Very Lucky Divers
yesterday morning we got a call that 2 divers had been picked up from just inside Staggies Reef of Mindarie and were requesting help to locate thier boat.
Apparently they anchored on the east Side of the reef and went for a dive. When they surfaced the boat was drifting across the reef and out to sea. Luckily it made it over the reef without capsizing. They were in the water for 3 hours before a passing vessel found them. We located the vessel abourt 7nm of the coast.
Lesson here - if they had logged on the us (whitfords Sea Rescue) and advised a surface time we would have sent our vessl out to look for them within 15 minutes of them not surfacing. We take overdue divers very seriously for this reason.
I have been involved in a lot of searches for missing divers over the years when their vessel is found adrift or on the beach. The only indication of divers is the dive flag. Locating them can be difficult. One time the divers spent 8 hours in the water.
I urge all divers to log on with your local sea rescue when you go diving.
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Rob H
Posts: 5847
Date Joined: 18/01/12
safety
when we leave the boat unattended diving I usually text the position to the missus and a time to expect another text.
Not a pleasant situation to be in.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8686
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Top man
I was under the impression that you always had someone in the boat to monitor things while others are in the water. If things go pear shaped he is there for that event may it happen but it seems that isn't the case any more. Pro divers won't enter the water without a top man so why shouldn't amateurs do the same.
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Spot on there
You simply have to have a top man or 2. Share the crays with them. An anchor can get loose in so many ways, you just have to have someone ontop that can act in this case.
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Rob H
Posts: 5847
Date Joined: 18/01/12
of course things could go wrong
but its a matter of covering every eventuality as much as you can.
Having a strong anchoring system, swim down and check its fast.
You can only satisfy yourself that you've covered all the bases. I dont believe it is irresponsible to dive with no-one onboard, especially close to shore and with a text as I mentioned above.
The difference with pro divers having a top man is that they are almost always solo underwater.
Not one of the diving operations Ive been involved with in the offshore has had 2 divers in the water other than for a few minutes to replace a hatch etc.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
davidbland50
Posts: 392
Date Joined: 24/07/11
Call in
It amazes me how many boaties/divers who don't call in when leaving any of the boat harbours to our great men and women at sea rescue. It takes on average thirty seconds to do, and it can possibly save hours of drama and godforbid injury or death out in the ocean.
It puts your mind at ease, knowing they have your back while you are out there enjoying yourself should something go wrong. It may be ok to text someone your location, so long as they have their phone on them and it actually is working. Sea rescue's primary job is to look after us and so lets them do that.
All those at Sea Rescue, a very BIG thankyou from me (OR1795)
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fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
secret spots
I think half the time when people dont log on with sea rescue is that they are afraid of giving away their
fishing/diving spots as other people can hear the call in to sea rescue...you know how people are about pingers!
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
I always give gps marks ,if
I always give gps marks ,if your that desperate for a spot keep you paper and pen ready for the next time I go for a dive..most people just dive the reefs around close to shore so nothing special,just slack .
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Oracle
Posts: 355
Date Joined: 22/11/10
Go down the anchor rope
That way you can check its secure, not stuck and it's a good reference point
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Yes I log our dive with the
Yes I log our dive with the local sea rescue.I then know they won't be far away if the boat comes adrift.we dive with no one up top.check the anchor and stay together.would not be to good drifting around hoping someone will see you in the water.
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hlokk
Posts: 4293
Date Joined: 04/04/08
If you're worried about
If you're worried about people pinging your spots you can usually just call in by phone (you're usually in range of you're divingn and can log off by radio). There's no need to give 3 decimal points to your GPS either. As for pinging, you are leaving your boat floating around for pingers to mark anyways....
Better having a spot stolen than 8+ hrs in the water. Also a good idea to carry a marker buoy and whistle. Some brands are pretty tiny.
Oracle
Posts: 355
Date Joined: 22/11/10
hey Matt
Just put your boat locator on the anchor rope. youll find it for sure then!
SNAP!
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
I'm not worried
I always give exact location when I'm diving or fishing, but I think the reason a lot dont log on is that very reason