Rigid-hull inflatable boats is a staple of the British diving scene, and our panel of experts offer up some handy hints and advice for the next time you step aboard
RIBs – also known as RHIBs (rigid-hull inflatable boats) – are often called the Land Rover Defenders of the sea, because they are tough, durable, designed to cope with less-than-ideal conditions and, shall we say, fairly basic when it comes to creature comforts.
There is a breed of “leisure RIBs” available now, as more and more day-boaters came to understand the benefits of RIB diving on the open sea over a more-traditional speedboat, and these have bench-seats and other useful additions.
It is possible to dive from these, but most dive RIBs will be more spartan, with maybe the odd jockey seat and usually a stainless-steel tank-rack to fasten the BCs/cylinders securely in place.
Being out on the water in a RIB is exhilarating, and speeding to a dive-site in one will be something familiar to many British divers, but if you have never had the opportunity, never fear, just soak up the advice that follows and you will be fine.
Adrian Collier, BSAC National Instructor: “Gone are the days when we tested how much fuel we had on our RIB by using a bamboo cane while we were 14 miles offshore, getting ready to head back to harbour after an amazing dive. The old Johnson two-stroke engines that ate fuel and smoked the divers, making them sick, are distant memories of how it used to be out on the water.
“So what has changed? Technology has moved on – we now have modern two-stroke engines that are computer-controlled, with Bluetooth technology to operate them. The first engine service comes after three years of usage and you get a 10-year warranty – how amazing is that?
“We also now have 3D side-scan sonar and chart-plotters that are very much affordable for local diving clubs. All these things make diving safer.
“Incidents of broken-down engines are getting fewer and fewer because of the advent of new technology. Divers are being trained better, with more going for qualifications such as the BSAC Diver Coxswain Award, which is a recognised International Certificate of Competence.
“We now have strict guidelines we have to adhere to that came into force on 1 July, 2002, the SOLAS V Regulations. If we have not applied the basic outlines when we go to sea and there is a dive-boat accident, you could be prosecuted. So it is in our best interest to prepare and plan going to sea well before.
“BSAC has worked with other dive agencies to produce guidelines for the ‘Safe Operation of Member Club Dive Boats’. You can download a copy of these guidelines at www.bsac.com/boatsafety.”
Gary Asson, National Diving Officer of the Sub-Aqua Association: “I have done some fantastic RIB diving. These boats were a great improvement on inflatables in terms of comfort, carrying capacity, equipment, potential distance and safety. Their only real downside was that you couldn’t just carry them across the beach to launch.
“Remember, the coxswain is in overall charge of anything that happens on the RIB. The cox will tell you where to store your scuba-set, weightbelt and even where to sit. This sounds very dictatorial. However, the shape and size of the RIB makes its trim very important. The cox will understand how weight distribution affects the vessel, and sort things out accordingly.
“When diving from a RIB, you aren’t really a passenger, you’re part of the crew. Keep things tidy, be prepared to assist with kitting others up and helping divers back into the boat.
“Listen to the brief that will be given before the vessel moves off. Make a note of any safety feature that are pointed out, especially the location and use of the boat’s radio, flares and spare kill-switch clip. Just remember, it might be the coxswain who needs help.
“You should arrive at the RIB with your kit ready to go. Scuba-set (bottle, regs and BC put together) ready, dry/wetsuit donned. All the rest of your kit should be kept together in a suitable flexible bag. The goody (string) bag is ideal for this.
“Entry and exit should be explained and preferably practised before the day. Rolling backwards off the RIB while holding your mask and ancillaries is quite easy. Once mastered, passing the weightbelt/ pouches and scuba-set, while maintaining contact with the vessel, is easy too, but requires some thinking about.
“The actual method of getting back onto the RIB is a combination of pulling, finning and assistance. It is great watching a group of divers who know what they’re doing getting everyone back onto the boat.
“A word of warning, however, when you first start helping. It was quite funny watching two of the larger rugby-types getting a bit carried away, pulling my mother out of the water on one side of the RIB and depositing her in the water on the other!
“There very few tablets of stone when it comes to diving. However, please, please, please: if the coxswain refuses to use the kill-cord, refuse to get on the RIB.”
Mark Powell, TDI/SDI’s Business Development Manager: “Diving from a RIB is one of those skills that many divers have never experienced. With more and more divers using hardboats, and the switch from club-based diving to commercial operations, it is becoming less and less common.
“Many technical divers will turn up their noses at RIB diving. This is a shame, because RIB diving has a number of advantages. The ability to get out to and back from a dive-site quickly can be very convenient. It is also much more cost-effective to run dives with smaller numbers of divers.
“When you know the right techniques, it can be relatively easy to dive from a RIB. Even technical diving can be carried out very easily from a RIB if you have the experience, knowledge and support.
“The other aspect of RIB diving is that it forces the diver to learn about tides, currents, navigation, wreck location, boat-handling and many other skills that are usually left to a charter-boat skipper. Far from being an inconvenience, these additional tasks can significantly add to the overall enjoyment of diving and increases a divers’ overall knowledge and experience.
“On diving expeditions, I often find that I enjoy the dive-planning and boat-handling sides of the expedition almost as much as the actual dives. Driving a RIB is a hugely enjoyable activity and is something that is not open to the vast majority of people unless you are a diver.
“A RIB can also be launched and operated in areas that are not served by hard-boats, and so can open up new areas and allow wreck-hunting. Diving an unknown wreck is the goal of many divers, but it is even more satisfying to plan a dive, launch the RIB, navigate out to the target area and then successfully find the wreck, before then diving it for the first time.”
Garry Dallas, Director of Training for RAID UK & Malta: “Access to your favourite wreck or reef in the sea often requires transport with a RIB. They’re fast, agile and furious when cranked up and on plane. However, while enjoying the ride out, take a moment to consider the instability of passengers, their kit and spatial awareness.
“The skipper’s primary responsibility is your safety and his craft. All skippers have their own methods of preparation prior to ‘ropes off’, so listen very carefully to their briefing and requests.
Important Tips to Note
- Absolutely adhere to the skipper’s requests while on board.
- Everything must be tied down securely – if not you'll lose it, damage it, injure someone or damage the vessel.
- Learn your knots, especially the ’bowline’, ‘roundturn and two half-hitches’ and ‘clove hitch’.
- For safety in case of falling overboard, keep drysuits zipped up.
- Keep your equipment in a tidy compact space beside you and seriously avoid having to climb over anyone or anything to retrieve a piece of equipment when you’re kitting-up.
- Take a few moments before stamping your name on your preferred seat to plan how you will enter/exit the water with your kit.
- Find out the entry procedure for the RIB – does it have a lift, ladder or lifeline pulls?
- Avoid sitting near the bow while travelling – it can be… interesting.
- Don’t forget to undo your tank from where it’s attached to the boat before you start kitting-up.
- Keep your knives away from the tubes/collars.
- Carry a save-a-dive spares kit.
- Listen carefully to the dive briefing – it’s for your safety.
- Never enter the water without express permission of the skipper.
- Keep well away from the outboard propeller(s) when returning to the boat.
- Work as a team and look out for each other.
- Always carry a compass and suitable DSMB spool/reel (with more line than the planned dive depth) even if your buddy has one, and master how to deploy it.
- Take a RAID Boat Diving Speciality course prior to the trip. This comprehensive programme teaches you seafarer protocol and terminology. You’ll certainly impress the skipper with your knowledge!
- Finally, always test your equipment prior to a sea dive.
GUE’s John Kendall: “Space on small boats is always tight, so my biggest bits of advice for divers new to RIB diving is to think carefully about what equipment you take with you, and don't take things you don't need.
“Because there is not much space, it’s always a good idea to fully build and test your gear before loading it onto the boat and then, once on the boat, make sure everything is neat, tidy and near to where you’re sitting. A net bag can be invaluable when it comes to keeping your mask, fins, gauges and pocket contents all together.
“Generally you'll want to get into your suit before getting onto the RIB too, so make sure you take plenty of water with you, and avoid overheating before the dive.
“Finally, make sure you know how you'll be getting out of the water before you get into it. Some larger RIBs will have a ladder that you can climb fully kitted, but for many small boats you will need to de-kit in the water and pass your set up to someone on the boat. It's best to practise this procedure somewhere nice and calm prior to trying to do it in large waves.”
Rich Somerset, Instructor Examiner & Territory Director, PADI EMEA: “Getting back into a RIB requires some effort. First remove your weightbelt, then remove your scuba unit, passing each in turn to the skipper.
“Remember to keep your fins on and use them to drive yourself up onto the tubes of the boat. Once up onto the tubes, many divers like to lie on their bellies and raise their legs, so the skipper can remove their fins – this makes it easier to swing around into the RIB, and avoids accidentally kicking your buddy on the way!”
Vikki Batten, Instructor Examiner, Director of Rebreather Technologies & Training Supervisor, PADI EMEA: “RIBs often don’t have much storage space, so keeping your kit together both before and after the dive makes your life easier and helps avoid loss, damage and inconveniencing other divers.”
Emily Petley-Jones, Course Director & Regional Training Consultant, PADI EMEA: “When you and your buddy are ready to enter the water, you should always check that there are no divers or buoys behind you. because it can be tricky to twist round to check this for yourself, ask your buddy or the skipper to give you the all-clear before rolling backwards into the water.
Mickael Christien, Course Director, TecRec IT & Regional Training Consultant, PADI EMEA: “RIBs are not usually covered boats, so don’t forget something to protect yourself from wind/rain/sun.”
Tim Clements, IANTD General Manager: “RIB and inflatable diving is an excellent tool to access some complex or small dive-sites, either deployed as a tender from an expedition vessel, or from a coastal location that does not support larger craft.
“It is also an exhilarating and close-knit enterprise that encapsulates the spirit of small-team diving and exploration. However, small boats and lots of kit require a respect for others in that space, obedience to the craft helm and a maximised ‘s*** together’ co-efficient.
“Having conducted pleasure, training and scientific survey or specimen collection dives from small boats, I would place organisation, personal and team, at the top of my list.
“Ensure that you have everything, but no surplus. It should be stowed in neat, easily stored containers – a twinset or rebreather plus a neat pair of fins is acceptable. A pile of car-boot sale ancillaries is not, these should be in pockets or a mesh bag.
“Remember, this boat will move, divers will move, so protect delicate item such as masks and especially cameras. Boat space should be planned, avoiding blocking emergency gear.
“Kitting-up is a team effort – accept help and be prepared to give it. The rule of one hand for you, one for the boat means working with team-members – this is not a venue for a bunch of solo divers to simultaneously wrestle for the ‘first in’ prize.
“To deploy safely from a small boat with all our normal preparation and pre-dive checks complete takes a high level of familiarity with your gear. If you are proficient in touch ID and operation of gear, life will be much easier. Entry might be backwards – protect your mask and gas source until you have righted and can signal OK. Now you can dive.
“Recovery and return to shore are similar. Work as a team to bring divers aboard, store gear with respect and thought, and ask the coxswain if you are unsure. This will be essential if the next diver is a casualty or someone becomes unwell.
“Finally, don’t let the achievement of the dive make you forget safety. Stay holding on and looking out for others. For me, the most important and rewarding aspect of small-boat diving is teamwork – plan, practise, debrief and enjoy achieving your objectives.
“Small-boat diving is an excellent and much underrated tool.”
Photographs by Mark Evans
Also on Divernet: Communicating Under Water, How To Use A Compass For Navigation, 9 Tips To Prolong Your BC’s Life, Learning From Useful Mistakes
