Do you inform the MCA when you're diving?

[bubblemaker]

Just a wee poll from a thought i had on a different board.

How often do people inform the Coastguard where they are diving?

They would like us to do it al the time, even if shore diving, for a couple of reasons:

It speeds up reaction times in the event of an emergency,

Also, it gives them a better indication of the numbers of dives taking place in the UK each year.

[dive granny]

I think it would be prudent to do both for the reasons you mentioned.:)

[charlie]

Yeah, we tend to notify the Coastguard when we're shore diving. Difficulty is trying to remember to phone them at the end of the day to give the all-clear. :eek:

I've taken to setting a reminder alarm on my mobile phone now. ;)

We don't have a club boat, so that issue doesn't arise. I always presume that the skipper of a charter boat assumes responsibility on that score.

Interestingly, who (if anyone) should we notify when diving in freshwater sites, e.g. Powmill Quarry? Is it still the Coastguard??

[bubblemaker]

you'd think the clue would be in the name 'coast' guard, but tis an inresting one. i guess it's probably worth emailing them to find out.

[charlie]

you'd think the clue would be in the name 'coast' guard, but tis an inresting one. i guess it's probably worth emailing them to find out. Yeah, exactly! :rolleyes:

[Eddie]

I must admit I don't often contact the coastguard when I'm shore diving, but almost always do when I'm on a boat and certainly when diving somewhere exposed like the garvellachs.

I do know that if there is a "diving incident" in freshwater then the coastguard are the correct people to contact.
It follows that as they have responsibilty for coordinating a rescue, they would probably like to know where you are diving before you go.

[charlie]

I do know that if there is a "diving incident" in freshwater then the coastguard are the correct people to contact.
It follows that as they have responsibilty for coordinating a rescue, they would probably like to know where you are diving before you go.Cheers, Eddie. That's good to know! :rolleyes:

[Ding]

The coastguard want to know every time a party of divers dive. As bubblemaker said they can use these numbers to place equipment and personell in areas required. And more importantly for us if they know where we are it saves time in an emergency...

But as like most people I tend only to tell them when I'm on the rib as thats when I feel the most vulnerable, Suppose we should get into the habit of phoning them at the start and end of every dive...

Do dive boat operators let the coastguard know....?
I cant remember hearing a captain calling the coastguard....

[Airmonster]

Do dive boat operators let the coastguard let the coastguard know....?
I cant remember hearing a captain calling the coastguard....

I've only ever used Puffin up in Oban so I have not got that much experience with boat operators. However, they have always informed the coastguard any time I've been on one of their boats. They inform them the number of divers on board, the dive sites being visited and the time they will be at those sites. At the end of the diving, they again inform the coastguard that diving is finished.

As I said, don't know how this related to other boat operators, but certainly seems professional to me!

/Colin.

[Mr T]

I've never heard a charter operator call the coastgaurd................its good to know these people are invincible!!!!!!!!

[bubblemaker]

I've never heard one do it either!! How reasuring!!