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Scuba Diving from Your Boat: What you Need to Know

17th nov 2022 by samantha wilson.

There are so many fun activities you can do from your boat, from waterskiing to fishing, snorkelling to scuba diving. While some require little preparation and equipment others, such as scuba diving, need a bit more consideration to ensure everything is safe and enjoyable. To dive beneath the surface of the ocean and be part of a whole different world is an incredible experience.  Whether you’re sailing in tropical waters such as the Caribbean or Pacific Islands and want to explore vibrant reefs teeming with brightly coloured fish, or are boating in the United States or Mediterranean and want to explore hidden wrecks, scuba diving from your boat can open up a whole new world.

So what do you need to consider when scuba diving from your boat? 

Get Certified and Practice, Practice, Practice

If you’re not already then first and most important thing to do is enrol yourself and your soon-to-be diving buddy on a scuba diving certification course. Organisations such as PADI offer introductory Open Water courses, but it’s recommended to be at least Advanced Open Water trained. These two courses together will take about a week but can be spread out over a longer period. The next thing to do is clock up as many dives as you can whilst under the supervision of a divemaster. You want to feel confident not just with the equipment, but with navigating and safety practices and the only way to do that is to do as many supervised dives as you can before setting off on your own. 

Get Your Boat Equipped for Scuba Diving

When you feel ready to head off diving on your own (and when we say your own, we mean always with a buddy) you’ll want to get your boat geared up with everything you need. Start with your personal equipment, including a wetsuit, BCD (buoyancy control device), regulator set, weights, fins, mask and a surface signalling device known as a dive sausage. The cost of these varies hugely, from good quality entry level equipment which will last hundreds of dives, to the very latest tech. An invaluable piece of equipment is a dive computer, which monitors your depth and time to calculate safe diving limits using dive tables, and you’ll also need your own set of tanks (at least two per person). 

You’ll also want to have some spares on board including O-rings, spare hoses, some fins and a mask and some diver tools. There’s nothing worse than having to sit out a dive because you’ve got a missing O-ring or your mask strapped snapped. 

When it comes to making sure your boat is fully equipped for scuba diving, start with the basic safety gear all boats should have including marine radios or at the very least a mobile phone if staying close to shore. In addition you’ll need a red and white dive flag to signal to other boaters that there are divers below, a first aid kit and an oxygen tank. In the case of a diving accident where decompression sickness is suspected this is the most important treatment you can offer a diver while they are getting to medical help. Dive accident oxygen systems are available through Divers Alert Network (DAN). 

Getting Your Tanks Filled

When it comes to filling your tanks you have two choices depending on the destinations you’ll be visiting and the amount of diving you want to do. If you’ll be heading out for day or weekend trips on your boat, then you can easily get your tanks filled at a local dive centre for minimal cost. If you’re sailing around the world and planning to dive from your boat on a regular basis in remote locations then you’re likely going to need to have a compressor installed. These can be costly but are an invaluable piece of equipment for keen divers. There are many models of compressors on the market, from gas to diesel and electric and they can vary hugely in how long they take to fill a tank of air and how big they are. 

Having said that, even in remote locations it isn’t always necessary to have a compressor as dive centres can be found even in far flung places. Likewise, just listen out for the sound of a compressor from nearby boats and, for a small sum, you might get a fellow boater to fill your tanks for you. Dive compressors for boats do need regular maintenance to ensure clean, dry air is filled into the tanks, so be aware of the long term upkeep before committing to installing one in your boat. 

Safety is Paramount

Diving is a wonderful and freeing activity, but done wrong it can be dangerous. Thorough safety checks and protocols on every single dive are essential to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely. There are a few differences in shore diving vs boat diving, but it’s important to;

Leave Someone on the Boat . Ensure someone always stays on the boat when two or more people go scuba diving for several reasons. In the case of an accident, someone needs to call for help. It ensures the boat is where you left it when you surface. If you get lost whilst on your dive and surface far from the boat they can come and pick you up. They can keep watch for bubbles and ensure other boaters don’t ignore the dive flags. 

Assign Someone the Role of Divemaster . The old phrase ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ is very apt in this case, and it’s best to nominate one person to be the divemaster. They will coordinate where you’ll be diving, the type of dive you’ll be doing (anchored or drift dive for example) and generally take leadership of the dive. 

Check the Weather . The weather changes quickly at sea and it’s important to know what the forecast is when you’ll be doing your dives. Avoid diving in poor visibility, rough seas or windy conditions as it can make getting on and off the boat dangerous. Monitor the conditions right up until the point of starting the dive and be prepared to call it off if the weather changes. 

Know where you’ll be diving . Even if you’re diving somewhere you are unfamiliar with, do your homework before embarking on a dive. You’ll need to know that you’re not in a shipping lane, restricted marine preserve, or high-traffic area. While exploring the deep unknown Jacques Cousteau style is all part of the fun, it’s always helpful to talk to local divers and understand the geology or currents of the dive before jumping in. 

Conduct a safety briefing . Even if there are just two of you diving, have a safety briefing before setting off so that you’re both on the same page. Discuss the dive, maximum depths, dive time and go over your signals. You’ll want to be diving to the limits of the least experienced diver. Check your gear and each other’s before starting the dive, and discuss the protocol with the captain/person left on board in the unlikely case of an accident or missing diver. 

If you’re looking for your next boat, Rightboat.com is should be your first port of call (pun intended!). Whether it’s a nifty weekend boat perfect for doing scuba diving and watersports from, or a sailing yacht that will take you on an epic voyage, your search should start here. 

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

More from: Samantha Wilson

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Diving from a boat – advice from the experts

• June 29, 2022

Joshua Shankle and his wife, Rachel offer their thoughts on diving from a boat. Both are experienced divers and sailors. They are currently mid-pacific on a world cruise

As cruisers, we can find ourselves in some of the most beautiful places this world has to offer. But more often than not, the real magic lies just below the surface, in the world of the aquatic. Diving from a boat can be a great way to get a better idea of the world that lies below your keel.

My wife, Rachel, previously worked as a research diver and Divemaster. Years ago, as we prepared to go cruising, she made it known that one of her few requirements of going sailing long term was to have her own dive compressor on board. As a result, we’ve made diving a priority during our voyage planning, and have been immensely rewarded with some of the most incredible undersea experiences of our lives.

Today scuba diving is considered a relatively safe activity due to advancements in gear, safety procedures and, above all, standardised training requirements. But it could be easy to overlook the risks inherent in the sport.

Scuba certifications ensure all participants have the same knowledge and understanding of the sport at a given certification level, and this should be the first step in diving safely from your boat.

Be careful how you lift dive gear into the dinghy. Photo: voyagesofagape.com

Before setting off on your own, it’s advisable to complete your PADI Open Water course, as well as an Advanced course. Log enough dives that you are comfortable underwater without a Divemaster to ensure you have adequate knowledge of the gear, safe diving practices, and navigating underwater.

In theory, you are ready to dive independently of a shop and Divemaster after passing your Open Water (level one course). However, to be truly confident I recommend completing an Advanced course and/or have a minimum of 15-20 dives. We all learn at different speeds and it is a unique timeline for everyone to gain confidence in the water.

Our tanks live happily secured to the mast pulpit where they are easily accessible while the rest of our gear is stored in a locker in a single large mesh bag. When it’s time to dive, our side deck becomes a mini dive shop as we assemble our gear.

We leave our weights out of the BCDs to lighten the load as much as possible when transferring to the dinghy (be careful never to lift from the first stage, use the handle on your BCD or the yoke on the tank instead to ensure you don’t damage the tank’s O-ring).

Many of the best dive sites have mooring buoys that you can use to tie up the dinghy. If you find a site that doesn’t have a mooring, use a small grapple-style anchor with several feet of chain and some small diameter line to anchor the dinghy. Just be sure to check that your anchor is well set and not damaging live coral.

On larger boats, it’s common to don your dive gear on the boat and back-roll off the side, but in a cramped and unstable dinghy this can be difficult. Instead, we’ve fixed a length of shock cord to each of our BCDs with a bronze clip. This five-minute project allows us to partially inflate our gear and roll it into the water where it can float securely attached to the dinghy until we’re ready to get in and begin our dive.

The first time we put our BCDs on in the water felt strange and awkward, but we quickly found it to be much easier. At the end of the dive, we reverse the procedure, re-clipping the BCDs to the dinghy and easily climbing in without worrying about our gear floating off.

Diving without a guide can be challenging, and yet it’s an immensely rewarding activity as a cruiser.

To keep it fun and comfortable, we always follow a few simple safety steps before submerging. We always start by checking our equipment on the boat before leaving. After setting up our gear we open our tanks to verify tank pressure and pressurise the system. If an O-ring is going to split, it will usually do so at this point, so better it happens on the boat than at the dive site. We then make sure our regulators and inflator hose are working properly.

Diving with reef sharks. Photo: voyagesofagape.com

As we get ready in the dinghy, we take an extra minute to set up a dive flag and observe if there is a current. Usually, it is better to start the dive swimming against the current, so your return trip is easier.

We also use this time to talk about our dive plan, which direction we will swim, our planned depths, times, and make sure all participants are feeling comfortable. Once in the water, we do a final surface check of our gear – and our buddy’s gear – before descending.

If a diver is going to have trouble, it is usually during the descent. Whether it’s inadequate weight, trouble equalising, or just being nervous, it’s especially important to pay close attention to your dive buddy during this part of the dive.

Joshua Shankle and his wife, Rachel, are cruising the world on their 42ft Tayana Agápe. Photo: voyagesofagape.com

After the descent, we make sure to make eye contact again, giving the okay sign, signalling we are ready to continue our dive. Make sure to regularly check-in and verify that everyone is feeling good and has adequate air throughout the dive. Lastly, plan to arrive back at the dinghy with plenty of air. We follow the rule of thirds: 1/3 outgoing, 1/3 returning, and 1/3 to surface.

This helps to ensure that we have a good reserve should something happen at any point during our dive. When diving as a couple, this is especially important, as you only have each other’s tank if your gear should ever fail.

It’s important to always dive with a buddy and within your limits. Communicate if you are feeling nervous or not comfortable with any part of the dive plan, follow your gut instincts, and don’t push past your comfort level.

Tanks and air

There are many makes and models of compressors on the market, including gas, diesel, or electric. We wanted something self-contained, and since our yacht Agápe relies entirely on solar for power, an electric model was out of the question.

Article continues below…

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Immersed and weightless in the warmth of the endless blue, I looked down and could see only fathomless depths below…

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We purchased a MaxAir 35, powered by a 6hp petrol engine. This compressor uses a combination of a condensate trap and a disposable filter to purify and dry the air while filling dive tanks, usually within 18-25 minutes depending on tank size and ambient temperature.

Aluminium tanks are a popular choice. Photo: voyagesofagape.com

Not everyone will need their own compressor to go diving from a boat. In fact, unless you are an avid diver I’d recommend against it. These seemingly simple devices are one of the most crucial elements of diving safety: to ensure clean, pure, and dry air they must be well maintained and have the filters changed regularly.

In almost every diving hot spot there is a dive shop that will refill tanks for roughly US $10. If there are no dive shops in the area, listen for the sound of another yacht’s compressor running.

On Agápe , we estimate the cost of filling a dive tank to be $3-4. So, when people come by to ask if we can fill their tanks, we usually ask for $5 to cover consumables and wear and tear on the compressor. Many cruisers with a compressor on board may be willing to do the same if asked.

For tanks you have a choice of steel or aluminium. On Agápe we carry Aluminium 80s. These are by far the most common for the simple reason that they are cheaper than steel tanks.

New aluminium tanks cost around $150, whereas a steel tank is closer to $300. This cost-saving does have a few drawbacks, though. The lifespan of aluminium tanks are usually shorter than steel and they are much more buoyant. With aluminium, you’ll have to wear more weight as the tank becomes more buoyant at the end of the dive, unlike steel tanks that remain negatively buoyant.

Steel is also stronger and the tanks can be smaller, but aluminium has the advantage of being slightly more corrosion resistant.

As for the rest of your kit, it depends on how often you intend on diving from a boat and what you personally find comfortable. I have found that streamlined, backfill BCDs (Buoyancy Control Devices) are not only cheaper but smaller and easier to store onboard.

If possible, find one with a built-in backup regulator on the inflator hose and integrated weight bags, as this will further streamline your gear.

One of the most important pieces of gear is a dependable dive computer or watch. A dive computer will constantly monitor your depth and time to calculate safe diving limits using dive tables. While it is possible to do these calculations on your own, a computer is more reliable.

Once in the water do a final check with your buddy. Photo: voyagesofagape.com

Rachel and I each dive with computers that tell us all relevant information to ensure we are diving within established dive profiles.

A good quality BCD, first stage, regulator, and computer with depth and pressure will usually cost around $850. Even more affordable scuba sets are usually good quality and if rinsed, dried, and stored out of the sun, and can last for hundreds, even thousands of dives.

To ensure that your kit is ready to go, even in the most remote places, it’s a good idea to carry an assorted O-ring set, a spare hose or two, and a replacement battery for your dive computer.

The mask and fins you usually use for snorkelling should suffice for most recreational diving, but an additional set will bring your total to around $1,000 (US) for a full set of quality gear, or roughly the same cost as 15 dives through a tour company.

Having your gear onboard also has the advantage that if you ever foul your chain or anchor, you’ll be able to untangle it yourself and maybe even give the boat’s bottom a quick scrub while you’re at it.

Diving Kit list:

BCD (buoyancy compensation device): a backfill BCD with an integrated emergency regulator on the inflater hose will be more compact and eliminate an extra hose. The Oceanic Biolite weighs in at only 2.5kg.

Buy the Oceanic Biolite from Amazon (US)

Buy the Oceanic Biolite from Amazon (UK)

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Mask: any mask that fits your face will do, but a single lens mask will open your field of view and can make diving seem less claustrophobic.

Regulator and first stage:

The Cressi AC2 is robust and affordable.

Buy the Cressi AC2 from Amazon (UK)

Buy the Cressi AC2 from Amazon (US)

D ive computer: depth, tank PSI or BAR, time, and a compass are important features. We recommend Garmin Descent dive watches.

Buy Garmin Descent dive watch from Garmin

Fins: also a personal choice, but split fins are preferable.

Dive flag: a very important piece of a dive kit that is often overlooked

Safety sausage: an inflatable float that will signal your exact position even before you surface.

Wetsuit: depending on water temperatures and personal preference, a wetsuit is advisable. A hood, gloves, and booties are also good to have in colder temperatures.

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Boat Diving Basics: 5 Simple Tips for New Scuba Divers

Written and Reviewed By

• Divemaster Alex Lowe
• Last Updated: September 27, 2023

Boat diving is likely the most common and convenient method of getting to a dive site.

On a boat dive, divers load up the marine vessel with their dive gear and are taken directly to the dive site(s).

The alternative to boat diving is shore diving , where divers enter the water from you guessed it, the shore, and do a surface swim to and from the dive site.

While both types of diving have their time, place, and perks, I wanted to write this article to help divers become more confident diving from a boat.

I remember when I was first getting scuba diving certified… 

Between the adrenaline rush of a new dive experience about to begin, the thought of being watched by the boat crew, and the predive boat shuffle, I’d get anxious when it became time to dive.

For this reason, this guide will go over boat diving etiquette, the types of boats you can expect, dive boat safety, water entry methods, and much more.

Table of Contents

Why dive from a boat.

Divers would decide to do a boat dive for convenience or because it’s the only option available.

Depending on the geography of the area, accessing the site from the shore is either impossible, dangerous, or extremely exhausting.

For example, where I live, in Florida, the barrier reef sits miles offshore. Reaching the dive site would require a long surface swim, which is not only exhausting but also quite dangerous. Florida is almost exclusively boat diving.

On the other extreme, boat diving makes a lot of sense in desolate or remote locations such as Egypt or the islands of Indonesia. There aren’t always going to be accommodations close to the dive sites.

Boat diving is also the only way to drift dive . On a drift dive, divers entry and exit points are never the same, often far apart, and unpredictable. You simply go where the current takes you. In order for the boat to locate a diver at the end of a drift dive, divers fly a dive flag or surface marker buoy where the boat crew picks them up.

Types of Dive Boats

If you’re reading this article, you’re likely going to be boat diving from a day boat or a liveaboard . While there are a few other types of boats you’ll be diving from, their exceptions and not the rule.

Day boats are larger than the small inflatables or wooden boats and are made of steel, wood or fiberglass and hold up to 30 people.

You use day boats when you leave from shore and are doing two or three dives. You will go to the furthest dive first and work your way back using time traveling between sites as your surface intervals.

These are very basic boats, they usually only have a toilet, rinse tanks, some storage, and shelter from the sun. The most common water entry for these boats is the giant stride . You’ll typically reenter the boat from a ladder.

Liveaboards

These are the big boats and have full living quarters, compressors for filling  tanks , kitchens, and living spaces to hang out. The larger and fancier  liveaboards  may even have a small boat for shuttling you to the shore or dive sites.

Liveaboards can last from a few days to several weeks, and you do multiple dives a day.

Tips and Etiquette for a Boat Dive

Next, we’ll be outlining basic dive boat etiquette. Unless you’re on a luxury liveaboard, boat diving can be a bit congested. You don’t want to be that guy (or girl) with bad etiquette.

Bring Only The Essentials

Even on a liveaboard, dive boats have limited space.

Make sure you have everything packed and check that everything is there. 

Having a dry bag and a dive bag is pretty helpful for keeping track of everything and keeping it dry. 

Double Check Your Gear

Save yourself the trouble of going back to the land to get something or even worse, missing your dive. I’ve been on boats where a diver forgot a piece of gear either at home or in their car, causing the boat to run late.

Check your  dive gear  before you leave as well as after your dive.

If you’re using rental gear you should also make sure that it fits before you get on the boat. It may seem redundant, but the last thing you want is a gear malfunction on a liveaboard, or worse, during a dive.

I love mesh bags, dry bags, and old mask boxes, these things keep your gear together and dry. If you’re a more competent diver, a spare parts kit wouldn’t be a bad idea either!

You can hang these or stow them away with ease. On crowded or small boats things get mixed up, broken, or even can fall overboard.

On day boats and small boats you usually have a set area or box that is yours, stick to it, and if you have any issues speak to the dive instructors or captain.

Don’t be Late

You don’t want to be late for your boat dive .

Holding up the crew and other guests is rude and impolite. In the states, arriving one hour before departure is standard.

This also goes for setting up your equipment, holding other passengers up when they have they have their gear is not right.

When you’re on time you will have ample time to assemble your gear and avoid the feeling of being rushed. The more relaxed you are the less air you use.

Talk to the Crew

Be kind they are people too. It will be a better time for all involved when you ask questions about the dive and what to expect from it. 

If you are in a foreign country learn about the local wildlife and customs. Other things to know are if the dive boat crew will assemble your gear for you when you should start getting ready, can you help out in any way.

Listen to the Crew

The captain, instructor, or guide will give a dive briefing before leaving and when you arrive at the site. You have to be cognizant and know what is going on. This is not only for safety but for your enjoyment. 

The dive briefing is crucial and you will want to know about the dive site such as:

Hazards and emergency procedures

Changing currents and weather conditions

Dive plan and site topography

Know Your Surroundings

From confined spaces to misplacing your gear, know where you are and what’s around you. There are different rinse buckets on the dive boat for a reason, one for  masks  and  dive computers , one for  cameras , and usually one for dive suits. 

Where is the ladder, the first aid kit, and most importantly the coffee? While you are taking off your gear and such, be mindful of wet and dry areas. 

In the water when ascending know what your boat looks like and any obstructions that could be around.

How to Manage Seasickness

I rarely get seasick, but it happens to the best of us. My best tip to avoid seasickness is to avoid eating too closely before a trip.

If you’ve never been on a boat before or high seas are predicted take seasick medicine. The medicine is cheap, easily accessible, and comes in a variety of applications from patches to pills. 

To prevent seasickness stay hydrated, get good rest, eat a solid meal, and avoid alcohol and other drugs. If you do get seasick or feel it coming on focus on the horizon, and get plenty of fresh in the middle of the ship.

Entering the Water

Next, we’ll cover how to enter the water when boat diving.

Before entering the water, it’s common to communicate to your dive buddies or crew whether you’ll be doing a negative entry or a positive entry.

A negative entry is when you deflate your BCD all the way and begin descent immediately. Negative entries typically occur on drift dives.

A positive entry is when you inflate your BCD, causing you to stay afloat on top of the water, where you’ll signal to the boat crew that you’re ok, and to sync up with other divers.

We’ll now cover the two main water entry methods to kick off a boat dive.

Giant Stride

The first and most common method for water entry on a boat trip is the giant stride. On a giant stride, divers waddle to the edge of the boat, typically from the starboard, port, or stern side. When ready, lift up your lead leg and take a big step into the ocean.

Backward Roll

There is a very overused joke in the scuba diving world that goes as follows:

Why do scuba divers roll backward off boats?

Because if they rolled forwards, they’d still be on the boat.

It’s a pretty poor joke, but the point stands that the backward roll is a common entry method.

Getting Back on Board

Once you’ve concluded your dive, it’s now time to get back on board. If it’s a drift dive, the boat will come to pick you up, and if not, you should surface and go back to the boat.

Most boats will have ladders for you to climb back up on. After reaching the ladder but before getting on board, take off your fins. There will usually be a dive instructor waiting to grab your fins from you, but if not but carry them around your wrist.

In high seas, certain ladders can swing back and forth, so be very careful when approaching. Hold on to the ladder with both hands, avoiding any pinch points or hinges where you could potentially get hurt.

Once on board, a crew member will typically escort you back to your spot while grabbing your tank.

That’s all we have for today on boat diving.

For most divers, boat dives are going to be the most frequent way you get to the dive site.

While every diver should try shore diving a couple of times in their life, you’ll need to know boat diving etiquette if you’re going to make it in the diving world.

My main advice is to just always be on time for the dive, be friendly to staff and other passengers, and be safe. Dive instructors, captains, and boat staff just want to get everyone home safe. If you’re a good customer they will take care of you.

Safe boat diving everyone!

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How To Equip Your Boat For Scuba Diving

• By Jim Hendricks
• Updated: March 22, 2018

Some people love going overboard.

That’s what scuba diving, snorkeling and freediving are all about — jumping in to swim with the fishes. To explore coral reefs. Shoot pictures. Spear fish. Catch lobsters. Collect scallops. Eradicate invasive lionfish. Or enjoy the relatively new sport of underwater fishing for hog snapper.

While many boaters enjoy snorkeling from time to time, there’s a whole different category of underwater enthusiasts out there, says Ken Clinton, president of Largo, Florida-based Intrepid Powerboats .

“About 10 percent of Intrepid customers want a boat built specifically for diving,” says Clinton. Designing and customizing a new boat to suit the passion of a buyer is one of Intrepid’s specialties.

The same holds true for Miami-based Belzona Marine , a boat company that was built around owner Joel Svensen’s lifelong love for diving and his desire to create a dedicated platform from which to enjoy the sport.

Just as sport fishermen and wake-sports enthusiasts demand special features and equipment to maximize the enjoyment of their respective pursuits, so do divers. Let’s look at some of the features in high demand by boaters who are also avid underwater enthusiasts.

Side Action Outboard-powered center console, express and walkaround boats represent some of the most popular models for boat-owning dive enthusiasts, especially in the warm, clear waters of Florida and the Bahamas where the underwater world can be spectacular.

Yet outboard boats pose a problem for divers. The motors and rigging make it awkward to get in and out of the water from the stern, even with transom doors, swim platforms and boarding ladders.

The best solution for divers is a hullside door in the cockpit. This has become a pretty popular feature on larger center consoles today. Some boats, like the 5300 Sueños from HCB Center Console Yachts , even have doors on both sides of the cockpit.

Such portals ease the way for divers when stepping overboard (a technique known as “giant striding”) or climbing back in (using a deployable boarding ladder), keeping them clear of outboards, drives and propellers. Yet side doors on center console boats weren’t always common. One of the first appeared on an Intrepid model in 1994 when the sheriff’s department in Hillsborough County, Florida, specified a center console boat with a side door for search-and-rescue and recovery operations.

“Back then, I just took a Sawzall and cut out a door,” says Clinton. “Today, 99 percent of our boats get dive doors, but we have long since integrated the opening into the mold with special secondary laminate schedules to reinforce and ensure a high-strength gunwale around the door.”

The popularity of side doors extends beyond the dive community. A door can be used to haul aboard big fish such as tuna and swordfish but finds far more use as a convenient way to step aboard from floating docks. For this reason, inward-opening side doors are the most prevalent.

Unique Openings Ever more convenient ways for divers to access the water have evolved in recent years. The Scout 420 LXF , for example, features a dive door that’s hinged at the bottom edge. When opened, it becomes a 6-foot-wide dive platform that extends 2 feet 4 inches outward. Boston Whaler’s 270 Dauntless is available with a fold-out swim patio on the port side to make diving easier.

Even more dramatic is the dive access point on the Belzona 325 Center Console and 327 Walkaround . The entire aft gunwale slides smoothly astern to create a wide starboard-side opening. A port slider is optional. When you’re done diving, slide the door closed to secure the cockpit.

Not to be outdone are Sea Ray’s SLX 400 (2017 Boat of the Year) and SLX 400 OB. The side of the boat in the starboard quarter folds out to become what Sea Ray calls a patio wing, but which divers will view as a great way to drop in. A foldout boarding ladder on the aft swim platform offers an easy way to reboard.

Tanks for the Stowage One of the issues for scuba divers is finding a way to secure dive tanks. Otherwise, the heavy, cylindrical tanks tend to roll about like proverbial loose cannons in sloppy conditions, threatening to damage the boat interior and equipment and injure crewmembers.

One common solution takes the form of tank rack systems such as those from Roll Control (in which tanks snap in and out) or XS Scuba (which uses bungees to secure tanks). Yet where you install these racks poses a question. There are a number of choices, but in a custom boat, it’s important to work with the builder in deciding where and how you want to secure tanks, says Clinton.

Intrepid has designed some innovative tank stowage systems, including motorized racks on one of its custom 40 Cuddy models. Four tanks (two on each side) elevate from inside the transom to the perfect height to mount and dismount them while seated at the foldout stern bench-style seats.

In less elaborate, albeit elegantly simple, solutions, a builder might use a locker or create recesses under the gunwales for tank racks. On the Scout 420 LXF, for example, an insert fits inside the covered transom livewell to convert this space to top-loading stowage for five tanks. The insert is quickly removed when it’s time to go fishing and you want to carry live bait.

Aboard the Boston Whaler 330 Outrage , there’s a lounger forward of the center console, and underneath is an elongated stowage locker — Whaler calls it a garage — where you will find racks to secure scuba tanks.

Read Next: Five Scuba Diving Safety Tips for Boaters

The interior of a center console represents another location for tank racks. The best center consoles for this purpose are those that open from the front. This gives you more elbow room to transfer tanks in and out versus a console that has the door on the side. These racks can also hold helium tanks for those days when you want to kite-fish but there’s not enough wind, so you need a big helium balloon to keep the kite aloft.

Stowing Gear “A common theme among boating divers is a desire to have a home for everything,” says Clinton. With this in mind, Intrepid asks its dive-oriented customers to bring in all of their gear during a design session, he reveals. In this manner, Intrepid can build a boat that has a place for every piece of equipment, from masks, fins and weight belts to wetsuits, buoyancy compensators and spear guns.

To accommodate dive enthusiasts, some boat models offer abundant built-in stowage for gear. The Belzona 325 CC Adventure Edition, for example, features copious room for dive gear under the wraparound seating in the bow, as well as below the lounger forward of the center console.

While it’s one thing to stow gear when you’re inside the boat, Intrepid has also created ways to stow and retrieve gear when you’re in the water. “We created hatches for the wet-stowage locker on the outside corners of the 375 Center Console and 375 Walkaround,” Clinton explains. Each can be opened and closed by someone in the water. This eliminates the need to hand items like fins and masks to someone on deck. Instead you can stash gear — or perhaps even transfer a live lobster or two — using the corner lockers. This negates the need to bother crewmembers or toss your expensive dive equipment on the deck.

BONUS! 5 Must Have Scuba Safety Items!

Filling the Need While snorkelers and freedivers don’t need air tanks, scuba enthusiasts do. And they often want to stage more than one dive per trip, or even plan multiday trips to remote locations where there’s no place to refill scuba tanks.

One solution lies in an onboard tank-refill system. The AC-powered YachtPro Series of high-pressure compressors from Brownie’s Marine Group includes a number of models designed expressly for refilling dive tanks with air. The larger YP55 and YP75 compressor systems fit nicely in the engine rooms of boats as small as 45 feet in length.

On the other hand, the YP25SF-U light-duty compressor is compact enough to fit below deck on a boat as small as 30 feet in length, yet this system will automatically fill up to four tanks at the same time. Given the system’s need for 115 volts AC, you will need to run it with shore power for refilling between trips or spec out a marine generator for your dive boat if you want to refill tanks at sea. Brownie’s recommends sending out a test sample of the compressed air annually to check for purity using a lab such as Lawrence Factor .

Read Next: Harvesting Seafood From Your Boat

Another option is to forgo scuba gear and instead use a Third Lung system from Brownie’s (starting at $1,995). These hookah systems supply compressed air via long hoses to divers, so you don’t need any tanks. You can get a self-contained floating system powered by a gasoline engine or electric motor. Or you can get a compressor system built into the boat, powered by AC or DC electricity. The floating systems offer the greatest flexibility, allowing as many as four divers to venture well away from the boat (as long as everyone goes the same direction).

While renting or refilling a scuba tank at a dive shop requires a PADI certification card, no such card is required for using a Third Lung system, since there are no tanks. However, Brownie’s offers an online training course with the purchase of each hookah system, says Tom Furbish, director of sales for Brownie’s.

“The program is an interactive, Web-based learning course designed to teach you how to properly and safely use your hookah system,” Furbish explains.

As the Brownie’s website points out: “Breathing in an underwater environment can be dangerous, or even deadly, if you don’t know the rules or if you choose to ignore them. Proper training is crucial to minimize risk and maximize enjoyment.”

Stable and Able Donning a wetsuit and strapping on a tank and weight belt (which together can weigh as much as 50 pounds) are a lot easier when the deck is stable. Until recently, divers didn’t have much control over deck stability. They simply hoped for smooth seas when suiting up.

Now, however, thanks to new gyrostabilization systems from companies such as Seakeeper, scuba divers can prepare on a deck with virtually zero roll. This trend is an offshoot of larger passenger dive vessels such as the Calypso Star 2 shark-cage dive boat in Australia, which is equipped with a heavy-duty Seakeeper for comfort, safety and to help keep passengers from becoming seasick.

An increasing number of recreational-boat builders now offer smaller systems such as the Seakeeper 3 and 5 as options, and these seem like natural choices for dive enthusiasts who have the money to afford a gyrostabilization option.

The elimination of roll can increase safety for divers when they are boatside, transferring gear and equipment, and waiting to reboard the boat, reducing the chance of the hull rolling on top of a diver or smacking the person preparing to climb back in.

Warming Up Rinsing dive gear with fresh water to get rid of corrosion-causing salt is good idea. “That’s why many boat-owning divers insist on a freshwater washdown system,” says Javier Carabeo, director of marketing for Belzona Marine. “This is a standard feature on the Belzona 325 models.”

Yet hot-water heaters are also in demand by divers so they can pull out a shower nozzle and rinse off with warm fresh water after an excursion in the depths. This becomes especially important in places like California where the ocean water can turn chilly. Some divers also like to fill their wetsuits with warm water before jumping in. It helps fend off the chill.

Most dive enthusiasts prefer to anchor up before dropping in to explore, photograph or spear-fish a reef or wreck, and so a roomy anchor locker that holds plenty of rode and an electric windlass to retrieve the anchor are important elements of a dive boat.

Let’s face it, you can scuba-dive, snorkel or freedive from just about any boat. Yet, as with models designed for high-speed, fishing or wake sports, a boat that’s customized and equipped for diving makes the pursuit of the sport that much easier, safer and more enjoyable. So, if you’re among those brave souls who love to go overboard, make sure your next boat is prepared to dive.

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Ocean Sailor Skills

Diving from a yacht.

• April 1, 2021

By Dick Beaumont

A perfect day for me is fishing while I’m sailing to a dive spot. To accommodate this, my passage plan and destinations have been determined by a desire to dive somewhere no one else has dived, or an iconic dive site that otherwise one would have to book specialist liveaboard dive holidays to get to.

I began diving back in the late ‘60s, inspired by the first sport diving couple, Hans and Lotte Hass. I was so passionately determined to learn to dive that I attended Thurrock BSAC dive club on my 16th birthday, the first day I was old enough to learn to dive. Some 51 years later, after more than 9,000 dives and having spent a year of my life underwater, my passion for diving hasn’t been sated and I’m still excited by the prospect of tomorrow’s dive, especially if I’m diving from somewhere off the beaten track from White Dragon , my Kraken 66.

I first began diving from sailing boats on Moonshadow , my previous yacht, and initially started by diving from the 3.4mt RIB she held in her davits. That worked, but it was a lot of aggravation. The RIB  had to be launched, then all the dive kit had to be loaded into this small inflatable, someone then had to do a boat watch on both the RIB and the yacht. That method severely limited the diving I could do, so I worked out a method of diving straight off the yacht. 

 Anchoring the yacht to dive isn’t preferable, since the best dive sites are going to be in close proximity of coral/rock reefs or wrecks and dropping a 50kg anchor and 10mm anchor chain onto a reef or wreck isn’t acceptable or desirable, since it will destroy the reef and also be impossible to recover back on board after the dive.

To be able to dive from a yacht it will need four design attributes:

A dive ladder or at least a deep swim ladder. A herringbone configuration is best but it needs to run down at least one metre (3’3”) into the water and be strong enough to carry a diver and their dive gear.

A reverse sheer transom, so they can climb back up the transom without assistance.

An area to kit up, such as an aft cabin coachroof.

Side gates in the life line/stanchion rails.

• It’s a good idea to use weight shot pouches rather than solid cast lead dive weights.
• You will need a big soft rubber mat to cover the kit up area especially hatches and get coated areas that don’t fare well with contact from dive tanks and weight belts.
• In addition to the standard dive kit each diver must carry a delayed SMB (surface marker buoy) and reel.
• The yacht will need a forward sonar and high definition down view sonar/fishfinder.
• Ideally the yacht will have a dive compressor, this should be housed in the stern lazarette as you don’t want to be moving the dive tanks around the yacht deck too much.
• Each diver must wear a compass, so they know the direction they are going.

Locating the dive site

The perfect dive site is a pinnacle that is submerged to 4-5m depth so the yacht can pass over the dive site without fear of grounding. An atoll that sits just below the draft depth of the yacht is also good but otherwise coral walls are good too.

I very rarely look at dive guide books as normally there isn’t any for where I’m diving and there are special considerations for dive sites that you can dive from a yacht. You will need to get much closer to reefs and cliff faces than you would normally consider.

A common practice is to stand out too far, into deep water, but this will give the divers a tiring long surface swim to get to a depth they are ok to descend to, and if there is a current running, they may not even get to the sanctuary of the seabed before they are swept away.

Don’t plan a dive to start within 2 hours of sunset. You’ll need good light to locate the divers at the end of their dive.

Find an area on the chart plotter where the contours are close together. Headlands are often excellent dive sites, but the confluence of currents that form around them might cause problems in forecasting where the divers are going to be at the end of their dive.

Using the forward sonar and with the plotter track on and set to the minimum distance, not time intervals. Head in slowly, stand well off, say 50m, stop the vessel and engage neutral, and watch how fast the yacht is drifting with the current. Maximum viable will be about 1-1.5kts.

Note the speed of drift and the direction. Change the track of the drift to a different colour and save it (See Fig 2 ).

Continue heading in slowly at a 90-degree angle to the wall or pinnacle with one eye on the forward sonar and one hand on the gear lever, ready to go hard astern if there’s a surprise. Come in until the wall or pinnacle is clearly showing ahead and the seabed is around 20m on the down view sonar. Mark this spot with a waypoint. Now go astern 10m or so and stop and go into neural and again drift to create a track of the drift and note the speed of the drift.

Now work out how far a diver will drift in an hour, assuming they drift at the speed and direction of the current you experienced on the last drift test, and mark that position with another waypoint, that will be the planned dive exit point.

Go back out in a circle but this time head in towards the wall at an acute angle going uptide against the current you have noted. Head along the wall parallel to where you think it is at the same distance off the wall from your marked waypoint and scan ahead and below (See Fig 3 ). 

On the run parallel to the wall, select the dive drop point and mark it with another waypoint.

The brief to the divers must be that they enter the water and drift with the current keeping the wall on one side only. If it’s a pinnacle or small island, do the same so the helmsman knows which way the divers are going around it. Maximum dive time must be 1 hour and they must be told not to fin with the current thereby outstripping the speed of the current, if the current is weak the diver should maintain steady progress. They must continue in the planned direction of the drift dive, however; 

a. If they must change direction they must send up the delayed SMB within a few minutes. b. They must send up the delayed SMB 30 mins into their dive in any case. c. The helmsman must make it very clear that it is the divers’ responsibility to swim out into deep water to meet the yacht, the yacht must not go in to pick them up. d. The divers must stay together after their assent during the surface swim out to the yacht. e. When the yacht is heading to them and they are far enough from shallow water and the reef they should sit in the water 2m apart.

Once the dive plan is agreed divers must fully kit up. During kitting up time it’s worth slowly tracking along the wall or dive site, looking for the best spot to drop the diver following a track created as in Fig 3. When the divers are fully kitted and ready waiting at the gate that faces the wall the helmsman again follows the track as in Fig 3 and at a speed of max 2 knots. The helmsman should give a count down as the entry point is arrived and put the engine into neutral and then shout GO’ at the dive entry point. The two diver do a giant stride entry 3 or 4 seconds apart. Due to the weigh on the vessel the first diver will be clear of the entry point before the other jumps in. The helmsman turns immediately out to sea, and engages forward gear once well clear of the divers.

Watch / Boat cover

During the time the divers are down the yacht should stand out to sea 200-400m or so from where the divers will be drifting with the current. If the wind on the yacht accelerates, reduces or alters the drift direction and speed of the drift, the helmsman should correct that and come back to a position offshore where he thinks the divers will be (see Fig 5), assuming they will progress at around ½ knot.

The helmsman should be bearing in mind that he has marked where the divers might get to in an hour at maximum drift speed, the divers will be putting up a delayed SMB at 30mins or sooner, so the helmsman will always know the furthest the divers could possibly be, even if they haven’t sent up a delayed SMB as planned.

The yacht should be standing offshore of the expected exit point as the divers will drift towards the yacht rather than the divers drifting away from the yacht.

When the helmsman sees the divers back on the surface he must make an approach plan that allows him to pick them up with the vessel facing away from the reef or at least only parallel to it.

The helmsman must steer the yacht between the divers, head to wind and waves and can only be making slow headway, 1-knot max at the point it arrives with its bow between the divers.

f. The helmsman must go hard astern once he loses sight of the divers at the bow, to take all weigh off the vessel, then puts the engine into neutral.

g. As soon as the vessel is alongside each diver, the diver swims to the hull and shouts ‘ON’ loudly, the helmsman will not be able to see the divers but now knows where they are.

h. The divers swim to the transom and reboard via the dive ladder.

Note: if the vessel is still making weigh the divers must let go of the stern so the helmsman can carefully go astern to take off the weigh, without fear of reversing over the divers.

Remember you are very unlikely to be within realistic reach of a decompression chamber so be conservative with your air reserve and bottom time.

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Robert De Niro Celebrates His 81st Birthday With 30-Foot Dive Off a Yacht

Robert De Niro celebrated his 81st birthday with a less-than-graceful dive off of a yacht, as captured on video by his eldest daughter Drena De Niro .

"Happy 81st Bday to my Dad and #1 ride or die .. Love you with all my #BobbyD forever ," Drena, 56, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, August 17. Her post featured a photo of Robert in midair as he leaped off the side of a yacht in orange-and-blue striped swim trunks.

A subsequent video showed the Oscar winner diving off the boat, which was met with cheers from onlookers and Drena exclaiming off-camera, "He's so crazy!" In the video, she called down to her dad to ask, "Are you alright?" He responded from the water, "Yeah, I'm okay!"

Drena was also heard asking someone "how many feet" the drop from the boat into the water was, to which someone replied "30." Drena also shared photos of Robert holding her as a baby, as well as other photos throughout the years of the actor at the beach with his grandchildren.

Bode Miller and More Celebrity Parents With the Biggest Broods

Robert adopted Drena when she was five years old after he married her mother, Diahnne Abbott , in 1976. Diahnne and Robert went on to have a son, Raphael, 47, before they divorced in 1988.

A post shared by Drena (@drenadeniro)

Robert shares twin sons Julian and Aaron, 28, with ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith ; son Elliot, 26, and 12-year-old daughter Helen Grace with ex-wife Grace Hightower ; and a 16-month-old daughter named Gia with his current girlfriend, Tiffany Chen .

"She's such an adorable baby. So sweet," De Niro said of Gia in a February 7 interview with People . "[When I] look at her, everything else goes away. So it's a great joy and relief to just be with her in the moment."

Along with his seven children, Robert has four grandchildren: three from his son Raphael and one from Drena. Drena's only son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez , passed away in July 2023 at the age of 19 from an accidental drug overdose.

Meet Robert De Niro's 7 Children and Their Moms

Last month, Drena paid tribute to her son on the first anniversary of his death, writing via Instagram, "Today we celebrated sweet wild boy Leo … In your short time here, you made the world a brighter place." (She shared Leandro with artist Carlos Rodriguez .)

At the time of Leandro's death, Robert released a statement to Us Weekly , saying, "I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."

Dive Boats: How to Choose and Enjoy a Dive Boat

At the heart of every successful diving experience lies a crucial element - the dive boat. Whether you are a seasoned diver or a newbie ready to take the plunge, understanding the ins and outs of dive boats is the foundation for your diving adventures.

What is a Dive Boat?

A dive boat is a specialized watercraft specifically designed for the needs of scuba divers. Dive boats come in various sizes and configurations, from smaller day boats to large liveaboards. 

Dive boats of all sizes are carefully designed to optimize the diving experience. Dive platforms with easy entry and exit points, ladders, and spacious deck areas create efficient entry and exit from the boat to the water. 

Many dive boats, especially liveaboards, have amenities like restrooms, freshwater showers, and shaded seating areas, making the time spent on the boat between dives enjoyable.

How are Dive Boats Used?

Dive boats play an integral role in scuba diving, providing divers the means to access and explore some of the most sought-after dive destinations, from vibrant coral reefs to captivating shipwrecks - often inaccessible from the shore. 

These boats offer divers options, from single-day out and back excursions to immersive, multi-day liveaboard experiences. 

Rigid-hulled boats are usually smaller and intended for four out-and-back type trips where divers only spend a few hours on the water. These dive boats are easily transported but limit how many divers and amenities fit onboard.  

Day trips dive boats serve as a floating base for multiple dives throughout the day. Divers can return to the boat to relax, rest, and prepare their gear for the next dive. This allows divers to explore various dive sites in a single day, maximizing their underwater experience.

Liveaboard dive boats offer a more immersive experience, with divers staying onboard for several days - or even weeks at a time. These extended trips take divers to more distant and secluded dive sites, like remote islands or pristine marine reserves.

Read Next: How to Prepare for Sleeping on a Boat Overnight

How to Choose the Right Dive Boat

Whether renting or buying, choosing the right dive boat is pivotal to having unforgettable diving experiences - for all the right reasons! Prioritize factors like boat size, capacity, amenities, and dive trip types. 

Carefully consider and research your options to be sure the chosen vessel aligns with your specific needs: 

• Consider the number of divers you intend to have on the boat. The boat’s size should be sufficient to accommodate your group comfortably and store all diving gear securely.
• Assess the typical dive sites and distances you plan to travel for diving.
• Think about the amenities and features you need on the boat, like restrooms, showers, and storage space for diving equipment.
• Decide between a new boat or a used one , considering your budget and the boat’s condition.

Safety Features:

Look for safety features like easy entry and exit points, accessibility features like sturdy handrails and grab bars, and a well-maintained engine and hull. Confirm that the boat complies with all safety regulations, especially when choosing a used boat. 

Note the location of all essential safety equipment like life jackets, first aid kits, and emergency signaling devices .

Engine and Fuel Efficiency:

If you’re considering a used boat, ensure the engine is in good condition and well-maintained. Consider the boat’s fuel efficiency, as it significantly impacts the overall operating costs.

Read Next: Costs of Boat Ownership

Deck Space and Layout:

Look for a well-designed layout that provides easy access to diving entry and exit points with plenty of deck space. Think about geared-up divers and their ability to move around comfortably and prepare for dives.

Insurance and Licensing:

Ensure the boat has the necessary insurance coverage to protect you and your investment in case of any accidents or damage. If required in your area, ensure that the boat is appropriately licensed and registered.

Reputation of the Seller or Rental Company:

If buying from a dealer or private seller, research their reputation and customer reviews to understand who you’re dealing with. 

If you plan to rent an electric boat, choose a reputable rental company with a track record of safe and well-maintained boats.

Read Next: Boat Rental Guide

Take the boat for a test ride or a short rental trip to get a feel for its handling on the water.

Safety Precautions for Dive Boats

Safety is the top priority when boating and scuba diving, and dive boats are no exception.  Dive boat safety protocols must be adhered to by all crew members. Proper briefing and training are critical to equip the crew to handle adverse situations on the water. 

The basics include:

• Diving procedures.
• Equipment checks.
• Maintaining a dive logbook
• Surface interval times
• Emergency procedures
• Safety buoy procedures
• Proper buoyancy control

Dive Boat Etiquette

While a trip on a dive boat fosters camaraderie among divers, respecting certain etiquettes should be followed to ensure an enjoyable trip for all on board.  As divers, follow onboard safety guidelines and respect the boat and marine life. Be considerate to fellow divers, the captain and crew, and other nearby boats. Responsible diving practices, such as buoyancy control and protecting marine life, play an integral role in preserving the health of underwater ecosystems.

Boat Diving Tips

Taking extra precautions while on a dive boating adventure will keep you and your fellow divers safe:

• Check the weather and stay updated on any changes. 
• Prioritize hydration : It’s easy to dehydrate when surrounded by seawater, but it happens often and can become dangerous.
• Be aware of currents , especially following any storms.
• Protect yourself from the sun by packing proper protection and extra layers.
• Always be aware of the boat : When ascending back to the surface and swimming near the boat , give yourself plenty of space between you and the boat.
• Don’t pack heavy : Space is limited, so bring only the essentials. 

Conclusion: Follow this Dive Boat Guide

Whether you’re an experienced diver seeking immersive liveaboard experiences or a beginner embarking on your first underwater adventure, understanding the significance of dive boats is crucial to maximizing your diving adventures.

By choosing the right dive boat, adhering to safety protocols, and practicing responsible diving behavior, you can embark on unforgettable underwater journeys that will leave you with cherished memories.

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Revealed: Why Scuba Divers Dive Backwards Off Boats

May 22, 2020

As a novice or untrained scuba diver, you might have seen the fully kitted-out professionals going backwards over the sides, and wondered:

“Why do divers fall backwards off boats?”

There’s the old “dad joke” that’s done the rounds over the years - that if they’d roll forward, they’d land in the boat.

But honestly, why not just fling yourself over the side? Why not complete a perfect swan dive over the railing into the water? Also, why do some divers end-up doing what could only be described as a Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks waddle?

The Quick-fire Answer

That backwards dive roll is actually called the Backward Roll Entry Technique and divers use this method to protect the integrity of their diving gear and because it is an easier entry into the water for the human body.

This technique is usually used on small boats, such as RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) or service boats (tenders), or from any watercraft whose gunwale is both close to the water or not particularly stable.

Just for your information, the funny walk we mentioned earlier is a technique called a Giant Stride. The Giant Stride is used when diving from larger boats and liveaboards (an example would be a yacht) with a stable platform.

If you can jump on the vessel without moving it, you’re probably clear to execute a Giant Stride. It’s also usually used when doing a deep-water dive, so it’s unlikely you’d have seen this done if you are an amateur diver.

Diving Backwards Keeps Equipment In Check

When you prepare for entry (see the steps below) it's important to position your gauges and regulators properly. If you were to dive forward, the force of the impact might knock loose this and other equipment.

By diving backwards, assuming you do it correctly, you ensure that you don’t enter the water without equipment.

Diving Backwards Is Easy On The Body

When prepping for a scuba dive, you’ll be surprised how much the equipment weighs.

Another benefit to falling backwards is that you're using your tank to make the first impact into the water, easing entry. If you dive in forwards, the tank would be an additional weight pushing into the water.

If you’ve ever done a belly flop, you’ll know that water can be pretty unforgiving, even if you are falling a few feet. So, imagine the impact with additional weight on your back.

The Backward Roll Helps Keep Boats Stable

As mentioned, backward roll entry is used on smaller vessels. While these boats may have a low center of gravity, a few divers standing on the gunwale will shake things up on board.

By entering the water with a backwards fall, you minimize this rocking motion for everyone else on board.

So now that you’re (hopefully) convinced about the technique, let’s go into the steps required to perform the perfect backwards scuba roll.

How To Nail Your Backwards Dive Off A Boat

To successfully dive backwards follow these steps:

• Assume the starting seated position.
• Before taking a seat, make sure that you have put on all your gear.
• Sit on the edge of the vessel and face inwards.
• Cross your ankles. This will help keep your legs together when entering the water.
• Now it's time to check your equipment is in order. Make sure that all gauges and hoses are securely fastened, especially around the chest area. Bite onto your regulator and inflate your BCD (Buoyancy Compensation Device) halfway, so you have positive buoyancy.
• Use the palm of your right hand to ensure your regulator is in place. Use the fingertips on the same hand to also secure your mask to your face.
• Using your left hand, make sure the mask’s strap is secure at the back of your head. This also ensures that the mask doesn’t come off and you don’t bump your head on the tank cylinder’s valve.
• Before launching into the water, make sure that the water behind you is clear of natural dangers and other divers. If you are in a large group and miss the count, you will need to wait for the others to swim out of harm’s way.
• And when you are ready, or on the captain’s count, put your chin on your chest and fall backwards into the water.

Before darting off to explore, you must resurface to inform the captain that you’re OK. Also, be a pal and wait for your buddies, only then you can descend.

Now It's Your Turn

Now that you know why scuba divers fall off smaller boats backwards, maybe it’s time you try it yourself. Scuba diving is an activity that will quickly become a passion. It reveals a hidden world full of wonder that can genuinely change lives.

See you under the waves!

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Yacht Charter Diving Explained

Chartering a crewed yacht which specializes in diving is an ideal, yet relatively unknown vacation option for experienced dive travellers. After years of being funneled into large group trips to resorts or to liveaboard dive "cattleboats", many divers are looking for an alternative. A dive vacation aboard a crewed charter yacht offers privacy, custom-tailored schedules, one-on-one service, personal instruction if necessary, and the ability to choose dive sites to suit your interests.

A dive charter is also an excellent choice for novices. Beginners especially benefit from the individualized attention, pressure-free training schedules, patience, personal guides, and the one-on-one service that characterize dive charter yachts.

All members of the charter party do not need to be divers to have an enjoyable vacation. Non-divers will not be bored as most charter yachts offering diving also have 'on water' toys such as towable inflatables, jet ski, water skis and kayaks.

There are three basic ways we recommend that you can choose to mix scuba diving with a crewed charter yacht vacation.

Dive-dedicated yachts

These are yachts, small or large, that are completely equipped to fulfill the needs of avid divers. These yachts are for experienced or novice divers who want to make diving the focal point of their charter vacation. They have sufficient tanks for two dives per day, scuba equipment; and an insured, experienced dive professional. If you, or a member of your party needs any kind of training, from Discover Scuba (Resort course) or Openwater checkouts (Referral course), to Advanced or Specialty certifications, then one of the crew must be a dive instructor. Most of the dive-dedicated yachts have an onboard dive compressor or an efficient plant for ensuring a regular supply of airfills for the desired number of dives your party requires.

Dive-oriented yachts.

These are yachts who are seriously interested in having divers aboard, but who have not made the full commitment that the dive-dedicated yachts have in one or more of the important areas of equipment, airfills, or instruction. There must, however, still be an insured diving professional (dive master or dive instructor) aboard, and if any training is to take place then the dive professional must be an instructor.

Rendezvous diving

Any yacht in the fleet can coordinate with shore-based operations throughout the US or British Virgin Islands to take interested members of your party for a morning or afternoon of diving activities, subject to availability. Most dive centers are willing to drop off the divers at a different destination than where they picked up, thus allowing the non-divers to sail to a different anchorage if desired, while the others are diving.

There are many options for a non-certified diver aboard a dive charter yacht from those who want to experience diving (testing the water, so to speak!) to those who desire to take a full Openwater Diver Course and become certified on their vacation.

Discover Scuba Diving with a 'Resort' course. This course is designed to introduce the dive experience. It consists of an orientation, teaching of fundamental skills in calm water shallow enough to stand up in, and a controlled dive under the supervision of the instructor to a maximum depth of 40 feet.

Open Water Diver Course. This is the basic scuba diving certification level. The course consists of three parts:

• Academic training by textbook, lecture, and video, with accompanying quizzes and tests
• Water skill training in calm, pool-like conditions
• Open Water Checkout Dives which are four to five dives with prescribed exercises to be accomplished in each dive.

Referral Course 'Open Water Checkout Dives'. This is the ideal and most popular way to become a certified diver. The student diver takes the academic and pool sessions at home with their local dive shop and completes the Open Water Checkout Dives in the warm, clear water of the Caribbean. This allows more time for diving and other activities rather than bookwork.

Ages 8 and over may participate in PADIs Bubblemaker program. Maximum depth limit of 6 feet.

Ages 10 - 11 may participate in Discover Scuba experience programs and can earn restricted certification as either a PADI Junior Scuba Diver or Junior Open Water Diver. PADI Junior Scuba Divers are limited to a maximum depth of 40 feet and may only dive with a PADI Professional. PADI Junior Open Water Divers are also limited to 40 feet, but may dive with a PADI Professional or a certified scuba diver parent or guardian.

Ages 12 - 15. Divers in this age range earn junior certifications and can dive only when accompanied by a certified adult scuba diver. During training, these divers are limted to 40 feet for Dives One and Two and 60 feet for Dives Three and Four. Divers in this age group are limited to a 70-foot depth for all other PADI continuing education courses.

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Open Water 2: Adrift

When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive. When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive. When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive.

• Adam Kreutner
• Collin McMahon
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• Niklaus Lange
• 219 User reviews
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• Trivia Actress Emma Caulfield was originally cast in the movie as Lauren, the strongest swimmer of the group. But upon arrival at the shooting location, it quickly became apparent that Caulfield was terrified of being in the water and was replaced.
• Goofs At 1hr 2min 30 seconds into the film, a female character is floating face-up in the water. In the context of the story, she is supposed to be entirely nude. However, the camera inadvertently shows the skin-colored modesty patch that the actress is using to cover her right nipple.

James : Our daughter is scarred for life. She'll either grow up to be oddly attracted to Popeye, or a lesbian.

• Connections Followed by Open Water 3: Cage Dive (2017)
• Soundtracks Love To Blame Written by Stephan L. Groth Performed by Apoptygma Berzerk Taken from the album "You and Me Against The World" Courtesy of Gun Records Published by Dead Man Moving [Played during end credits]

User reviews 219

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• Sep 8, 2006
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• August 10, 2006 (Germany)
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• Orange Pictures
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• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• €1,200,000 (estimated)

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• Runtime 1 hour 34 minutes
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Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

• Share full article

By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

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Italian prosecutor opens manslaughter probe in Lynch yacht sinking

STORY: An Italian prosecutor has opened a manslaughter investigation into the deaths of British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others who were killed when a luxury yacht sank off Sicily this week.

The head of the public prosecutor's office of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, said while the yacht had been hit by a very sudden meteorological event...

it was "plausible" that crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence had been committed.

However, he said the probe was so far not aimed at any individual.

The captain, James Cutfield, and the other survivors have been questioned this week by authorities.

None of them have commented publicly on how the ship went down.

Cartosio added there was no legal obligation for the captain, crew and passengers to remain in Italy but authorities expected them to cooperate with the probe.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife. His 18-year-old daughter Hannah was among those who died.

Another prosecutor said the meteorological event that hit the vessel was most likely a "downburst" - a very intense downward wind that is a relatively frequent event at sea.

They added that the passengers were all probably asleep at the time of the storm, which was why they failed to escape.

The national head of the fire brigade's diving service, Giuseppe Petrone, told reporters the passengers were stuck as furniture had floated around the wreck.

Retrieving the boat may help investigators determine what happened, but it's likely a complex and costly operation.

Cartosio did not rule out that someone could be put under investigation before the ship is salvaged, based on other evidence.

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Sicily yacht sinking: Why divers are struggling to rescue Bayesian's missing people

• Tuesday 20 August 2024 at 4:44pm

Words by Natasha Dangoor, ITV News Producer

A diver at the scene of Bayesian - the yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday - has said that the search for six people on board is “very complicated” because it is still intact.

The rescue search resumed on Tuesday after the luxury yacht sank due to intense storms. It is currently on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres.

"It is resting on its side on the starboard side. It has no gashes, no signs of impact," firefighter and diver Marco Tilotta said in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Messaggero .

This - as well as reports of many objects in the way - is making it extremely difficult for divers to enter the yacht.

Mr Tilotta said the situation is not dissimilar to a smaller-scale Costa Concordia - the cruise ship that sank off the coast of Isola del Giglio in 2012 with more than 4,000 passengers and crew on board.

Italy's fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco said that earlier inspections of the Bayesian wreck had been "unsuccessful" because of limited access to the bridge and furniture-obstructing passage.

It described the operation as “complex,” with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts, two of which must be spent going up and down.

"Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours,” Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said.

“Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly,” he said, adding that “we suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat.”

Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he replied: “Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.”

Stacey Foster explains how the weather is adding further complications to the rescue operation

Fisherman Francesco Cefalu said he had seen a flare from shore at around 4.30am local time and immediately set out to the site, but by the time he got there, the Bayesian had already sunk.

He saw only cushions, wood and other items from the superyacht floating in the water.

"It could be that the mast broke, or the anchor at the prow pulled it, I don't know," he said.

Pietro Asciutto, a fisher in Porticello, also watched the tragedy unfold. He said: “I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, and it was very big. I saw it suddenly sink.”

He added that shortly afterwards he went to the bay of Santa Nicolicchia. “The boat was still floating and then it suddenly disappeared. I saw it sink with my own eyes.”

A male body, believed to be that of the vessel's chef, has been discovered. However, British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and five others are yet to be found.

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Divers find 5 bodies during search of yacht wreckage off Sicily

The Associated Press

Italian firefighter divers bring ashore in a green bag the body of one of the victims of the U.K.-flag vessel Bayesian on Wednesday. The luxury sail yacht was hit by a violent sudden storm and sunk early Monday, while at anchor off the Sicilian village of Porticello near Palermo, in southern Italy. Salvatore Cavalli/AP hide caption

PORTICELLO, Sicily — Divers searching the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily found the bodies of five passengers Wednesday and searched for one more as questions intensified about why the vessel sank so quickly when a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Rescue crews unloaded three body bags from rescue vessels that pulled into port at Porticello. Salvatore Cocina, head of the Sicily civil protection agency, said two other bodies had also been found in the wreckage for a total of five.

Who are Mike Lynch and the other people missing after a yacht sank in Sicily?

The discovery made clear the operation to search the hull on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) underwater had quickly turned into a recovery one, not a rescue, given the amount of time that had passed and that no signs of life had emerged over three days of searching, maritime experts said.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (a half-mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, and sank quickly.

Fifteen people escaped in a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby sailboat. One body was recovered Monday — that of the ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, of Antigua.

Thomas was born in Canada, according to his cousin David Isaac, but would visit his parents’ homeland of Antigua as a child, moving permanently to the tiny eastern Caribbean island in his early 20s. Italian officials previously listed Antigua as the nationality of someone on board.

The fate of six missing passengers had driven the search effort, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch , his 18-year-old daughter and associates who had successfully defended him in a recent U.S. federal fraud trial.

Lynch’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Emergency services at the scene of the search for a missing boat, in Porticello, southern Italy, on Tuesday. Salvatore Cavalli/AP hide caption

What caused the ship to sink so quickly?

Meanwhile, investigators from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office were acquiring evidence for their criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy even though no formal suspects have been publicly identified.

Questions abound about what caused the superyacht, built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, to sink so quickly, when the nearby Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat was largely spared and managed to rescue the survivors.

Was it merely the case of a freak waterspout that knocked the ship to its side and allowed water to pour in through open hatches? What was the position of the keel, which on a large sailboat such as the Bayesian might have been retractable, to allow it to enter shallower ports?

“There’s a lot of uncertainty as to whether it had a lifting keel and whether it might have been up,” said Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the editor of the Journal of Sailing Technology. “But if it had, then that would reduce the amount of stability that the vessel had, and therefore made it easier for it to roll over on its side,” he said in an interview.

The captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat, which came to the Bayesian’s rescue, said his craft had sustained minimal damage — the frame of a sun awning broke — even with winds that he estimated reached 12 on the Beaufort wind scale, which is the highest, hurricane-strength force on the scale.

He said he had remained anchored with his engines running to try to maintain the ship’s position as the storm, which was forecast, rolled in.

Search teams scour waters along Italy’s southwestern shore, where a luxury yacht sank

“Another possibility is to heave anchor before the storm and to run downwind at open sea,” Karsten Bornersaid in a text message. But he said that might not have been a viable option for the Bayesian, given its trademark 75-meter (246-foot) tall mast.

“If there was a stability problem, caused by the extremely tall mast, it would not have been better at open sea,” he said.

Yachts like the Bayesian are required to have watertight, sub-compartments that are specifically designed to prevent a rapid, catastrophic sinking even when some parts fill with water.

“So for the vessel to sink, especially this fast, you are really looking at taking water on board very quickly, but also in a number of locations along the length of the vessel, which again indicates that it might have been rolled over on its side,” Souppez said.

Italian coast guard and fire rescue divers continued the underwater search in dangerous and time-consuming conditions. Because of the wreck’s depth, which requires special precautions, divers working in tag teams could only spend about 12 minutes at a time searching.

The limited dive time is designed in part to avoid decompression sickness, also known as the “bends,” which can occur when divers stay underwater for long periods and ascend too quickly, allowing nitrogen gas dissolved in the blood to form bubbles.

“The longer you stay, the slower your ascent has to be,” said Simon Rogerson, the editor of SCUBA magazine. He said the tight turnaround time suggests the operation's managers are trying to limit the risks and recovery time after each dive.

“It sounds like they’re operating essentially on no decompression or very tight decompression, or they’re being extremely conservative,” he said.

Additionally, the divers were working in extremely tight spaces, with debris floating around them, limited visibility and oxygen tanks on their backs.

Search resumes for British tech magnate and 5 others after yacht sinks off Sicily

“We are trying to advance in tight spaces, but any single thing slows us down,” said Luca Cari, spokesman for the fire rescue service. “An electric panel could set us back for five hours. These aren’t normal conditions. We’re at the limit of possibility.”

“It’s not a question of entering the cabin to inspect it,” he added. “They’ve arrived at the level of the cabins, but it’s not like you can open the door,” he said.

The Italian coast guard said they had reinforced their dive teams and were using underwater remote-controlled robots, which can stay out for six or seven hours at a time and record the surroundings.

The lack of any signs of life and the recovery of bodies led outside experts to conclude that the search was now a recovery effort and investigation to determine how the tragedy had unfolded.

“I think the fact that there’s been quite a lot of diving presence around the vessel and that they haven’t been able to pick up any signs of life inside the vessel, is, is unfortunately, not a particularly good sign,” said Souppez.

IN PHOTOS | Rescue efforts after yacht with 22 aboard sinks

Luxury yacht, struck by unexpectedly violent storm, sank off sicilian village in southern italy, social sharing.