California Boat Diving Guidelines
Boat diving in California is different from other boat diving you may encounter in your travels so in order to prepare you I have put together this list of general guidelines and procedures. While this document is primarily intended for student divers under the supervision of an instructor, most principles apply regardless of diver training.
Preparation
The best advice for preparing for a boat dive is to get plenty of rest. The boats leave early and it’s a full day so one is best prepared by being rested. In addition to plenty of rest, please remember that if you are prone to motion/sea sickness or feel that you may be and you have decided to take some sort of sea sickness medication; take any medications the night before. You may also want to take another dose of medication again first thing after waking. Once you become seasick, no medication will relieve the symptoms so take any medications prior to arriving at the boat. While it’s always advised that you seek medical guidance prior to taking any medication, some divers have reported excellent results from the over the counter products Bonine and Dramamine. Again, you are strongly urged to consult with a physician prior to taking any medication and to follow your doctor’s or the product recommendations.
Packing List
Before you even begin packing, make sure you find out whether or not you need to bring a tank and/or weights. While you will seldom go wrong bringing your own (you can always leave them in the car if you won’t be needing them) it can bring a very abrupt end to your dive day if you show up at the dock with no tank or weights on a boat that doesn’t supply them.
You�ll also need SCUBA gear. That should include:
A weight belt
BC
Regulator (with compass and pressure gauge)
Bottom timer (watch or computer)
Wetsuit (or dry suit) and hood if appropriate
Boots
Fins
Gloves
Mask and snorkel
Please don’t forget to bring your C-Card (if certified) and your log book (especially don’t forget your log book if you are a student).
You will also want to bring along sun protection, a change of clothes, and any other personal items or toiletries that you feel you may need.
The above are the bare essentials. You probably won’t be able to dive if you’re missing any of them.
Boarding
Most of our boats leave at 7am with or without you so you need to be not only at the boat by 7am but also onboard and have your gear stowed. It’s recommended that one arrive at the dock a minimum of one hour prior to boat departure. For a 7am boat, that means getting to the dock no later than 6am. Though it may seem early, the ride to the dive sites is usually anywhere about 2 or so hours and most of our boats have bunks where you can sleep on the ride out.
On some of our boats, you can arrive the night before your departure and sleep on the boat that evening. Please ask if that is available because many find it convenient to come down the night before so they can sleep in (usually until 9am or so).
Signing In
As soon as you board the boat you will need to sign in. Ask the boat crew or the Dive Master where the sign in sheet is. You will normally be required to fill out three forms:
A General Boat Sign-In Sheet
A Liability Release for the Boat Operator and Crew
A Liability Release for the Dive Shop and Staff/Crew
Each boat has their own procedures but it is common for your sign-in number to also be your gear station number (what rack space you put your gear in) and possibly your bunk number as well. Be sure to ask the boat crew or Dive Master whether your sign in number corresponds with either your gear station or bunk number. Don’t forget your sign in number. The Dive Master will probably ask you for your “number” whenever you enter or exit the water so s/he can keep track of all divers. It is also very common for your sign in number to be used to keep track of your tank fills, food/beverages, and other costs not included in the price of the boat trip (see below for information on additional costs).
Both the boat operator and the dive shop liability releases are standard forms required before you will be allowed to dive on any boat. The boat operator may use a PADI supplied liability release or have their own. Ocean Adventures uses the same standard PADI liability release form used by most PADI dive operations around the world. As with any legal document you are strongly encouraged to read it carefully before signing it. You may request a copy of the dive shop liability release from the dive shop prior to booking the trip.
Equipment Assembly and Storage
Upon arriving at the boat you should assemble your gear as quickly as possible. Once the boat starts moving it can be very difficult as well as dangerous to attempt gear assembly. When the boat arrives at the first dive site there is usually very little time to do more than get into your wetsuit (or dry suit) and to listen to the dive briefings (see below).
Always store your gear and your gear bag away so that it takes up as little room as possible. Nobody likes tripping over other people’s gear and even fewer people enjoy missing a day of diving because someone has stepped on or broken their gear because it wasn’t stowed properly. Work from your gear bag and make sure anything that you aren’t using is put back in your gear bag and not left lying out. If you have a large gear bag that doesn’t quite fit at your gear station it is usually best to store your bag on the bow of the boat (the front) or some other area that is out of the way. If you’re not sure where to put your gear bag ask the Dive Master or the boat crew and they will be more than happy to direct you.
Make sure that your tank and gear is secure. You never know what the ocean might throw at you and a tank that is not secured properly will fall. This can result in anything from punctured BC bladders, broken toes, or pinched hoses on your regulator, all of which mean that someone won’t be diving that day.
General Courtesies
If you’re a certified diver, bring your Certification Card. Sorry, we can’t just take your word for it and we won’t allow anyone to dive unless they have their C-Card with them so make sure you have it.
There are at least two types of rinse buckets (or other containers) for gear. One is normally for masks and other things you may want to rinse out before a dive and the other is for cameras. NEVER rinse any gear in the camera rinse tank. The salt and other chemicals may damage sensitive underwater camera equipment (and more importantly, you’ll usually draw the ire of more than a few photographers). If you’re unsure which is which, ask!
Don’t go into the bunk area in wet clothing (including your wetsuit). The bunk area is normally a dry area so please keep it that way by not taking or wearing wet clothing in the bunk area.
While it’s encouraged that you refrain from smoking while on the boat, if you do smoke, please be courteous and smoke downwind. Normally, that will be at the very rear of the boat. Also, be aware that smoking before, after, or in-between dives can significantly raise your susceptibility to certain kinds of dive related injuries (in particular lung related injuries as well as decompression sickness). It is important to know what additional risks you are subjecting yourself to if you decide to smoke.
Dive Briefings and Instruction
There are usually two briefings; the first by the captain or a member of the boat crew which will cover the specific site we are at as well as any specific boat rules and a second briefing by the Dive Master. Listen to both briefings carefully regardless of how many dives you have (or don’t have) under your belt. They both contain valuable information that you will want to be aware of.
The captain’s briefing will usually consist of the dive site name, some information about the underwater terrain (sandy areas, kelp patches, depths, etc.).
The Dive Master will instruct you on the procedures for entering and exiting the boat. The Dive Master will also review any signals that you need to know, discuss emergency procedures, suggest dive plans and where you are likely to see the most marine life, and any other information specific to the dive, the dive site, or dive procedures that should be followed.
Food and Air Fills
Some boats include food and air fills in the price of the boat spot. Others may include fills but not food (or vice versa). Some may include neither. Some may have one policy for one trip and a different policy for another. Bottom line is to ask your instructor or one of the dive shop personnel what the boat’s specific procedures are for that particular trip.
Air fills range anywhere from $2 - $4 per tank fill (with 3 - 4 dives per day trip). Food is usually reasonably priced with lunch running about $7 plus any other goodies you may have over the course of the day. Expect food and air fills to run anywhere between $20 - $30 for a full day of diving.
Tipping and Gratuities
It’s common practice to tip the boat crew (assuming you feel they’ve earned a tip). Though there is no hard and fast rule how much you should tip, generally 15% - 20% of the total cost of the trip is standard (total cost includes not just the cost of the boat spot but food and air fills as well). Others suggest $5 per dive. Whatever your choice, please make sure to bring enough to offer a gratuity. The boat crew usually works pretty hard for you and most of the boats we charter go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure everyone has a good time. If they’ve really, really gone out of their way, like say if you’ve forgotten gear and they lend you some of their own personal gear, be sure to be on the generous side.
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