Posted by Wayne on August 08, 2000 at 19:53:29:
In Reply to: I think you're right on point.... posted by msblucow on August 08, 2000 at 15:53:10:
While I agree with a bunch of what has been said, I also disagree with a bunch.
The laws are written by elected non-divers who are looking at the sport from the outside. I think they will generally mess up when they try to regulate us. Therefore I am against most legal restrictions of how we participate in the sport. I think the best legal restrictions are those restricting locations, times and the like. Like forbidding diving in Redondo's King Harbor, for example. It keeps divers from being sucked into the power plant's intakes.
Legal restrictions on types of diving such as wreck dives are too complicated to define and enforce. The safety issues depend on depth, temp, vis, currents, access, etc. To make laws comprehensive enough would make them unwieldy and therefore eliminate the benefit that we are seeking.
I think that all this will sort itself out in due time. The dive boats doing the Yukon will make their own policies based on their experience, the type of diver that want to serve, and how they want to do business. Some will set restrictions for certain trips that are different than others. It is too far for me to swim from shore, so I will be diving on a commercial boat when I do the Yukon. I will ask the boats about the possibility of solo diving, nitrox fills versus bringing multiple tanks, escorted tours (since my map is now wrong) where an EXPERIENCED LOCAL DM will take care of the safety equipment and navagation dutues, etc. I will find ones that suit my fancy and I will pay my money and take my dives. If they seem too restrictive, I will use a different boat that caters more to my desires.
Also we can expect charters of the SD boats that will be specialized in their planned activities and goals. No matter what, these issues will resolve themselves. They will not prevent all accidents, but they will assist the diving community by setting up standards that are workable and flexible enough that we will all be able to find our match.
I do a lot of diving on Anacapa on the Liberty. The trips usually have a bunch of OW students. The places they go and the procedures are geared for that group of divers. If we are going to the outer islands, the procedures are different. If I do not like the way the boat is operated, I can take my business elsewhere. No laws are required, no industry mandates are needed. Each dive boat creates its own niche.
No matter what we do, there will still be accidents. We can assume the responsibility by telling our families that we do not wish them to sue if we are injured by our own negligence. Diving injuries are rare, and we need to keep it that way. How this happens on commercial boats is simple and straight forward. The boat has its policies and we choose which boat has policies that match our skills and desires.
Wayne