BOAT DRIVERS!!!

[Granitu]

no it is true gaffer but i assure you you see very few of these divers but a lot of negligent boaters unfortunately

we have to do something for sure, it is the very least. if one comes nearby a driver, european rules state that one HAS TO STOP HIS BOAT IMMEDIATELY and either get away from the diver without the use of motor or wait for the diver to be at a safe distance but few apply this rule

on the contrary, an abandoned cima is avoided, if i would be in a dangerous situation and  i aim with my harpoon loaded, a last resort would be to shoot near the propellor to foul it and frankly f*** of any damages i do. and if the range is enough(which would be since it is a last resort) it would work cause propellors kind of suck in nearby objects especially monofilaments and kevlar

my life is worth more than any damage

[ggantno1]

I know there are some  people like you said that use a plastic 5ltr recipient as a marker.  I was not talking for those becouse mostly they are  young children who are at there first steps in spearfishing which never go more than a couple of mtrs far from shore !! Still I'm not justifiying there acts !!! and they or their parents should spend 10euro  and buy a good marker .

I was talking for spearos that  always use the right marker with a flag that its seen from more than 200mtr and still nobody cares

[The_Gaffer]

Granitu, I fully agree with your line of reasoning.  I quite remember well that when I did the MMA boat licence course, I believe not enough enphasis was placed on the subject of safety at sea.  It was more on the rule of the road (Sea) and avoiding collision then being aware of divers, safe distance, etc.  Since human life is at stake here (the diver's) I would suggest that only one penalty is in force, and that is confiscation of the boat and loss of licence for the defaulter. 

[jessijames 2]

Well it is a good argument who to blame if the boat owner or the diver with a can. My opinion, i have a 30 ft sundeck boat siting down,
there is know way to see where iam going so i always drive standing up to aviod hitting somthing god forbid a person. How many boat owner drive standing up to see where he is going.( Laktar jekk ikollu lil tall malja sewda bhal ta ranieri) It will help alot the boat owner and the diver if the diver can come up with a float and 3 or 4ft pole than the flag witch it will be more visable than the  10 euro one.

[Granitu]

the best visible buoys are he round ones which are visible from 500m lol unless you have good eyesight or with proper lenses if one has eyesight defects save for weather conditions that should be optimal

if one is not paying attention to the sea, you can have a 9m pole with flag he/she won't see you  or worse see the pole but still pass by

jessijames2 what you think is a way of under-costing is purely done like that for a reason, if you do a small flag you automatically have to see the sea and maybe one spots the driver, a 2 metre pole with flag cam be visible from more distance and in choppy waters but it creates a lot of drag and unnecessary weight.

and bdw a good boat in my opinion has to have a clear visibility at the front, it is a must not only for divers but in particular for sea turtles which can do some real damage to a boat if hit at cruising speed .

the fun part is that their shell would endure the abuse, i know a guy who lost the outboard to a hit sea turtle and amazed he told me the turtle had no particular injury visible

[baghira]

I e mailed emi, to give this topic some air time on x'qala l-bahar.
Hope he answers.

[ggantno1]

http://www.tuttopescamare.com/subacquea/boe-segna-sub/boe-tonde/boa-fluo-bandiera-smontabile.html

A marker like this costs between 10-20eu it depends from where you buy it 

Ballun ta' dan it-tip jinxtara bejn 10-20 eu skond min ghand min tixtrih  

Jessiejames if you are saying that a marker like this is not visible you better make an apointment with an optician !!   
Driving a boat is just like driving a car you cannot drive forward and keep looking at the pretty lady who's behind you  otherwise you know what will happen  :'(Same thing for the sea crafts you have to stay focused for what is in front of you!! Some times I sea boats directed to N and the captain looking S . For drivers like these even If we use a dinghy as a marker its usless 

Jessiejames jekk ma tarax dan nejdelk biex tiehu hsieb taghmel vista ta!!!!
Dajsa bhal karrozza saret halik min tal malja sewda!!! Meta tkun qed isuq mohhok fi triq trid toqod mux fuq dik l mara sabiha li hemm fil karozza ta warajk jew ta magenbek !!!!! ghax inkella taf x jigri .  u listess fil bahar meta qieghed isuq trid toqghod attent x hemm quddimek hux   ghax gili tara dajes sejrin direzjoni N u l Kaptan ihares lejn S  

[jessijames 2]

ggantno 1 sorry li ma fimntx li riedt nejd. Il-problema mhux il vista habieb.Imma tried tghamila ta xi tabieb.

[baghira]

This was my e-mail to emi farrugia:

My intention for this e-mail is:
Due to the increasd boat traffic, it is getting really dangerous for us divers or spearos (I am both), to practice our beloved sport. The is no awareness from the authorities whatsoever regarding this issue, and many people are not aware of what the diver down flag means, or about the risks/danger they are putting others in. Many of us are nowadays venturing onto reefs not close to the land and this makes it much more dangerous. No to mention the different occasions where myself, and my buddies, were nearly run above by boats, people throwing trammel nets etc. Some are even curios when the see the red float and they come close by to inspect.!!!!!!!
I was asking myself if we can organise something in this regard, since that your programme is viewed by a large audience,and I am sure that will find others who are willing to help out if needed. A similair thing has been done by "le iene" in italy where they filmed from underneath the surface, boats passing at high velocity near a diver's float.This would create a good awareness.

Thanks emi.
Waiting for your reply.


This is the reply that I got today from emi farrugia:


Hi Silvio

About the safety of divers & use of marker buoys vis a vis boat traffic. I will try & include something on these lines on X' Qala l- Bahar.

Thanks for your interest

REGARDS

EMI

[ggantno1]

ggantno 1 sorry li ma fimntx li riedt nejd. Il-problema mhux il vista habieb.Imma tried tghamila ta xi tabieb. Haga wahda nijdlek happy swieming ma dawk id double props.

Sorry I misunderstood  !!   I tought you was refering to one of those pretty women on the cataloges when you mentioned the black bikini  


Proset baghira well done

[fish-noob]

good initiative baghira, thats the people i like best, that do something about it

[Granitu]

good initiative baghira well done xbin

[Seahunter]

Prosit Baghira