Using a Rigid Inflatable Boat for Scuba Diving
Characteristics and Uses of a RIB Style Scuba Dive Boat
Nov 7, 2009
An inflatable boat for scuba diving conjures thoughts of a dinky toy that can’t take the punishment of a rough scuba dive trip. However, inflatable boats make an excellent scuba dive boat.
What is a Rigid Inflatable Boat?
These boats are not a true inflatable boat. Two large buoyancy collars are attached to a rigid aluminium hull. Hence the name: Rigid Inflatable Boat, or RIB.
The buoyancy collars are actually two tubes. The outer casing attaches to the aluminium hull by a track system with the inner tube, like a bicycle tube, fitting inside. The rigid hull forms a normal planing vee and the buoyancy collars attach on the side of this.
The inner tube should last about ten years, though the outer tube has to be replaced every three to five years depending on use.
This double tube arrangement has a few advantages. If a leak in the inner tube occurs it is a simple matter of removing the entire tube to repair it. A hole in the outer casing can be repaired from inside making the repair less noticeable. When the outer tube requires replacing it is almost like a new boat.
With the separate inner tube there is no chance of air escaping by wicking through the fabric.
The air pressure needs adjustment due to the seasonal changes in temperature.
How Good is a Rigid Inflatable Boat on the Water?
A RIB is a surprisingly solid boat. It has a feel that it can take any punishment that scuba divers can throw at it. The buoyancy collars are made of extremely tough vinyl that is forgiving but has the strength needed in such a boat.
Out in the open sea the characteristic of these boats becomes apparent. A RIB is an extremely dry boat. Many owners say their boat is “dry” but experienced divers would have spent long hours in scuba dive boats of similar size and have always copped spray on the trip to the scuba dive site.
But the RIB is different. It is possible to sit on the buoyancy collars and still not get spray in the face, though the safest place when under full power is on the deck.
The buoyancy collars not only give the boat its stability and flotation they also direct the spray away from the boat. This phenomenon is even more noticeable when punching into a messy sea of wind-blown chop on top of large swells. This can be useful if a scuba diver is prone to seasickness.
How Good is a Rigid Inflatable Boat for Scuba Diving?
At the scuba dive site the boat's stability comes to the fore. In swells and slight chop the buoyancy collars do their job again and smooth out the ride, even with divers moving around the boat. This makes gearing up a breeze, though organisation is needed as is usual on any scuba dive boat of this size.
Entering the water is the backward roll over the side: a simple manoeuvre on the buoyancy collars.
Getting back on board is another matter. The best way is to porpoise over the pontoons. It's simply a matter of removing the weightbelt followed by buoyancy compensator and tank, then kicking hard with fins and pulling up on the buoyancy collar’s safety ropes. The wetsuit slips over the wet vinyl of the buoyancy collars allowing the scuba diver to slide into the boat.
Using a Rigid Inflatable Boat for Scuba Diving
The Rigid Inflatable Boat is perfect as a scuba dive boat. It is stable, dry and has heaps of room. With some careful organisation, a 4.8 metre RIB with a 70 horsepower motor could take up to six divers.
This sized RIB would be suited for a quick trip out to the dive site, have the dive then back in. Two dives would be possible but the cramped conditions and wouldn't make for a comfortable time between dives.
A Rigid Inflatable Boat would have many uses in the dive industry. For research divers, dive club boats, dive trip operators who want a boat to take four to six divers out for a quick one tank dive. In fact they are suitable for any dive operation where a robust, stable dive platform is required.
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