There are certain rules of conduct that must be followed to preserve order when groups of more than 2 divers are together on a boat, especially when they don't know one another. As a scuba diver, you will see many infractions of these rules but you will have the smug satisfaction of being one of the few who behaves like a pro.
1. Use a scuba gear bag. Not one of those steamer-trunk sized ones..those are just as bad as just scattering your scuba equipment all over the deck. The best bag I have ever had, one that is still doing the job after 15 years, is a plain black mesh with velcro pockets. Has a shoulder sling and it's about the size of a small duffel bag. Fits BCD, skins, wetsuit, mask/fins/snorkel, spare parts, regulator, camera, first aid kit and manual respirator mask. Keep your equipment stowed away under the seat--NEVER clutter the deck. That is a dead giveaway for a rookie.
2.Assemble and check all of your gear on the way to the site, NOT once you arrive. Another rookie mistake! The idea is to be ready to jump in well before the boat is over the site. This accomplishes two good things; if there is a problem with your scuba gear you will have some time to correct the problem instead of holding up the show trying to bum an "o" ring or replace a strap. You will also be able to devote your full attention to the captain or dive master's briefing about the site, which brings us to:
3. Dive sites are not like furnished rooms. You can not go there once or even 100 times and know all there is to know about it. Conditions change from minute to minute, including current direction and speed, water temperature, and what you might see there. Therefore, saying things like "Oh, I've done that one" and talking to your buddy while the site briefing is being given is not only stupid, it's rude. As an instructor and scuba guide I have dived the same sites sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, 5 days a week. While I may know the layout of the reef, I never know what conditions will be at any given time or what I might see. Experienced divers ( meaning working divers) keep their mouths shut and their ears open during the site brief.
4. If you forgot to take your ginger or otherwise feel your mouth watering up for the inevitable hurl (known as "chumming" because it draws large schools of fish) take just a moment to determine the lee (wind at your back) side of the boat to do your business. The only thing worse than blowing chow is getting it instantly blown back into your face by a brisk ocean breeze. Try hard not to do it where scuba divers will be, like off of the back of the boat.
**Additional tip: when you're coming up from a dive, always look up. Large clouds of small fish near the surface are a good indication that someone has donated their lunch to the sea in that vicinity; use caution. Always remember: there is no shame in getting seasick--it happens to everyone once in awhile. Just don't make a mess--
5. --Which brings us to the last rule of dive boat etiquette: if there is a toilet, or "head" on the dive boat, it is for one thing only. If you do anything other than pee in that can, you're not only being nasty but you're adding to pollution, risking clogging the system, and a host of other terrible things. Pee in the can. Throw up on the lee side of the boat, over the rail. Anything else is best done before or after your boat trip, unless it's an extreme emergency.
That's enough of the basics to get you started for now. With scuba diving, as with many other things, you'll do best by having a good sense of your surroundings at all times, including other people. Awareness, organization and a little common sense will get you far. Until the next article, happy diving!
