Posted by seahunt on August 31, 2000 at 12:33:25:
D.J.F. - Doing Just Fine
DJF is a philosophy of diving. Its primary tenant is
that diving should be for the fun of it.
DJF is pronounced "jif". The 'd' is silent.
Part of the reason DJF was created is found in the roots
of the sport of scuba diving. It has been well known since just
after the dawn of the sport that some scuba divers and especially
some instructors seem to get a testosterone rush just from the
thought of diving. It may be just a response to perceived danger
or like some compulsive disorders, the disorder existed before an
outlet was found. In any case, they get a perception that they
need to control the dive practices of those around them. Sometimes
this occurs because they have developed a good system and have
come to think that it is the best or only appropriate system.
Sometimes it is because they feel that other divers skills are so
inferior to their own that the diver should not be allowed in the
water for their own safety. While sometimes this has had some
positive results and certainly some divers could use some advice,
almost always, they are perceived as pushy, bossy and annoying
control freaks (or maybe frustrated fascists). Really, this is
usually just a display of lack of knowledge and conflicts
with the philosophy of DJF in that it removes the fun from
diving.
DJF, like most good philosophies, is inclusive, not exclusive.
The main way to be excluded is to exclude yourself. The other way
is to make a habit of telling other divers that they are not
doing things right. Especially divers with extensive experience.
If you ruin others peoples fun or like to tell them that they are
not doing it just fine, please do not call yourself a DJF diver.
A DJF diver should always try to assist when requested though.
DJF divers are expected to extend courtesy to other divers.
A DJF diver recognizes that divers go into the water for all
different kinds of reasons and under all kinds of different
conditions. This defines that there is a fantastic diversity of
gear setups and diving methodologies. This is good, because no
one method of diving is best for all types of diving. A local
diving community can have a highly developed methodology
specialized and highly adapted for local conditions. Also
innovations in one type of diving may well be adapted and adopted
for another type of diving.
A DJF diver recognizes that diving is a sport with inherent
dangers, but they do not obsess on that fact. It detracts from
the fun of the sport. Most sports have their dangers. Sometimes
that is the attraction of the sport and that is occasionally true
of certain types of diving. Still, every DJF diver must aware of
the hazards of diving and address them such as to insure that
their training, gear, health and knowledge of dive spot is not
neglected. A DJF diver should avoid obvious dangers, but that
is not a requirement. There are places that are fun to dive that
are just fairly dangerous.
A DJF diver should never, under any circumstances, endanger
another diver. Well, maybe if they are a good friend and you would
do it on dry land anyway. If you choose to endanger yourself, do
so with discretion and fore thought, not with ignorance.
The equipment appropriate for a DJF diver is very diverse.
It encompasses pretty much everything from a mask and fins combo
of some little kid at the beach (they really have fun) to a diver
with rebreather, drysuit, computers and scooter. Remember, many
divers enjoy playing with toys and so try out every new gadget
that comes alone. That's a good thing, because then the rest of
us can get a report from them about whether something is even
worth trying out
It is recognized that some DJF divers, especially engineer
types, will like to make and innovate their own equipment. This
has been an honorable practice since the dawn of our sport when
all dive gear was pretty much custom made.
A DJF diver should always be humble in their own mind, no
matter what fish stories they are spinning out loud. This is
because they are really no more than a mote in the great waters
of the world. They must never forget that diving is about
themselves and the water. If they do forget, the water may well
swallow them. If they remember, the water can provide them with
many things that they desire.
The most important thing for a DJF diver to remember is that
they are there to have fun.
Enjoy the diving, seahunt