Posted by FARMHAND on June 11, 2005 at 22:21:49:
In 1964 I was on a tour of a play (Never Too Late) in Melbourne, Australia. Around the corner from the Comedy Theatre was a dive shop simply called SCUBA. I signed up for dive training, just basic, no advanced then or even certification. Some basic book work, pool work, then my first open water dive off the Rye pier in Port Phillip Bay. It was in less than 20 fsw with a single 60 cuft tank. I remember a squid "attacking" one of my fins. I drained that tank dry in a very few minutes. Voila!, I was a diver, simple as that. Despite no C card, diving in Oz was very regulated, as it is now; not only a mandatory buddy, but you had to dive each holding a six foot buddy line! I remember being told that nobody can teach experience, good judgement, or common sense. Those were, indeed, the dinosaur days of diving. Are divers safer now than then? Haven't a clue. Do any of you? Chime on in.