Posted by MHK on May 05, 2001 at 12:21:16:
In Reply to: DIVER ALERT!! posted by AADIVER on May 05, 2001 at 09:17:52:
Frank,
The one thing to remember is that the stuff Walker and I are bringing up isn't new nor is it revolutionary..
Scuba diving at a recreational level has really only been around for a relatively short period of time. Bear in mind I'm speaking in relative terms with respect to the notion of underwater exploration.
The commercial and military diver's have been using this stuff, and have kept it confidential for many, many generations.
The military takes the position that it's *national security interest* and the commercial guys view it as competitive advantages against the other oil companies. Moreover, these studies and tests cost hundreds of thousands of dollars so they aren't interested in spending all that money and then handing it over to the enemy of the competition.
Only recently has the recreational diving world been privledged to this information and understanding that manufacturers and dive shops have vested interests in keeping things status quo is the reason you see some of this stuff meeting the staunch resistance that you see.
Let's assume you have invested 100' of thousands in R & D and came up with a computer model. You now market it, you distribute it and then find that the military and commercial guys have a safer and more efficent way.
Do you
A) decide NOT to recoup your investment; or
B) do you cast aspersions upon the data until you recoup and then come out with the *new and improved* computer which provides the very information that you are denouncing today????
Diving technology has undergone quantum leaps, as it relates to the recreational diver, in the last 10 years and the only thing that is truly holding back further advances to the *every day* recreational diver is the *old* mindset..
Many divers, and dive shops, have old gear and/or inventory levels that they have invested a lot of money in so it isn't always in their best interest to so quickly embrace these advances...
Hope this ofers an alternative perspective...
later