Cleaning boat hulls in harbors in Hawaii. Dangerous?

[SeaJayInSC]

How much is that Manta-ray repellent? I have been having issues with those lately.

Me too.

The stuff is made from Manta Ray saliva, so making a bottle of it takes a really long time, and a lot of effort. Imagine having to swim down with a Q-tip time and time again, in hopes of seeing a Manta Ray. Once you do, it's pretty tough to swab and get out of there before being sucked into it's belly.

Then you've got to swim back to the surface, catch the flying BAT LADDER, and climb all the way back up there... Then figure out how to wring a Q-tip into the bottle.

After many years of doing this, you MIGHT have enough to ward away those pesky Manta Rays. Use sparingly - it's standard to expect the person who used it to refill it.

Watching this little episode of Batman gave me a whole new perspective on Mayor Adam West in Family Guy.

 

[fishez4alivin]

It's the Yacht owners who I would worry most about, running engines while you are in the water, not paying attention to Diver down markers etc...

 

[SeaJayInSC]

Nah - you just stay under the boat that you're working on. Nothing to worry about (you're using it as a big shield) unless the owner of the boat that you're working on fires up an engine.

...In which case, you'll know it - for sure!

I never, ever fly a dive flag - especially in a marina. How can you expect for every boat owner in the marina to stay 50 feet from you? What are they going to do... Move their boat while you clean their next door neighbor's boat?

 

[nanoedge]

Iv done cleaning boat hulls for a season and on two occassions I had owners wifes come on board and start up the engines "to help out there husbands" pretty scary to be honest especially when one was a wakeboard boat with the prop actually under the boat.After the second time this happened I got 2 laminated signs one for the wheel and one at the entrance. WARNING CLEANING IN PROGRESS do not start engines as it may result in serious damage to engines or worse DIVER. I found this worked great and saved my skin. Speaking of skin try and have a fresh water wash down after each cleaning shower every morning and night and use sunscreen waterproof if you can. Oh and enjoy its one of the best jobs I ever had I got to take some serious boats out and speak to some really nice owners of boats.Only problem I ever had was fish nipping at my dive belt........ Are you aloud run a dive flag in a marina? and should you run one for the purpose of insurance to save your *** if you are cleaning a boat hull?

 

[herostar]

I did a research paper for my oceanography class last fall...

Only four people died from shark attacks in 2008, which is considerably less than the national weather service's count of 27 deaths by lightning strikes(in the US only).

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), there were 118 shark-human interactions in 2008, with half reported as human provoked.


I would be more afraid of lightning.

 

[redrain]

Aloha, I have lived on Oahu for 25 years and cleaned boat bottoms for 10 years, and its not dangerous. I know some guys that have been doing it for a lot longer than me, with not much more than ear trouble now and then. Just be smart and you will be ok, or come dive with me. If you need some tips feel free to contact me. Lowe Marine Services.

 

[redrain]

smart. I will make a sign too, good for add. been cleaning boat bottoms for 10 years with not much problems. Lowe Marine Services. Mahalo!

 

[redrain]

Aloha, all good points. However, I was the 3ed person to get in the Alawai marina after the death of a guy from flesh eating bacteria in four days. you can check the levels with the state dept. but sun kills it and we got lot of that. You should be fine. check your temp for 4 hours afteer if it goes up high after a dive then go emey.

 

[EasyEd77]

If you are worried about sharks there is a product out there called a Shark Shield. It is a long cord that sends an electric pulse into the water and it messes with sharks sensory organs. It's not cheap but will give you some peace of mind. My brother surfs all the time in Northern California and he does not hit the waves without it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_8dLnN8aE

 

[legoullon]

looking for a sale boat bottom cleaner person in Hawaii Oahu Norman 225-5545

 

[starwind]

Im a certified scuba since 1970
I saw lots more sharks when I was stationed on Midway island then anywhere else. I now live on the Big Island. The sharks here usually only eat Tourists LOL

They wouldnt be interested in Eatin a diver cleanin boats in Pearl. I did a tour cleaning boat bottoms in Marina del Ray Calif ,The Girls we payed to watch our hoses would turn off the air to get our attentions LOL

I saw about 250 sharks in 15 months on Midway and have seen about 80-100 sharks in 22 years on the big island
Aloha

 

[chucklez]

You pay relocation expenses legoullon?