Scooter vs. Swimming diver

[RN]

Is there a rule of the road for a diver scootering when passing a diver swimming?
I was swimming and moved to the other side of the gold line to let them pass. Myself and the team scootering were both headed into the cave.

On the penetration side, the divers in front have the right of way (this is often the swimming divers). Common courtesy dictates doing what you did and letting the scootering divers pass. Unfortunately, there are some divers out there who think just because they are on scooters they have the right to plow past anyone slower than them.

On the exiting side, the more efficiently exiting team has the right of way, as long as there are no issues with any of the exiting teams (in that case the injured team has the right of way, but hopefully any other teams in the vicinity would stick around to assist). So even if it's 2 swimming teams, the slower team should let the faster team pass if the passage allows it.

[mccoy]

I just wanted to make sure I handled that situation correctly.

[DA Aquamaster]

I think common sense comes into play as well.

For example, we were exiting in a team of three but were spread out over about 50' and in a wide/large section of cave approaching a narrow section with the lights of an entering team coming through it visible perhpas 30 ft in. It just made more sense for me to hold up and let them pass in the larger section of cave while the rest of our team got there rather than to assert my God given right-of-way and create a mess in the narrow tunnel as our team got there and individually squeezed past them.

Now, had the other team followed the rules to the letter and held where they were until we passed, then obviously I would have needed to proceed to prevent holding everyone up. But the lead on that team either was oblivious we were coming (unlikely) or understood the cave and understood what we were doing to facilitate an efficient passage through the skinny section of cave.

[mag3]

I think common sense comes into play as well.

For example, we were exiting in a team of three but were spread out over about 50' and in a wide/large section of cave approaching a narrow section with the lights of an entering team coming through it visible perhpas 30 ft in. It just made more sense for me to hold up and let them pass in the larger section of cave while the rest of our team got there rather than to assert my God given right-of-way and create a mess in the narrow tunnel as our team got there and individually squeezed past them.

Now, had the other team followed the rules to the letter and held where they were until we passed, then obviously I would have needed to proceed to prevent holding everyone up. But the lead on that team either was oblivious we were coming (unlikely) or understood the cave and understood what we were doing to facilitate an efficient passage through the skinny section of cave.

Which raises a legit question for me... What role does "flow" have to play in the "rules of the road?" In no/low flow situations, it's probably a wash either way. But in high flow caves, are there any alterations in the right-of-way for swimmers vs. scooterers, given the need for both to negotiate the high flow (and thus, maintain control) in either direction?

[BillBowden]

A little common courtesy can go a long way. Slow divers should get out of the way for fast divers - swimming or scootering- when possible and safe.

[jj1987]

Which raises a legit question for me... What role does "flow" have to play in the "rules of the road?" In no/low flow situations, it's probably a wash either way. But in high flow caves, are there any alterations in the right-of-way for swimmers vs. scooterers, given the need for both to negotiate the high flow (and thus, maintain control) in either direction?

When I'm swimming in high flow, I always take the low flow side and let the scooters pass on the high flow side. When scootering, typically swimming divers are already in the low flow areas and I can just zip around them.

Really it comes down to this. Don't spread across the cave when other teams need by, entry or exit. In most tourist caves there will be plenty of room for 2 teams to safely and easily pass side by side.