Posted by Ken Kurtis on November 07, 2001 at 09:16:20:
It's actually the punchline to an old diving joke . . .
HOW NOT TO GET BENT
1. Don't dive.
2. If you do dive, don't come up.
But it also underscores a point that I think may be getting lost in all the discussion that's been going on.
ALL diving has risk. It doesn't matter whether you dive air or nitrox, shallow or deep, deco or no-deco. What matters is that you understand the risks associated with the type of diving YOU choose to do and manage those risks as best you can. What's "right" for one person is not necessarily "right" for another.
In my 20 years of being an instructor, I've always believed it's important for divers to educate themselves to all aspects of a diving issue and truly understand the varying viewpoints so they can best make an informed decision that suits their needs. The best question you can ask is . . . "Why?" (The ultimate test, an old debating skill, is whether you can argue BOTH sides of an issue with equal fervor.)
A well-informed and knowledgeable diver is, IMHO, always going to be a safer one.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverely Hills, Ca.