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Hi David,
You said in part:
they don't have O2 on board or are oriented in handling diving problems.
They don't like parking in the shipping channel at all.  Sport fishing
charter boats are simply not familiar with the latest reports of vis. on
wrecks, things to look for, etc.  They also are not generally set up for
the diver and the heavy tanks I would think.

I have thought about using a fishing boat.  If all I want is to get to a
place on a nice boat, then a cheaper, reliable, quiet, non-cattle boat
is great. So, if I'm real familiar with a dive location and don't need
or want the capt. to be able to respond to the dive emergency in the
best way, then you've hit upon a great idea.
****
In my experience it is rare to find a cattle boat that has O2 of the
*correct* type for diving emergencies and also rare to find that the
people who run the boat know how to use the equipment they have on
board.  Dive boats ususally don't have the latest reports on vis, wrecks
or the things to look for and *very few* boats are set up for the heavy
tanks that I use as a wreck diver.  The ladders are usually inadequate
for divers with doubles and stages and the gearing up area is too small.
Very few skippers (Capt. in US) have the faintest idea of the best way
of responding to a diving emergency, or for that matter the ability
to recognise one when it happens. (or recognise that one hasn't happened
when they can't work out how to read tables and don't understand the
correct explaination)

Most dive boats are run by O/W divers who fancy the lifestyle.  Like
chickens raising ducklings, they don't really understand, and are
pretty worried by the strange behavour of their wreck diving charges.

You should consider that when diving from any boat, anywhere, that
you will get *no assistance whatsoever*.   Chances are that if the
chips are down, you will be correct :(   When you said "bring your
own means of medical treatment" you were right, and that goes for
any boat.  Only thing is, that you have a better chance of getting
it on board if they aren't divers.  I've been refused permission to
bring O2 treatment equipment on board dive boats.

Cheers Jason :)

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