On Thu, 15 Mar 2001 John Bird <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Hello Gang,
<snip of the kiwi shears>
>The bit that really got my attention was the part on using the
>anchor on a boat dive as an initial reference point in which to
>conduct a series of short dives.

We normally do night dives this way if we are in an area we have not dived
But, instead of going back & forth north, east, west, etc ... we slowly
cruise around in a large circle as most are looking for macro critters to
photograph.  Or, use the anchor as a reference point for return if muck
diving off the side of an island.

I am amazed how many divers take no notice of where the anchor is lying
when they first enter the water, let alone take some compass bearings off
it if the viz is crap.

<snip>
>Like the article says, you pay good money to have an operator
>put you on top of the dive site, why mess it up by swimming a
>long way off from the boat, spending valuable dive time and
>air doing the long haul back.

Well it depends on the dive site really .. if its a wall dive with a bit of
a current you swim into it so that you have the luxury of cruising back
with ease at the end of the dive. If you have a tender following you above
that is a different story as you would swim with they current & they follow
your bubbles & pick you up when you surface ... unless its Madam Catfolly
of course ;-)

Or, like what has happened to me twice now ... the Skipper had NO idea
exactly where the dive spot was .. but he said we were in the vacinity of
so-in-so. It became an adventure dive .. you could dive to the bottom & see
nothing .. you could search for a coral lump .. or you could swim in to
shore looking for a wall.
Viv