Nautical Terminology | Above Deck | On the topside of the boat/deck. | | Aground | The ship is touching or fast to the bottom. | | Anchor | Any heavy object used to secure the boat in one place. | | Anchorage | A place suitable for anchoring in relation to the wind, seas and bottom conditions. | | Below | Beneath the deck. | | Buoy | An anchored float used for making a position of the water of a hazard/shoal or reef and for mooring. | | ETA | Estimated time of arrival. | | ETD | Estimated time of departure. | | Fathom | 1.8 meters or 6 ft, used to measure depth below the surface to an object. | | Itinerary | The route schedule. | | Log | A record of courses or operation. Also, a device to measure speed. | | Manifest | Inventory of cargo/passengers on board. | | Moor | To attach ropes to a dock for stabilization of the boat and maintain distance between the boat and the pier. | | Nautical Mile | The distance a boat travels calculated by speed x time x distance (6,076.115ft = distance). | | Navigation | The art and science of conducting a boat from one designation to another. | | Overboard | Over the side or out of the boat. | | Scope | The distance from the anchor or mooring buoy to the boat. |
Directional Definitions | Aids to Navigation | Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks indicating safe or unsafe waters. | | EBB | A receding current. | | Knot | A measurement of speed equal to one nautical mile (6,076 feet) per hour. | | Latitude | The distance north or south of the equator measured and expressed in degrees. | | Leeward | The direction of the boat away from the wind. | | Leeway | The sideways movement of the boat caused by either wind or current. | | Longitude | The distance in degrees east or west of the meridian at Greenwich, England. | | ROB | Remaining on board the boat. | | Seaworthiness | Statement of condition of the boat (certificates, fully equipped and manned, etc.) | | Satellite Navigation | A form of position finding using radio transmission from satellites with onboard equipment. | | Tide | The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans. | | Windward | Toward the direction, with the boat, from which the wind is coming. | | YAW | To swing or steer off course, as when running with a quartering sea. |
The Crew
| Activity Director | The person in charge of the social activities during the journey. Give itinerary notices, gives lectures on marine life and preservation, acts as a guide for divers in the water, and conducts the entertainment schedule during the tour. | | Captain | The person who operates the boat and is responsible for the safety of the guests, crew, and the boat. | | Chef | The person who prepares the meals and snacks for the guests. | | Dive Master | Presents dive site report to guests. Supervises the dive deck with other Dive Masters to help divers in and out of the water. Gives underwater tours. | | Engineer | Responsible for maintenance of the boat's mechanical, motors, water system, compressors, & monitoring systems. | | First Mate | The second person in charge in the captain's absence or navigation if the captain is not steering the boat. | | Galley Assistant | Helps the chef by cleaning dishes, setting tables, and helping when needed. | | Instructor | The instructor(s) on board teaching scuba diving, photography, or Videography classes. | | Purser | Person responsible for collection of monies for purchase of souvenirs, videos, pictures, etc. | | Photographer | Takes topside and underwater pictures, develops guest's pictures, and conducts a photo contest of the guest's photos. | | Steward | A person who does general cleaning of the boat, laundry, cleans rooms, and helps serve meals. | | Videographer | A person who films the guests topside and underwater at the dive sites, compiles a video to show/sell at the end of the trip. |
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