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Learning Objective

By the end of this topic, you should be able to answer these question:

Let’s turn our attention from boating itself to your likely primary interest, diving from a boat. Even if you’ve been boat diving before – perhaps many times – it’s worth covering the procedures in detail from beginning to end. Boat diving actually begins well before you arrive at the dock with the way you prepare, which differs in some respects from how you prepare for shore dives.

In many places where you might dive from shore, if you forget a piece of gear or it malfunctions, it’s inconvenient, but you can quickly run to a local dive center, to the hotel or even home to buy, rent or otherwise replace it. This is seldom true on a boat. Most of the time, if you didn’t bring it or it doesn’t work, you do without – even missing the dives in the worst case.

Begin preparing your gear for a boat dive at least a few days in advance, if you can. This gives you time to repair, rent or replace anything that’s missing or broken. Use an equipment checklist (there’s one in the back of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual) to be sure you have everything, and inspect everything closely – especially if you’ve not used it in awhile.

Check for worn mask and fins straps that may fail, test breathe your regulator and try out the zippers on your exposure suits.

If you’ve not done so already, be sure to mark your equipment so that you can tell yours from someone else’s. It’s not unusual for fins and other gear to jumble together after a dive, and marking your equipment reduces confusion.

You can normally mark items where you can see your initials (or name) when you’re not wearing them, but they’re hidden when you are (underwater photographers you pose for will appreciate this), such as inside your fin pockets.

Many dive boats provide cylinders, but if you’ll be bringing your own, have it filled.

When you pack your gear bag, put everything in it in reverse from the order you’ll need it, so what you need first is on top. This allows you to work directly from the bag without having to spread gear all over the deck.

Normally, this means putting your fins in first, and your BCD and regulator in last because you take them out first to set up your gear. Of course, don’t put weights or your cylinder in your gear bag.

After diving your gear bag will be wet inside, so you probably want a separate bag for your log book, certification card, food, dry clothes, towel and other personal items you want to keep dry. A dry bag works well for this.

Don’t forget any legal documents if you’ll need them, such as a fishing license, visas, passports, etc.

You should have at least one audible and one visual surface signaling device when diving, and this is especially important while boat diving. During your inspection, check that you have a whistle or low pressure air horn, and an inflatable signal tube, flare or signal mirror in your kit. Most divers store these permanently in their BCDs so they know they always have them.

Start with an appropriate container. A plastic tool box or fishing tackle box works well, though a water tight plastic case protects everything better if it can get very wet (like when diving from some small boats). You can keep both your spare parts and some basic tools in it. At a minimum, having the following in it:

Be sure to choose a box somewhat larger than you need at first, because your spare parts kit will grow as you add to it.

Being out on a boat all day can present some physical demands that you want to prepare yourself for so you have an enjoyable experience. The night before, refrain from alcoholic beverages (a glass of wine or two isn’t likely an issue, but be conservative) but drink plenty of fluids so you’re well hydrated. Get enough sleep so you’re well rested, and eat a healthful, well balanced meal. If appropriate, take any seasickness medications following your physician’s or the product’s guidelines (see the printed directions).

It may sound obvious, but the day before is a good time to think about how to get to the boat the next day: directions, boat name, charter fees, extra charges, etc. It’s somewhat comical, but sometimes divers get up for a boat dive they booked through their local PADI Dive Center, only to realize they don’t know where to go. Making sure you have all this information ahead of time spares you a last minute scramble with your telephone or surfing the internet when you want to be on your way.

Seasickness (motion sickness, to be more accurate) is thought to be caused by an unusual disturbance of your vestibular (balance) system in your inner ear, coupled with conflicting perceptions between what your inner ear feels and what your eyes see. Physiologists still don’t fully understand all the internal mechanisms that cause it, but they do know that people without a functioning vestibular system are immune.
People have a wide range of susceptibility, you’re most susceptible between ages 3 and 12, and women more are susceptible than men.

Psychological and physiological conditions also contribute: fear, some drugs, being over heated, poor ventilation, smoke, exhaust, carbon monoxide, pregnancy, menstruation and performing intricate tasks (reading, sewing, repairing a regulator etc.). Some people adapt to motion after two or three days and will resist getting sick if not become entirely immune (you lose the adaptation after two or three days without motion, unfortunately).

The most effective way to prevent seasickness is to take a seasickness medication. You can find several brands available over the counter in most countries, though it’s wise to consult with your physician. This is especially true if you take other medications. Whatever type you and your physician choose, read all warnings associated with it and follow the printed directions or the directions of your physician if different. Generally, you take medication well in advance of boarding so you prevent seasickness. Once you become seasick, medication seldom helps.

Besides taking medication, you can reduce the chances of getting seasick by avoiding greasy foods before boarding. Stay on deck, or at least in the fresh air, as close to the center of the boat as possible (it has the least motion). Look at something stationary on the horizon, and try to stay busy while avoiding intricate tasks. 

Get your gear set up so you can enter the water as soon as possible when you arrive at the dive site (though if you’re very ill, you probably shouldn’t dive).

Avoid breathing engine exhaust and avoid using the heads during rough weather. If you’re taking an overnight trip, try to get a bunk as near the middle of the boat as you can.

If you do get sick, take heart. As unpleasant as the experience may be, you’ll probably be fine as soon as you get ashore. In some areas, the seas at the dive site are much calmer than the seas in route, so you may feel much better as soon as the boat tucks into the lee of an island or reef (but this isn’t always the case, unfortunately).

When sick, stay out of the boat’s head. These small, cramped compartments will only make you feel worse. If you think you’re going to vomit, go to the lee side (downwind) rail to do so.

After throwing up, try to drink some water (room temperature is usually best) to avoid dehydrating.

When you reach the dive site, if you’re not feeling well, you may not be sure whether to go diving or not. If you do, you usually feel better underwater, though you may feel worse at the surface in the waves. And, you don’t want to throw up underwater. If you’re very sure you won’t vomit in the water (perhaps only feeling mildly queasy), then diving may be fine and you’ll probably feel better, at least until you come back aboard. If you may be sick enough to throw up, the prudent call is to stay on the boat.

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