Thinking of changing my boating style to scuba?

[hostage]

Re: Thinking of changing my boating style to scuba?

It's not just the weight of the diver you need to be concerned with; the type of ladder can make a huge difference in how easy it is to get back on board. Coming up a ladder with twin 80s on your back and your fins still on your feet is best accomplished with a ladder like this:

View attachment 203721

Alternately, you can always wiggle out of your gear at the surface and let the BC support it, then have somebody pull it back on board. Then you're left with essentially a swimmer getting back on board. Your choice of ladder becomes much less critical at that point. In any case, the deeper the ladder goes into the water, the easier it is to climb it.

Thanks for the comment, the boats that have the pegs are a bit easier to get up w/ fins on. The boats I dove on belize it was just a simple ladder, though they would have to grab your BC and lift it up w/ tank and weights. That isn't a fun task.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Thinking of changing my boating style to scuba?

I have never climbed onto a boat with fins on. Why would you?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Thinking of changing my boating style to scuba?

Best pure dive boat I've had was my 15' Zodiac. I was much younger at the time and was able to come along side, swing my leg over the side and roll in - with full dive gear (actually, minus weight belt ). For those less physically inclined, we'd have a line in the water with a snap hook on the end so they could remove their tanks, clip them on the line and then roll on board.

Also did a lot of diving from IO powered boats where the first step out of the water was the cavitation plate on the IO drive. In one we had a platform at the water surface as the second step. The other it was one foot (fin removed) on the IO drive and sling the other leg over the (low) transom. These boardings were accomplished by first removing tanks and weight belts.

Seems to me you get the boat that will carry your load, allow tank storage, etc. Then rig the boat for rolling off/climbing on.

 

[cannonman]

Re: Thinking of changing my boating style to scuba?

It seems that for diving one of the biggest assets is floorspace. You also need something that can be easily reentered after diving. In my area, a big tritoon or deckboat would be the way to go. They can also still work for watersports too. Good Luck!