Using a Diver to set an Anchor

[tdw]

Andreas,
Your ignorance may have been annoying to some but that is their problem not yours. Asking questions is not a capital offence. Keep at it.

[TheHopefulSailor]

On my subtropical island just north of Okinawa all the dive shops' staff anchor and dive, meaning no one is aboard/above water during the dive.
This is because they are usually sole owner/operator type businesses that can't afford a dedicated captain, so they do double duty - captain and dive guide.

They set the anchor, then descend the anchor line to verify the set is suitable. If required, they make adjustments, such as taking some slack to wrap around another secure spot.

When I descend, I always check the set myself, too. I want to satisfy myself that the boat will be there when we come back. [I work part-time as a dive instructor for fun]

But this is _never_ done with tension on the rode, engine running, etc.

Permanent moorings that protect coral are, of course, ideal, but not always practical, permitted or affordable.

I've also towed a boat to port pulling the anchor rode by swimming fin power only when the engine blew, which is not practical, preferred (if even permitted) but IS affordable! Good exercise, too!

[oceanscapt]

I worked on a live-aboard dive boat and we were extra careful to avoid damaging any reef. We scouted locations and then installed a proper mooring system. I don't know the size of your dive boat but mine was 105' and we carried a huge 100# emergency anchor. We've retrieved stuck anchors using lift bags but that was a lot of work and danger even for dive instructors.

I have, however, had a diver check the anchor to make sure it was properly set if I didn't get a warm, fuzzy feeling from topsides.

Even the attempt to anchor on or near a reef would bring bad comments from the divers and many times locals as well.

[TheHopefulSailor]

Interesting.

No liveaboard dive operations around here, since most of the islands are fringing reef with extensive limestone formations. Boat diving is done moored off of fringing reef walls 5~15 minutes from the various small fishing ports.

The average dive shop's boat in the Nansei Shoto Island chain, which runs from the mainland down to Okinawa, is a 30-footer skiff or jonnyboat, 90~150hp OB, with a center console and not much else.

As I wrote previously, permanent moorings are ideal, and I'll add to that now a necessity in order to protect the reefs, much like carrying an emergency oxygen set is a necessity, but unfortunately both practices are not as common as one would hope, here in Japan.

Mind you, I am just the go-to-guy staffer for guiding and training foreigners when they visit - I am not the owner/operator. What I know to be best practices and what is reality is a constant issue that I deal with by ensuring I keep my dives as safe and as fun as possible.

Safe boating and diving to you all.

[TheHopefulSailor]

By the way, I'm neither American nor residing in America, but suddenly there's a US flag on my postings. Any idea how to remove this?