Question

When getting back on a dive boat do you take off your gear or just your fins when climbing the ladder?

Answer 1

Most and all the boats I dive the boat crew is on the step and you come up on your knees and they remove your fins and toss them up. You then climb up and another crew member hands your fins and checks you off.

Comments

Just got back from Belize where a few people more then I would have like had the crew taking everything in the water. In 6 to 8 seas it made it rough on those of us on the line.

Answer 2

Depends on the boat - captain or DM should let you know ahead of time. If I'm not told otherwise, I take my fins off (scubapro jets) and loop the straps over my wrists before I climb up. Everything else stays on!

Answer 3

Depends on the ladder for the boat. If it is a "fin's on" ladder I'll keep my gear on and climb aboard. If it is a "fin's off" ladder i'll hand my fins up then climb up. I've never had to take all my gear off to get back on a boat.

Answer 4

Depends on the boat. Most of the boats I dive from have a low swim deck at the back and an angled ladder, so I usually take off my fins and put them on the deck, then climb up the ladder wearing the rest of my gear, retrieving my fins as I walk to my spot on the boat. However, when I went to Indonesia 2 years ago, the boats we were on didn't have that low deck at the back, only a steep vertical ladder on the side. Since it would have been challenging for any of us to climb that ladder while wearing our gear, the boat crew had us take off our fins and any weight belts or pockets and hand them up first, then take off the rest of our gear in the water. They would pull our BCD/tanks onto the boat while we climbed up the ladder.

Answer 5

It depends on where the dive is, and the condition of the seas. Off the East coast where there is almost always some waves, I would swim to the boat, and keep all my gear in place (reg-mask) remove my fins and slip my hands through the straps, then climb out. This way if I get thrown off I can replace my fins and try again. In calm seas like Cozumel the SOP is swim to the boat and hand your fins to the crew, they will take your weight belt and BC from you while in the water, the the climb out is easy. my advice would be to ask the dive shop the procedure they prefer when boarding the boat. You can also check with the crew when you arrive. In diving there are no dumb questions, the more informed you are the easier and safer the dive trip.

Answer 6

Just the fins, hand them to the divemaster tips first unless you want the water dumped on your face. Climb aboard , take your fins, find your seat, remove your gear. Crew will change your tank and you're ready for the next dive.

Answer 7

Most if the time just my fins unless told to do something else

Answer 8

Most dive boats will tell you what they want you to do.

For my boat, surface, inflate your BC a bit, clip on your weight belt, clip the BC to the swim step side or dinghy painter, slip out of it, hand up fins, come aboard, enjoy a hot or cold shower in the cockpit as you undress, the BCs will get collected, rinsed & handled once everyone is aboard and has had a snack.

Answer 9

I have a BIG D-ring on my BCD and remove fins and hang them on it and then climb out

Answer 10

I remove everything in the water. But, I am 74. No one has ever had a problem with that.