Scuba Diving -A Necessary Perquisite?

RocketScience · #1 11-23-2008

(a search of "scuba" both here and in the GD forum resulted in "0" matches, so forgive me in advance if the question/topic has already been discussed)

I would assume in the case of offshore passage making scuba skills would be a plus, but is it necessary?

Your thoughts?

sailingdog · #2 11-23-2008

A plus, yes, necessary, no. If the boat is well founded, you should be able to snorkel and get to do most of what you need done. Scuba would be a plus, and make some things easier, like scraping the hull or cutting a line off the propshaft...but not a necessity.

Ilenart · #3 11-23-2008

Agree with the dog. I'm planning on getting my scuba ticket next year as it would be handy. However last year I scored a rope around the prop and was able to dive 4-5 times with a snorkel and eventually cut it off. So scuba is not necessary.

Next year I may change the annual haulout to bi-annually and then scuba will come in very handy for changing anodes, scraping the bottom etc. Could all be done with a snorkel, however 45ft is pretty big to do whilst hold your breath.

I may also check out a Hooka, however their pretty pricey down here.

ilenart

sailingdog · #4 11-23-2008

A hookah system might be worth it in the long run, as you would have essentially unlimited time rather than just the capacity of the tanks, and you wouldn't have to worry about getting the tanks re-charged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilenart

Agree with the dog. I'm planning on getting my scuba ticket next year as it would be handy. However last year I scored a rope around the prop and was able to dive 4-5 times with a snorkel and eventually cut it off. So scuba is not necessary.

Next year I may change the annual haulout to bi-annually and then scuba will come in very handy for changing anodes, scraping the bottom etc. Could all be done with a snorkel, however 45ft is pretty big to do whilst hold your breath.

I may also check out a Hooka, however their pretty pricey down here.

ilenart

RocketScience · #5 11-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

A hookah system might be worth it in the long run ...

Didn't even cross my mind.....a great idea guys.

Found this nice little compact unit here at a reasonable price.

PowerDive's DeckSnorkel

Valiente · #6 11-23-2008

We have three "tickets" to get prior to leaving for our circ:

Diving tickets, as it would be silly to sail over or around the world's reefs without having a good look at 'em.

Diesel/electric repair to at least the intermediate level, i.e. "this can wait, and this requires a pro".

Basic steel welding. (it's a steel boat).

I just finished a good book on the history of diving called "Neutral Buoyancy" and it convinced me I should do this for the fun as well as for the practicality of getting at the boat's bottom.

mccary · #7 11-23-2008

When you dive, even shallow depths, you are breathing compressed air. That means that anything in the air you breathe is in higher quantities. I have always wondered about the the engine exhaust being sucked into a hooks and hence you would be breathing higher quantities of CO. These things have been around for a long time and I have never heard of problems, but when I took my original Dive Cert course they discussed how tanks were filled and how critical it is to not get any CO in the mix. With the Hookah your air intake is close by to the engine exhaust.

My brother just went on a cruise (big lux ship) and one of the excursions was a device that was basically a Hookah without the engine, instead there was a tank and the long hoses etc. It was called "SNUBA", a combination of Snorkel and Scuba. There was no need for certification because the tank limits your time and the hose limits the depth. You just have to keep breathing to prevent lungs from exploding.

sck5 · #8 11-23-2008

I got my scuba cert and still use just a snorkel first to see if that will work to e.g. get lines off the prop. Getting all the scuba equipment on takes a while and is a pain - so snorkelling will always be the first thing to do and usually it is enough. On the other hand, there are times when snorkelling just isnt enough and for sure you arent going to clean your bottom without scuba equipment.

As for looking at fish and reefs - scuba has ruined snorkelling for me. It is still fun, floating around looking at the strange fishes and creatures. But that is nothing compared to actually being down there WITH them swimming around IN their world instead of just spectating from ABOVE it.

Perithead · #9 11-23-2008

I agree with scuba being a plus but it isn't required.

I was certified a few years ago, but when I go out on my sailboat I really dont want to worry about lugging the tanks/bc/weights/wetsuits and such along. Although its really not that big of a deal the major reason is I don't have but one tank and thats one dive. You can rent them but just for a day without high costs. Then you have to have them refilled. Although they do have special compressors that you can have installed on your boat to fill tanks, but its expesive and takes alot ot maintain.

So, what I have taken up is freediving. Its pretty much the same thing as snorkeling except that you practice your breathe holding skills. Back in the summer I was practicing regularly and could do a static(relaxed) breathe hold of almost 3 minutes. The longest dive I have done is nearly 2 minutes.

The gear is a bit different also. I have a pair of freediving fins, they are the Cressi Gara 2000 HF fins. They are very long and really help you swim underwater. They give you more propulsion through the water with less kicks than smaller snorkeling fins.

Not sure if the image will work but they are the fins.

I pretty much have a normal mask and snorkel, a wetsuit and a weight belt.

I enjoy freediving a bit more than scuba diving because its so easy, relaxing and not that difficult.

tomaz_423 · #10 11-23-2008

I am certified SCUBA diver (PADI advance open water) and so is my wife.
I was "sure" I want to take SCUBA gear with a compressor and everything when I go sailing.
Then I started to look at the costs and the troubles involved.
One tank is one dive. If you do not have your own compressor you need to stay close to filling stations. Then it is easy and cheaper to rent the whole gear there.
So forget to carry your gear without compressor. It is probably better to carry bikes - about same trouble and much less weight.
If you want to have your own compressor be prepared to invest a lot:
1) cost of compressor
2) cost of consumables (special filters and stuff...)
3) cost of a lot of energy consumption (either a very large generator or a dedicated engine to run the compressor. In either case this is another engine on your boat.
4) weight and space for dive compressor, el. generator, dive bottles - probably at least 4, BCDs (buoyancy), weights, regulators, dive computers, ....
5) A lot of water needed to rinse the equipment after dive
6) Be prepared to tolerate noise after each dive - dive compressor is loud and it takes a lot of time to fill the bottles.
7) there are countries which restrict not only usage but even carrying SCUBA equipment on board without special permits, duties paid, ...
I am still undecided for now, but bear in mind that we already own most of the gear except compressor - and I am still not sure I want to take it with me.
Diving gear need good maintenance or it does not last.
If you keep it salty then salt crystals will ruin the valves and do more damage elsewhere
If you rinse it, but store wet you have all sorts of problems from mildew to algae, bacteria growth, ...
It is a lot of heavy, complex equipment - and one crack of the hose can make it unusable. Do you want to carry spare for everything (more costs and weight) ?
So, very tempting, but not easy to achieve.
Of course it is possible - there are sailors with SCUBA gear on board.