Moorings: What They Are (and What They Are Not)

A typical mooring system consists of an anchor block on the bottom, a riser or chain up from the block, and a floating buoy or pick-up line at the surface. In some places the riser attaches to the wreck; in others the block is deliberately offset from the structure. Either way, the goal is the same: predictable descent/ascent and no anchors on wrecks.

Moorings are not personal parking spots, experimental rigging projects, or substitute training aids. They are shared infrastructure intended to be used in a simple, repeatable way so that everyone knows what to expect when they arrive.

Local groups and agencies may have additional rules for specific sites or parks. Where there is conflict, follow the local briefing or posted regulations first.

1. Approach, Pick-Up & Departure

Approaching a moored wreck should look calm from the outside. The fewer sudden turns, shouted directions, and mystery loops around the buoy, the safer the operation.

• Approach upwind/up-current where practical so the boat can drift gently onto the buoy.
• Brief the crew before arrival: who hooks the mooring, who is at helm, who is spotting.
• Use a boat hook for pick-up rather than hands from the bow rail.
• Ease into position rather than powering through the line — props and mooring ropes do not mix.
• On departure, ensure everyone is clear of the line before bringing the boat ahead; confirm the mooring is fully free.

2. Tying to the Mooring

A mooring line is there to hold the boat, not to be re-engineered every weekend. Simple, solid connections are best.

• Use your own bow line(s) to tie to the mooring loop/pick-up rather than re-knotting the system.
• Avoid shock loading: leave a little catenary (curve) so the boat rides easily in waves.
• Do not shorten or relocate subsurface connections to “better suit” your boat.
• Do not tie off to the buoy body if there is a designated loop or ring.
• Keep propellers well clear of floating tails or loose lines.

If the set-up looks unusual or damaged, treat it cautiously. Better to use a shotline than force a suspect mooring.

3. Tandem Tie-Ups & Boat Order

On busy days, more than one boat may share a single mooring. Done sensibly, tandem tie-ups keep everyone diving and avoid the “hovering in circles waiting your turn” problem. Done badly, they overload the system, create swing hazards, and make exits awkward.

• Largest vessel first: highest displacement and deepest draft on the mooring itself.
• Smaller boats rafted astern, never between the moored boat and the buoy.
• Keep lines tidy: cleat-to-cleat, not improvised midships knots.
• Leave room to swing: consider wind/current/traffic before adding boats.
• If in doubt, limit to two boats and rotate groups instead of building a floating marina.

4. Diver Lines & In-Water Etiquette

The default practice for Shotline and many local groups is simple: no tying into the wreck. Moorings and shotlines exist so we do not need to run additional ropes through railings, around masts, or through bollards.

• Use the installed mooring or a clean shotline — not new lines tied to structure.
• Don’t lash survey tape, spare guidelines, or training reels to fixtures “just for the weekend.”
• If you deploy a temporary upline, remove it completely when you leave.
• Assume every new contact point will eventually saw, scrape, or pry at the wreck.
• Remember visibility is shared: one silt-out affects every team on the site.

5. Care, Damage & Reporting

Moorings wear out. Chains corrode, shackles back off, risers chafe, buoys vanish. Most of the time the first people to notice are divers and charter skippers using them on a normal weekend.

• Obvious chafe or damaged rope near the waterline or hardware.
• Buoys riding unusually low or submerging (flooding, extra load, or failed rigging).
• Chains/shackles that look wasted, thinned, kinked, or “half-open.”
• Moorings that have clearly dragged off expected position.
• If unsafe, say so clearly so others can avoid it until repaired.

A short factual report beats “someone should do something” every time: site, date/time, conditions, and what you observed.

6. Local Practices & Shared Space

Each region has its own routines for how moorings are installed, funded, and used. Respecting local patterns keeps the system running smoothly — and helps make the case for more protection, not less.

For Divers

Treat the mooring line like a shared vertical highway. Keep your team tidy on ascent and stops, avoid mid-line congestion, and assume your actions affect other groups on the site.

• Keep stops slightly off the main line if multiple teams are ascending.
• Don’t “camp” on the buoy rope for long deco if others need access — run a separate deco line if required.
• Be careful where you park yourself on the wreck (fragile structure, artifacts, glass).
• Control fins, clips, and gauges — “no touch” still applies when it’s crowded.

For Skippers & Boat Crews

Mooring etiquette starts at the surface. Clear communications, simple tie-ins, and predictable movement keep divers safe and keep the system from getting damaged.

• Agree on boat order and dive flow if multiple boats are sharing the mooring.
• Keep lines clean and avoid props at all times.
• Be ready to clear the mooring if a queue forms.
• Don’t linger when finished — share the infrastructure.