/lost at sea is much more common. Be prepared to handle drifting in sporty seas- it will also help if you get left behind.

[BouzoukiJoe]

Originally Posted by rktman26

I do dive offshore here. Maybe I didn't phrase my response correctly. What I meant was that when I surface, I normally do not have enough gas to make another dive to the bottom. I do have enough gas to make my ascent and safety stop.

I ascend on the anchor line, and the boat has always been there when I surface. I dive with Discovery, and the Jerry, Terry or Leroy (Captains for their boats) has always been there, clipboard in hand. He asks my name and checks me off the list.

Sorry. I misunderstood you. I'm glad your dive plan is more than dive until I run out of air

I dive a 120, so I usually run out of computer time before air supply is an issue.

I've never been out with Terry, but Leroy and Jerry are definitely first rate.

[rktman26]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

Sorry. I misunderstood you. I'm glad your dive plan is more than dive until I run out of air

I dive a 120, so I usually run out of computer time before air supply is an issue.

I've never been out with Terry, but Leroy and Jerry are definitely first rate.

I've done 7 or 8 charters with these guys. I did OW with Discovery, and my AOW is next weekend. I've always felt real comfortable with all 3 captains.
I did the sub last year on the Captains Lady with Leroy. On our SI, we killed time by trolling for King Mackeral. That was a blast.


I think I was up your way on Monday. MY DB and andother diver were at Fantasy Lake. We taught ourselves navigation while we were there.

[diver 85]

Originally Posted by No Misses

That is the beautiful part about diving in South Florida (East coast). The dive sites are just a mile off shore. If the boat leaves you behind, just swim west :-)

What if it's a cloudy day and you forgot your compass????......lol, thumb it home I guess......

[BouzoukiJoe]

Originally Posted by rktman26

I've done 7 or 8 charters with these guys. I did OW with Discovery, and my AOW is next weekend. I've always felt real comfortable with all 3 captains.
I did the sub last year on the Captains Lady with Leroy. On our SI, we killed time by trolling for King Mackeral. That was a blast.

I usually book charters out of Wilmington since its an hour closer to me. I love diving from the Captain's Lady, though. I want to do some more. Six-packs are definitely the way to go, and Leroy is terrific. If you are ever trying to raise a group to book Leroy's boat and need a 4th to make it a go, send me a P.M., I'll make an effort to be there.

I think I was up your way on Monday. MY DB and andother diver were at Fantasy Lake. We taught ourselves navigation while we were there.

If you can find your way back to the exit point at that place your nav skills are pretty decent I think I've dived it 80 times and I still get confused every now and then.