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Scuba Forum / General / August 2004Ladder verse face
Any suggestions regarding getting back on a boat in moderate seas. Most of my boat diving experience has been during good weather. However, I've had some problems recently. The first time I had my hand on the lowest rung and looked up in time to have the ladder smash me in the mouth...that only cost me 16 stitches. The second time, the damned ladder, hit me twice. Once in the head (6 stitches) and again in the mouth(it really hurt that time). I can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would be helpful. Doc H > Any suggestions regarding getting back on a boat in moderate seas. Most > of my boat diving experience has been during good weather. However, I've had [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would be > helpful. Keep your eyes on the ladder. > Any suggestions regarding getting back on a boat in moderate seas. Most > of my boat diving experience has been during good weather. However, I've had [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would be > helpful. As you get to the ladder, dump the air out of yer BC, and hang from the bottom rung like a chimp on a tree limb. Remove yer fins, slipping the fin straps over yer wrists. Get square to the ladder, and as it comes down, get yer feet on the bottom rung and ride it back up. At this point you are in control of the ladder and can climb the rest of the way up at yer liesure. And never look up. > Any suggestions regarding getting back on a boat in moderate seas. Most > of my boat diving experience has been during good weather. However, I've had [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would be > helpful. Upper body strength, timing, higher rungs. Hit the lower rungs with your feet just before the ride up. You stick the landing if you can see sky when you hit the deck. > I can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would > be helpful. Dive within your limits. You have a problem with un-flat seas.  Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 > I can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. > Any advice would be helpful. Yeah, you're doing something wrong -- you're getting your head in the way of the ladder... As for advice... Well, get your head out of the way... All that banging on your head is probably going to damage it... > As for advice... Well, get your head out of the way... All > that banging on your head is probably going to damage it... That last sentence wasn't that clear... I was referring to the possibility that it might damage the *ladder*... >From: "Holo" holotaps@hotmail.com >Date: 8/21/2004 10:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Doc H I'm a pretty stout guy, around 300pds. I get under the ladder with neg buoyancy, time the waves, grab the bottom wrung, let the first wave pull me to the up. Let go of the ladder when the boat drops, grab an upper wrung and stick your foot or knee in the lowest. Then climb up. Popeye "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain > Let go of the ladder when the boat drops, grab an upper wrung and stick your > foot or knee in the lowest. Just don't miss... Oh, wait, you already know that part, right? Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 "Holo" posted: > The second time, the damned ladder, hit me twice. Once in > the head (6 stitches) and again in the mouth(it really hurt that time). I > can only surmise that I'm doing something wrong. Any advice would be > helpful. I try to avoid the one hand on the ladder one hand removing fins when the seas are real rough, it takes both hands to manage the ladder when it's that rough. staying to the side of the ladder seems safer to me until I'm ready for an all out assault on the ladder. there's no perfect way but attempting to remove fins right at the ladder when only holding on with one hand is looking for trouble, if nothing else remove fins from a distance to free up both hands for the ladder. Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL > for trouble, if nothing else remove fins from a distance to free up > both hands > for the ladder. Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something else to hold onto and pull yourself to the ladder? >Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something >else to hold onto and pull yourself to the ladder? Any boat that doesnt have a trailing line with bouy for divers in a strong current aint a top notch operation..... Bllll >>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Bllll Still, there's the question of the free hand again. Two hands for fin removal and one for holding the line. I keep coming up short one hand. I agree, no trail line is a sure sign of trouble in a current, rough seas or not. Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. >>Bllll >Still, there's the question of the free hand again. Two hands for fin [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I agree, no trail line is a sure sign of trouble in a current, rough >seas or not. Well hell man! any REAL male scuba diver already HAS a third "hand" for the line :) What the women do about it I have no idea..... But back to reality....its certainly easier to hold on to a line with one hand and remove a fin with the other than it is to do the same expect with a ladder (and a hell of a lot safer to boot)..... And by the way....what the hell does this mean? >When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark >and the horse's name was Bob. I've been seeing that for months and have no idea of its significance/reference..... take care Blll > And by the way....what the hell does this mean? > >>When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark This much is a Christmas carol. >>and the horse's name was Bob. > > I've been seeing that for months and have no idea of its > significance/reference..... Anyone? >> And by the way....what the hell does this mean? >> >>>When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark > >This much is a Christmas carol. okay....now that you've SPLIT it up into two parts I can sorta see where you get Hark for an angels name (and I guess his last name is Harold or maybe his job description was a "harold" since he was Hark the harold?" >>>and the horse's name was Bob. Okay, here is a thought.... what about that song " I rode through the desert on a horse with no name"? Well, in that case Bobs a good a name as any? Do I win a prize or pass go without collecting any money? And that reminds as a youngster I kept hearing that once popular song "Nights in white? satin, never reaching the end.....blah, blah blah"....and I was so naive I kept wondering what the hell KNIGHTS were doing in/with white satin.....all I could figure out was that it was some sorta Klu Klux Klan operation on some kinda really long road march :).....only many years later did I realize it was commercial for viagra (now THERE is an idea for their advertising department ) take care Blll >>>Bllll >>Still, there's the question of the free hand again. Two hands for fin [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >I've been seeing that for months and have no idea of its >significance/reference..... Hark, the herald angel Bells on Bob's tail ring >take care > >Blll Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. Hark, the herald angel >Bells on Bob's tail ring Ahhhhhhhh thanks...I was starting to loose sleep over this :) take care Blll > >Any boat that doesnt have a trailing line with bouy for divers in a strong > >current aint a top notch operation..... Uh huh. Well, sometimes you don't have the luxury of getting a top-notch operation. > Still, there's the question of the free hand again. Two hands for fin > removal and one for holding the line. I keep coming up short one > hand. Two hands for fin removal? No wonder you people are having trouble. > >>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in > >>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I agree, no trail line is a sure sign of trouble in a current, rough > seas or not. A trail line might help you while you await your turn for the ladder, but it won't get you to the ladder. So you've still got the problem of getting to the ladder if you've already removed your fins. So far, I've found the best way is the one handed latch onto the ladder and staying to the side of it until ready to make the serious ascent. Try to time your approach on a down and ride it up on the swell. Then watch yer damn fingers too, especially near the top. That's where I damn near lost my thumb, squeezed between the boat and the ladder hookup. Where I've still had trouble is on the bigger boats with the double ladders off the deck out back into the water. When the seas are rough, you are supposed to remove your fins before approaching the ladder because you'll get whipped, beaten and thrashed about trying to hang on. Now I know this to be true. :^) But as Greg said, I was still left with the problem of trying to get to the ladder without my fins on in a rough sea. I finally took to taking the thrashing instead. Fortunately, my arm is still in its socket. >A trail line might help you while you await your turn for the ladder, but it >won't get you to the ladder. So you've still got the problem of getting to >the ladder if you've alread What? How damn FAR from the ladder is the rope? Is it even attached to the same boat? Take your fins of, pull your way up the line, and then its usually only an arm length or 2 right behind the boat to the ladder.... And Greggs comment about not always having a "top notch" boat/operation to use.... Well, heck....I had no idea 50 feet of anchor line and a bouy or empty clorox bottle for that matter were so expensive and difficult to use that it precluded its use by some boat owners/operators.... If us poor stupid rednecks here in northwest florida can manage such difficult naval operations youd think everyone else could do it.... take care Blll > >A trail line might help you while you await your turn for the ladder, but it > >won't get you to the ladder. So you've still got the problem of getting to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > How damn FAR from the ladder is the rope? Is it even attached to the same boat? It's tied to a grommet on the back of the boat, on the same side as the ladder. You pull yourself up to the boat, ever mindful not to get yourself into the motors, which are running, trying to keep the boat in place. > Take your fins of, pull your way up the line, and then its usually only an arm > length or 2 right behind the boat to the ladder.... Not everyone is 6' or more tall you know. But heck, if you want to take your fins off while you are hanging on the line, go ahead. Me, I'll hang on the line until it's my turn at the ladder and then I'll fin over to the ladder and then I'll hang one handed to the side and take of my fins. (I'm only 5'3") (snip) >Not everyone is 6' or more tall you know. But heck, if you want to take >your fins off while you are hanging on the line, go ahead. Me, I'll hang on [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >(snip) Im 5 8", 120 pounds with spaghetti arms and legs, and always wear a pretty heavy wetsuit/wieghts...if the water aint 85 plus I am cold.... So, my ratio of "techno crap" wieght to body weight/muscle capacity is probably MUCH worse than all but the girliest of girls and "girly men"... Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope to the ladder without my fins on... Ive always found it to be easier to pull upcurrent along a line than to fin it when the current is strong, though perhaps not as comfortable or graceful.....you can even rest every foot when on the line if you HAVE too...but you cant do that when finning.... When the current is bad or seas are rough the last place I wanna be dicking around with taking gear off is right next to a rocking boat, "flying" ladder or sharp prop (particularly if for some reason the prop is actually spinning).... And why is boat motor running? I thought thats what anchors were for? Oh yeah, about 8 years or so ago a diver in Panama City Florida died diving off a commercial dive cattleboat....the boat motor WASNT even running (ie prop NOT spinning)....the stern surged upwards as he tried to get on the ladder.....he sorta got sucked under the boat, when it came back down the prop cut his leg so badly he bleed out and died in just a few minutes..... be careful out there.... Blll > Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope to > the ladder without my fins on... Uh huh. And then one time you won't make it, at which point you're sitting in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would ever want to be in. > > Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope > to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would > ever want to be in. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd say all he'd have to do is put his fins back on and he's none the worse for wear... >Uh huh. And then one time you won't make it, at which point you're sitting >in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would >ever want to be i What, you dont have a friggin arm to keep your fins on? Hell then...use your penis then since you think its so damn big.... Of course I dive off of boats that have Captians that have enough skill to retrieve me down current should I actually prove to be incometent enough to manage ALL three of these things ....1 not make it 3 feet to the ladder in the first place....2 manage to loose BOTH fins in the process .....and 3 not be able to move a couple feet laterally and snag the line before I get swept past the clorox bottle at the end of the rope.... geez Blll > >Uh huh. And then one time you won't make it, at which point you're sitting > >in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > able to move a couple feet laterally and snag the line before I get swept past > the clorox bottle at the end of the rope.... What about not being competent enough to (1) Board the boat using the ladder, taking your fins of on the way in? > geez precisely!! Dave. >> Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope >to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would >ever want to be in. Naw, getting rid of the BC instead of the weights, that's pretty helpless (and well worthy of a Darwin award). Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. > > Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope > to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > in the water without fins. That's about as helpless a situation as I would > ever want to be in. and only a rookie would ever put themselves in it at all. Dave. > Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope to > the ladder without my fins on... Well, someday perhaps you'll dive in waves. Real waves, not the kind where you can take your fins off in the water. Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 >€ Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope >to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Real waves, not the kind where you can take your fins off in the water. Theres waves and then there is current....and you can have ALOT of either with alot, or some, or none of the other.... Waves you go uppity downy, current you go slippity sideways.... And which combo exists probably indicates what is the most prudent approach to take with the fin/ladder choice (and how the boat/ladder is set up as well)..... And it doestn take much current before fins or no fins if you gone your gone......hence the need for a good trailing line as well as captain worth a snot.... I would imagine that plenty of folks have been whumped pretty good by the ladder or the back of the boat and I as I posted I know for sure of at least one death.....but I dont know of any lost souls being swept away for good when actively trying to get onto a boat....anybody got any stats? Now, the few souls being LEFT behind at a dive sight in the past decade or 2 is a different story (ie the god awful recent movie)....and BESIDES that as far as I know they HAD their fins and it still didnt do em much good.... Just put it this way....the dives I have done, I've been alot more worried about get beaned by the boat or ladder than I have about being incompetent enough to be both swept away AND not being picked up too boot..... And there are actually bad situations where I WOULD keep my fins on, not that I;ve encountered em yet....but I'll let you figure out the details/variables.... take care Blll > Theres waves and then there is current....and you can have ALOT of either with > alot, or some, or none of the other.... [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > I;ve encountered em yet....but I'll let you figure out the > details/variables.... Here in the North East, the boats are tied to the wreck. They aren't gonna get you. A mate might swim out to you with line, but forget the boat. No one takes off their fins in the water here. Most of the ladders are made so that you can climb them with your fins on (even with my long Blades). >Most of the ladders >are made so that you can climb them with your fins on (even with my long >Blades). Ahhh....yep if the ladder IS big enough you can keep the duck feet on....smaller boats = smaller ladders = aint so cut and dried different strokes for different regions/boats.... take care Blll > different strokes for different regions/boats.... We couldn't have said it better. Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 >>Most of the ladders >>are made so that you can climb them with your fins on (even with my long >>Blades). > Ahhh....yep if the ladder IS big enough you can keep the duck feet > on....smaller boats = smaller ladders = aint so cut and dried Yeah, the duck feet for some, T-ladders on some other boats. Either way, you can get on with your fins. There are some who do take them off, but only when they reach the ladder. A crew mate will be there to assist in fin removal. > different strokes for different regions/boats.... yeah... "strokes".... >> different strokes for different regions/boats.... > >yeah... "strokes".... Yeppers You'd call me a fool for taking my fins off where you dive and I'd probably call you a wimp for worrying about taking your fins off where/how I dive..... hows that? take care Blll > hows that? [yawn] Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 >>>different strokes for different regions/boats.... >> >>yeah... "strokes".... > Yeppers > You'd call me a fool for taking my fins off where you dive and I'd probably > call you a wimp for worrying about taking your fins off where/how I dive..... I wouldn't call you a fool. If it works for you, fine. > hows that? Ok by me. > Here in the North East, the boats are tied to the wreck. They aren't > gonna get you. A mate might swim out to you with line, but forget the > boat. No one takes off their fins in the water here. Most of the ladders > are made so that you can climb them with your fins on (even with my long > Blades). Right. The ladders have a central spline and no outside rails - sometimes known as Christmas Tree ladders. Another thing compounding the difficulty of getting back on a boat is that the wind may push the boat around the Grapnel line in a direction completely different than the current. Couple that with a good chop of 4-6 footers and no way do you want to take your fins off until you are completely on the boat. I don't take my fins off, nor do I even take the reg out of my mouth or deflate my BC until I'm over the gunwale. I've been bucked off of ladders once or twice, and I prefer my breathing gas to ocean water any day of the week. Many of the boats up here use two lines - one tied to the Grapnel line that's hooked onto the wreck, so you can pull yourself from your entry over to the down line. I've heard it called the Granny Line. The other line drifts from the back of the boat to help you get to the ladder or to hang on to wait your turn. Either way, it can also be easy to get wrapped up in the lines - it almost seems as if they have minds of their own at times! Diving in NY/NJ can be great, but it can also be exceedingly difficult and Jammer is correct to say, "dive within your limits." Bart F. >> Here in the North East, the boats are tied to the wreck. They aren't >> gonna get you. A mate might swim out to you with line, but forget the >> boat. No one takes off their fins in the water here. Most of the >> ladders are made so that you can climb them with your fins on (even >> with my long Blades). > Right. The ladders have a central spline and no outside rails - > sometimes known as Christmas Tree ladders. Another thing compounding the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > my BC until I'm over the gunwale. I've been bucked off of ladders once > or twice, and I prefer my breathing gas to ocean water any day of the week. Most definatly. You keep all your gear on as if underwater until you are on the boat. > Many of the boats up here use two lines - one tied to the Grapnel line > that's hooked onto the wreck, so you can pull yourself from your entry > over to the down line. I've heard it called the Granny Line. The other > line drifts from the back of the boat to help you get to the ladder or > to hang on to wait your turn. yeah.. the granny line. Makes life much easier instead of swimming to the bow. You start out underwater to the grapnel, then down you go to the wreck. Coming up, you have your choice on which line to decompress on. > Either way, it can also be easy to get wrapped up in the lines - it > almost seems as if they have minds of their own at times! Diving in > NY/NJ can be great, but it can also be exceedingly difficult and Jammer > is correct to say, "dive within your limits." I have see people tangled up with the trailing line. Lots of wave action and the boat going up and down, the line can get wrapped all around you. But I love diving up here. Next Sunday, the Oregon. > € Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope to > € the ladder without my fins on... > > Well, someday perhaps you'll dive in waves. > > Real waves, not the kind where you can take your fins off in the water. Agreed.. try taking off your fins with 8-10 footers crashing into you. >Agreed.. try taking off your fins with 8-10 footers crashing into you. Crashing? Are you in a boat? Or in the surf zone? Better watch out for the surfboards.... take care Blll I still wanna know what kinda boats you guys are diving from that have the trailing line apparently on the other side of the solar system from the ladder.... Maybe we need some genius that actually figures out you can tie the line TOOOOO the ladder..... Every trailing line Ive seen (and I admit it ainta a gazillion) was set up that you GET to the ladder WITHOUT letting go of the line... Besides, us folks in the gulf coast seem to have enough sense to not be in or generally get caught in 8 foot crashers in an open boat that carries 6 to 8 people....when THAT happens maybe I''ll keep my fins on....and I probably tie most of my gear on the line or dump it for sake of life and limb.... > I still wanna know what kinda boats you guys are diving from that have the > trailing line apparently on the other side of the solar system from the > ladder.... Lines don't help you on the ladder, newbie. Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 >Lines don't help you on the ladder, newbie. But they are a damn good way to be kept from getting swept away.....which seems to be some peoples boggie man... Fins sure as hell dont help ya on a ladder either.... take care Blll > But they are a damn good way to be kept from getting swept away.....which > seems to be some peoples boggie man... > > Fins sure as hell dont help ya on a ladder either.... The difference is that a line will work against you on a ladder, and fins won't. The only time I've fallen off a ladder was at the worst possible moment, in current, between the boat and the rocks. Of course. It's a good f.cking thing I wasn't holding onto a line, without fins. If you haven't fallen off a ladder yet, keep diving. Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 > Maybe we need some genius that actually figures out you can tie the line TOOOOO > the ladder..... You guys tie your trailing line to the ladder? What's that like when you got six divers hanging off the line? > Every trailing line Ive seen (and I admit it ainta a gazillion) was set up that > you GET to the ladder WITHOUT letting go of the line... Yeah, well, there ya go, I don't remember any that got me all the way to the ladder. On the other hand, I don't hang off of one that often either, even when they are available. > Besides, us folks in the gulf coast seem to have enough sense to not be in or > generally get caught in 8 foot crashers in an open boat that carries 6 to 8 > people....when THAT happens maybe I''ll keep my fins on....and I probably tie > most of my gear on the line or dump it for sake of life and limb.... :^) >>Agreed.. try taking off your fins with 8-10 footers crashing into you. > Crashing? Ok... a poor choice of words. With the boat being tossed with 6-10 footers, foam all around where the ladder is, and a current moving pretty quick, you aint thinking of taking off your fins. > Are you in a boat? Or in the surf zone? Boat... ocean going 60 footer USCG rated for 70 people. > Better watch out for the surfboards.... I guess you could surf 70 miles from shore.. > I still wanna know what kinda boats you guys are diving from that have the > trailing line apparently on the other side of the solar system from the > ladder.... Trailing line is to the side of the ladder. Tied to the ladder will only get tangled along with the person pulling on it. > Maybe we need some genius that actually figures out you can tie the line TOOOOO > the ladder..... Sure. > Every trailing line Ive seen (and I admit it ainta a gazillion) was set up that > you GET to the ladder WITHOUT letting go of the line... Then you never dove in the North East. > Besides, us folks in the gulf coast seem to have enough sense to not be in or > generally get caught in 8 foot crashers in an open boat that carries 6 to 8 > people....when THAT happens maybe I''ll keep my fins on....and I probably tie > most of my gear on the line or dump it for sake of life and limb.... I don't ride 6 packs here in NY. They won't go out in weather that we go out in. > Trailing line is to the side of the ladder. Tied to the ladder will only > get tangled along with the person pulling on it. Not a problem. Happened to me once when I was at the head of the line. The rope caught between my pony bottle and my tank and I couldn't unwedge it, so I just cut it and it slid right through. > > Trailing line is to the side of the ladder. Tied to the ladder will only > > get tangled along with the person pulling on it. > > Not a problem. Happened to me once when I was at the head of the line. > The rope caught between my pony bottle and my tank and I couldn't > unwedge it, so I just cut it and it slid right through. You were at the head of the line, you say? (wry amusement) >>>Trailing line is to the side of the ladder. Tied to the ladder will only >>>get tangled along with the person pulling on it. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > You were at the head of the line, you say? Yes. The captain moved the boat to pick up the rest of them. >> > Trailing line is to the side of the ladder. Tied to the ladder will only >> > get tangled along with the person pulling on it. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >You were at the head of the line, you say? And, suddenly, he found himself at the end of the line. >(wry amusement) Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. > >the line until it's my turn at the ladder and then I'll fin over to the > >ladder and then I'll hang one handed to the side and take of my fins. (I'm [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Im 5 8", 120 pounds with spaghetti arms and legs, and always wear a pretty > heavy wetsuit/wieghts...if the water aint 85 plus I am cold.... Wish I had spaghetti legs. ;^) > So, my ratio of "techno crap" wieght to body weight/muscle capacity is probably > MUCH worse than all but the girliest of girls and "girly men"... > > Yet I have never had the problem of making the "short leap" from the rope to > the ladder without my fins on... OK. Glad it's worked out for you. > Ive always found it to be easier to pull upcurrent along a line than to fin it > when the current is strong, though perhaps not as comfortable or > graceful.....you can even rest every foot when on the line if you HAVE > too...but you cant do that when finning.... We are not disagreeing on this point. However, you are pulling without your fins and I'm pulling and finning. > When the current is bad or seas are rough the last place I wanna be dicking > around with taking gear off is right next to a rocking boat, "flying" ladder or > sharp prop (particularly if for some reason the prop is actually spinning).... I don't want to be taking my gear off anywhere near the prop, running or otherwise. > And why is boat motor running? I thought thats what anchors were for? Uh? Liveboat pickup? And even if tethered to the mooring, they'll still have some need to keep the boat in place as they pick up divers. > Oh yeah, about 8 years or so ago a diver in Panama City Florida died diving off > a commercial dive cattleboat....the boat motor WASNT even running (ie prop NOT > spinning)....the stern surged upwards as he tried to get on the ladder.....he > sorta got sucked under the boat, when it came back down the prop cut his leg so > badly he bleed out and died in just a few minutes..... Yeesh... > be careful out there.... > > Blll > It's tied to a grommet on the back of the boat, on the same side as the > ladder. You pull yourself up to the boat, ever mindful not to get yourself > into the motors, which are running, trying to keep the boat in place. Chilly - hopefully the boat you are diving from has the motor on and in neutral gear. Surely the boat(not calling you Shirley) captain knows better than that... > > >A trail line might help you while you await your turn for the ladder, but > it [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > ladder. You pull yourself up to the boat, ever mindful not to get yourself > into the motors, which are running, trying to keep the boat in place. I'm not going to ask what a grommet is, I thought it was the name of a dog in my fave cartoon. But any boat you're on that keeps a boat in gear (prop turning) while you are being picked up, I would warn you to stay a mile away from. Literally. (I'm > only 5'3") Yet you protected big Greg so effectively. ;) Dave. bllfs6@aol.com (BllFs6) wrote in message > If us poor stupid rednecks here in northwest florida can manage such difficult > naval operations youd think everyone else could do it.... your being too hard on yourself I'm sure ! Kevin > bllfs6@aol.com (BllFs6) wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > your being too hard on yourself I'm sure ! Where? Signature"We're going to rush the hijackers." -Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001 > Still, there's the question of the free hand again. Two hands for fin > removal and one for holding the line. I keep coming up short one > hand. If you momentarily need two hands, tuck the trail line under an arm to just trap it...you then allow yourself to slip down the line. You can do a single wrap around the arm if you don't want to do a line slide, or if there's someone behind you on the line that you don't want to bump. > I agree, no trail line is a sure sign of trouble in a current, rough > seas or not. Agreed. -hh >>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something >>else to hold onto and pull yourself to the ladder? > >Any boat that doesnt have a trailing line with bouy for divers in a strong >current aint a top notch operation..... They would also have a lift platform to bring the divers back aboard with fins on. Or at least have a ladder you can use with fins on???? -- Steve Barlow "Profanity is the linguistic crutch of inarticulate motherf..kers"Airhog >>>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >>>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >on. >Or at least have a ladder you can use with fins on???? Some where I saw an operation that used a landing craft as a dive boat. They'd lower the ramp below the water, then gently lift you out. Although getting slapped around by the ramp probably wouldn't be much fun, either. Signaturedillon When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark and the horse's name was Bob. >>>>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >>>>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >out. Although getting slapped around by the ramp probably wouldn't be >much fun, either. Sounds good but because of the angle of the ramp you get washed off unless you have a rope to hold onto. -- Steve Barlow This one is forever- I love her as much as you loved that little white and black goat. Airhog >>out. Although getting slapped around by the ramp probably wouldn't be >>much fun, either. >Sounds good but because of the angle of the ramp you get washed off unless >you >have a rope to hold onto. Not the DREADED rope!!!!!.....youll get tangled and DIE...even if you manage to reach it with superhuman strength :) take care Blll >>>out. Although getting slapped around by the ramp probably wouldn't be >>>much fun, either. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >take care Thats what they said when I started diving a rebreather. -- Steve Barlow "Equal Rights For All Civilized People !" Ian D. Smith, PM Rhodesia >>>>Got it. Then you kick with only your booties against a two-knot current in >>>>order to grab the ladder. Or are you assuming there's a line or something [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > out. Although getting slapped around by the ramp probably wouldn't be > much fun, either. In Barbados we dove off of a boat that was used to deploy kayaks into the water, it had a fold-down ramp at the bow. Made for a different re-entry to swim up unto a ramp. The dive op borrowed this boat on another part of the island because the west shore had large swells and they couldn't take us out on their regular dive boat. At least, that's what they told us. We dove off a boat in Tobermory, Canada that had a hydraulic swim ramp thingie, I haven't seen anything like it since, though. As it rose out of the water, you kinda felt like you could wash off of it. I apparently wore enough lead not to, however.
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