A dive boat is a dream-come-true machine. At least, that’s how we see it.
Diving from a boat is fun and easy. However, we often do not know many things about them. What types of dive boats are there, the protocols on board, how to dive from a dive boat, and the services you can expect on a dive boat.
We consider all aspects of scuba dive boats to ensure a great trip and a fantastic diving experience. Full speed ahead, Captain!
There are two ways to access the water: we can dive from the shore, and we can do boat diving.
Shore dives are generally not drift dives, but they can be. A car drops divers off at one beach and picks them up at another. However, it is not very safe as it is often not easy to get out of the sea along the coast.
Diving from a boat allows you to dive the currents more safely. Another advantage of boat diving is it gives us the possibility to visit sites that we couldn’t otherwise. 95% of the dives made at Dressel Divers are boat dives.
There are different sizes, most of them are also transportable by road. Despite the fact they are used for diving, most of them are not diving boats. The pneumatic dive boats designed for diving have a cylinder holder to tie the tanks. They are fast and maneuverable, but they do not have seats. Instead, the divers sit on the inflated tubes, so, they have to stay in this position the entire commute.
Scuba divers enter the water by back rolling and exit by finning and pulling themselves back on board.
These are relatively large boats, between 60 and 90 feet (18 to 27 m), and are professionally crewed.
Liveaboard dive boats are large diving ships with all the comforts of a hotel accommodation, food, etc. They have a dive compressor to fill the tanks, and a guide on board. They journey to the different dive sites.
Keep in mind that you will take a ride on a dive boat. The ride will be short scuba diving with Dressel Divers, since our dive sites are only 10 or 15 minutes maximum by boat, but we are talking about navigating after all.
It means that the dive boat moves, even when our dive boats stand out for their stability in navigation and even when the sea is calm. Therefore, if you are prone to get green around the gills, take a pill to help quell motion sickness at least 30 minutes before boarding. There are many possibilities Dramamine, Bonine, Marazine, etc.
Despite the fact of all of our boats are covered, the wind and the sun during the journey can damage your skin. Don’t forget to put on 100% biodegradable sunscreen.
And… Very important! Pay attention during the briefing, which is when, in addition to dive details, you will be informed about on-board procedures.
To prepare, in addition to your scuba diving gear, you are going to need “The essentials”. You know! A hat, a pair of UVA protection sunglasses, a jacket in winter, a towel, and a dry bag to keep dry everything you want to stay that way. That’s all.
Well, ok, if you need other stuff, you can bring it. But remember. On a dive boat, although they be premium boats as ours are, the space is limited and shared with other divers and the crew. So, don’t bring anything you do not really need.
Arrive at the agreed time. At the center, you will have been informed of the dive boat departure time. It’s the moment of truth, either you’re on the vessel or you stay in the base. It’s that simple.
Place your dive gear in the designated tank storage locations, and don’t leave things lying around. As we have said before, on a dive boat there are the crew members and the rest of the divers who will dive with you.
This is why it is so important to set up your equipment correctly. Keep in mind that any misstep can be painful, and it can mean the end of the excursion for you or others.
Place your BCD and its regulator on your tank and, if possible, next to your dive buddy. This way, you can check your equipment and that of your partner. Plus, you can store your mask, fins, wetsuit, and dive bag under your seat to keep the area clear and have all your gear in one place.
Entry into the water from the dive boat is a key moment during the journey, to do this in a safe way remember to check there is no one in the water just under you. Above all, follow the procedures explained earlier and when the staff says “go!”. Do it. There is a safety reason for this synchronized action. Not too soon, nor too late.
Once in the water, quickly take a little distance from the boat, so the next diver will be able to enter without hurting you.
When the dive is over, you get back on the dive boat. If you are going to do a second dive, carefully prepare your gear again.
Boat drift dives occur as follows at Dressel Divers
In general terms, there are two ways to do drift diving. With the first, the group descends along a line attached to a buoy. The whole group holds on to it until everybody can start to move forward. When the dive is over, the guide unfurls his SMB. The boat, which will have followed the group’s bubbles, knows the exact pick-up point once it sees the buoy.
With the second option, the guide is the first to enter the water and then the group gathers around him and follows him during the descent and throughout the drift dive. The boat will follow the bubbles on the surface and if a couple needs to ascend early, the SMB is sent up, to protect them and signal the boat. Finally, all divers ascend together and when they are all on the surface, they are picked up by the boat.
We focus on navigation as during a regular dive. In addition, we should have a thorough control pressure. Diving to 20 meters/ 65 feet, the ascent should start at about 50bar/725psi to reach the surface with 35bar/500psi.
Dressel Divers has more than 28 Years of Experience with Dive Boats
If you have ever dived with Dressel Divers, you know that jumping in from a scuba diving boat is the beginning of the adventure.
During all this time, our dive boats have been waiting for thousands of divers, to take them from our piers to the most marvelous Caribbean dive spots. These vessels are an open door from which to explore the magnificent coral reefs, swim with the fish and enjoy nature. Boat diving is basically what diving with Dressel Divers is about.
We carry out boat diving services in all our locations. Even, more, we are specialists in boat drift diving.
The Aquadivers are our dive boats in Cozumel, which, like the dive boats of our location in Puerto Aventuras, Montego Bay, Bayahibe, and Punta Cana, depart from the piers that are a few steps in front of the dive centers.
Every single Dressel Divers boat is built, designed, and customized specifically for diving by the founder and CEO of the company, Javier Ibran.
All Dressel Divers dive boats, from the smallest (with a capacity of 2 groups of 8 divers), to the huge trimarans, have a high stability during navigation to reduce seasickness and have outstanding details and are much appreciated by the divers.
Comfortable dive doors, tank storage systems, and wide space for divers are special features of our dive boats thought to maximize enjoyment and safety.
Our dive boats allow divers to travel seated even when wearing the BCD and tank. Easily, scuba divers prepare consecutive dives from the seat since the next cylinder is stored next to their seats.
In Dressel Divers dive boats, the divers don’t have to move too far around the deck loaded with the equipment before jumping into the water. That is we have different boat dive platforms. They are at the stern on most of our dive boats, but we also have some with boat dive platforms on the sides.
Returning aboard is made easy by our famous boat dive ladders.
Of course, all Dressel Divers boats are equipped with a sunroof, fresh drinking water, a radio, a GPS device, oxygen, dive flags, and everything else deemed mandatory by the United States Coast Guard. They also have sidelines, descent lines, and drift lines.
The engines, all top brands, are subject to ongoing monitoring and servicing by our in-house mechanics. Last but not least all boats have double engines for increased security.
Among Dressel Divers’ dive boat services, we can’t forget about our expert crew, Dive Instructors and Captains. All of them specialized in boat diving trips. And here is our last tip for today. Moreover, Instructors, Divemasters, boat captains and sailors, have First Aid medical training.
If you dive from a dive boat, do it always with an experienced navigator at the helm.
