Boats
Hoofer SCUBA has a dedicated boat captain that operates and maintains the boat. No other individual may operate the club boat without approval of the club captain. If you have approval to operate the boat, be certain to become familiar with state and federal boating regulations that may be applicable to the area.
When operating the boat, ensure it operates at slow speed in any area where divers are below. Be certain any boat maintains a minimum distance of 100 feet from any SCUBA dive flag. Those in the boat should keep close watch for divers surfacing unexpectedly. When dropping divers into the water, or retrieving them, ensure the engine is in neutral and turned off. All boats should be marked for easy identification and should be properly equipped before taking them out on the water, in accordance with Hoofer SCUBA guidelines.
1. Obey the Boathouse lights and flags. Call 262-7445 for the Lake Mendota weather conditions (including current flag or light in effect).
GREEN: No special restrictions, winds less than 18 mph.
YELLOW: Possibility of storm or water less than 55 degrees F. Boating allowed only within an imaginary line from the tip of Picnic Point to the Tenney Park Locks. The yellow flag may be flown in conjunction with the blue or green flags.
BLUE: Indicates heavy wind (18 to 25 mph) conditions. Lake Mendota is usually quite rough in this condition. It is recommended that inexperienced boaters do not go out.
RED AND BLUE: Decked boating is allowed in mooring area. No open boating is allowed.
RED: No boating. If you are on the lake, return to the Boathouse.
BLINKING RED: Imminent storm. Put on life jacket and go to the NEAREST shore.
2. State Law requires that each boat carry one Personal Floatation Device (PFD) per person. There is a $30-plus fine if caught without them. A Buoyancy Compensating Device (BCD) does not qualify as a PFD. Life jackets must be worn if you are a non-swimmer, if the water temperature is less than 55 degrees F., or if the blue or blinking red lights or flags are on. When worn, the life jacket must be SECURELY fastened.
3. Ensure that someone always remains onboard while divers are in the water.
When using boats take note of the recommendations for boat users laid down in the Diver's Code of Conduct.
Boating Navigation Rules
The Inland Navigation Rules help ensure that two boats do not collide on the water - much as rules for driving a car do on land. The U.S. Coast Guard enforces these rules on waters connected with the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, or the Gulf of Mexico, including the Great Lakes.
General Right-of-Way Rules
1. Yield the right-of-way to divers in every case.
2. Look for vessels with the international code flag "A" or alpha, either red and white or blue and white, which indicates the presence of divers in the area.
3. If you are on a sailboat, assume the right-of-way over all powerboats, except when you are overtaking another boat.
4. Give way to commercial fishing boats or large ships in narrow channels or confined areas.
Two Powerboats
1. Pass port side to port side.
2. When 2 motorboats are approaching each other at right angles or in a crossing situation, the boat on the right is the privileged boat and has the right-of-way. The boat on the left shall slow and/or change course to cross behind the privileged boat to avoid collision.
3. Yield the right-of-way to the boat ahead if you're an overtaking boat.
Two Sailboats
1. Yield the right-of-way to a boat on starboard tack if your boat is on port tack.
2. Yield the right-of-way to a leeward boat if you are windward and on the same tack.
3. Yield the right-of-way to a boat that is ahead if you are an overtaking boat or are otherwise astern.
4. Yield the right-of-way to a moving boat if you are coming about or jibing.
Avoiding Paddlers
Large and small powerboats and sailboats often have limited maneuverability in areas around marinas, docks and even ramps. Although it can be difficult to see them, attempt to be courteous to kayakers, canoeists, rowers, and other such paddlers. Although the Coast Guard puts the responsibility on the paddlers to avoid all larger vessels, it makes for better boatmanship to be considerate of those in smaller crafts.
Speed Restrictions
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat within 100 feet of any dock, raft, pier, or buoyed restricted area on any lake at a speed in excess of "slow-no-wake."
• Motorboats may not be operated at speed greater than "slow-no-wake" on lakes 50 acres or less having public access, except when such lakes serve as thoroughfares between 2 or more navigable lakes.
• It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at a speed that is greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions. The speed shall be so controlled as to avoid colliding with any object, person or conveyance lawfully in or on the water.
• It is unlawful to create hazardous wakes.
It is unlawful to operate a personal watercraft faster than slow-no-wake within 200' of shore on any lake.
Navigation lights must be on from sunset to sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility.
Buddy Diving
Diving is a social activity, so the buddy system is more than a safety rule. Diving with someone you know and are comfortable with adds to the fun. Most divers actually enjoy companionship in and out of the water. It is fun to share exciting adventures and experiences with others. Hoofer SCUBA does not allow diving without a buddy under any circumstances.
It is important for safe diving that divers are formed into appropriate buddy pairs. Buddy diving means a pair of divers operating as a unit, each taking some responsibility for the safety of the other. On every dive one diver, usually the senior in certification or experience should be elected as the dive leader. Divers with a minimum level of Open Water Diver may dive together. A dive instructor must be present with divers below the level of Open Water Diver or when training new divers. While diving, it is important to stay side by side and within reach of your buddy.
When snorkeling, dive alternately so that the snorkeled underwater is covered by their buddy at the surface. A PADI Divemaster or higher must be present when training snorkelers.
Buddy Lines
For experienced divers comfortable diving in conditions of poor visibility, you may wish to use a buddy line to retain contact with your buddy. A line six to ten feet long is ideal, with a shackle or small karabiner spliced to each end. This allows it to be looped over wrists, if so desired, or it can be clipped to a suitable piece of equipment e.g. BCD, to leave both hands free. If conditions are worse than expected, aim on the side of caution and abandon the dive.
Buoyancy Compensators (BCDs)
Divers need to be able to adjust their buoyancy underwater to compensate for buoyancy losses due to pressure changes on descent, and then to jettison this buoyancy as they ascend. This may be provided by inflation of a drysuit or by means of some buoyancy-compensating device. Total reliance on a drysuit is not sensible and a suitable buoyancy compensator should be worn on every open water dive.
There are three main types of buoyancy compensator currently on the market, the Adjustable Diving Vest (ADV), the Stabilizer Jacket (STAB) and the 'wings' style of BCD. Most are made in various sizes and care should be taken to choose the correct size and amount of buoyancy offered. All buoyancy compensators must have a direct feed mechanism for routine buoyancy adjustment. The diver's other requirements for a buoyancy system are to stay afloat at the surface or to give emergency buoyancy while rescuing or being rescued. An inflated drysuit is not a good solution in these surface situations and drysuited divers must wear a buoyancy compensator to maintain and control buoyancy safely.
