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#1723
Scuba Diving from a Sailboat
cducote - 4/28/2014 5:34 PM
Category: General
Replies: 6

Anyone do any diving from a sailboat? I am learning how to sail and thinking about buying a boat that is between 22 and 25 ft. Just wondering how hard it is to sail to a dive site in coastal waters ie. Gulf Coast, and actually be able to enter and exit the water. Just looking for a way to go diving without the extreme expense of fuel.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.
#20387
LatitudeAdjustment - 4/28/2014 5:58 PM
"and actually be able to enter and exit the water."

Well the entering is easy, just a longer drop to the water, keep your feet together so you don’t get a wetsuit wedgie :(

With a sailboats higher freeboard getting back on board can be an issue. I’ve left a line over the side, clipped the gear on and then pulled the gear aboard, just make sure it’s really clipped!

The extra weight of the dive gear isn’t going to help the performance especially if it’s left in the cockpit and getting it below can be a hassle.

I did see one sailboat with a hinged cockpit seat and the tank stowage below it where a quarter berth had been, no one likes sleeping there anyhow.
#4002
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WarmWaterTurner - 4/29/2014 6:34 AM
Do it in the Bahamas all the time. Look at boat designs with lower fantails. I also like "LA"’s suggestion of clipping gear off to a line then hoisting it in.
#1723
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cducote - 4/29/2014 9:08 AM
Thanks guys. That is what I needed to hear
#28736
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RAWalker - 4/30/2014 12:20 AM
Another choice for fuel free diving is a kayak.
#392
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Capnd - 4/30/2014 12:42 PM
I have considered this very thing , there is a multitude of attachments that can be installed to make exiting easy . You may discuss this with a boat shop .