Posted by seahunt on August 30, 2000 at 12:32:55:
In Reply to: Re: Buddy diving did not save this guy at Lake Tahoe! posted by Ken Kurtis on August 28, 2000 at 13:10:26:
Fascinating.
Actually, I didn't stay out of this discussion just to prove
my aloofness to such crass ramblings, really I was just too
busy to take notice... but I'll now demonstrate my superior
moral positioning by offering a penetrating examination of this
previous discussion.... ... No, I don't know what that means,
but it sounded really weird, so I put it in the post.
Actually, it is interesting to look at it from the end of the
discussion.
Some people got passionate, but all seemed civil enough...
The English was probably as good as might be expected from
King Henry...points that must be noted because of the history
of this topic.
To make it short, I, like SLANG, still am not perfectly clear on
the real issues that are being discussed.
In previous related posts, there has been a lot of discussion
about personalities, DIR, OE, buddys and fatalities. I still
keep trying to clearly understand the issues that are being
so vehemently fought over.
Is it DIR gear configurations? I really don't think so.
It is personalities, but there are also real issues.
Is it OE training? Maybe, but really I think that is an effect
of the issue, not the source.
I could be wrong, but I think that more than anything else,
the essence of the disagreements of these posts are really
about buddy diving and also redundant equipment. To a lesser
extent, its about newer dive techniques like EAN and OE.
I really get the feeling that, call them activists or call
them fanatics, they do not see common diving practices as
adaquately safe. Now it seems like they are pushing DIR
techniques, expensive specialized gear, OE training for
looking in cracks, EAN for 40 foot dives and some other
things that seem a bit extreme and perhaps even just ego
based, but more than anything else I really see a core
of pushing a philosophy of training based on buddy
diving and poney bottles.
Only tleemay then mentioned the non-tech (maybe
anti-tech) diver issues of hunting and photography,
which have a lot of solo diving. The issue he
mentioned was the rescue or recovery.
I think that more than anything else beyond
personalities, the real issue here is solo diving. Note
that in that Tech ??? Manifesto that was recently posted
on DL and RSD, it was basically a call for good gear,
courtesy and a buddy.
Enough of this objective crap.
I dive just fine the way I am. I read a great deal about
diving and diving systems as well as listen to other divers
opinions. I am a long time hunter, photographer and explorer
of the California reefs and kelp forests. Much of the diving
is quite challenging, so I have tried many of these ideas
and suggestions and even perhaps retained a few that I
thought were good, but my greatest enjoyment is still
hunting and exploring. My equipment is dictated by the
needs of the diving I do, not by theory. I usually solo
dive for three reasons. The first is that few divers have
the experience to safely dive where I like to or the time
when I want to go. Second is that it is impossible to
effectively hunt or photog with a buddy. Most importantly
though is that I enjoy the solo experience more. I can
focus on my dive and not have to divert my attention
constantly.
So, unless I misunderstand the main issue here, I say to
all those that want to tell me how to dive, I'm not real
interested in hearing you if your main message is that you
want me to buddy dive or carry extra gear.
Anyway, even beyond tht, I still think the techies are pushing
a 'one size fits all' answer and that just never works. It just
doesn't tend to be good for hunters or photogs, but I get the
feeling that the diving doesn't often matter to them. Just how
you dive.
In responce to tleemay, I apologise in advance to anyone that
may have to 'recover' me, but that could just as well happen
on my job or driving to work, but will probably happen to me
in bed. Aside to ones family, what's the big difference?
Truth is, what is more tragic? To die in a diving accident,
to die of cancer or die in an auto accident. If you have the
wisdom to give a real answer to that, I may be more inclined
to listen to you. Until that, I'll do what I enjoy, follow
my discretion and resist anyone who wants to tell me how
it's gotta be done.
Life is a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller might
have been blind, but she could see that quite
clearly.
Enjoy the diving, seahunt
PS. Look for the DJF diver. Coming to a board near you soon.