Posted by SeaSerpent on December 03, 2001 at 14:32:13:
One of the funny things about reading this BBS is the irresponsible ways of diving it seems to support.
Even some of the Instructor’s that post and some of the so-called Divemasters, support some of this stupidity.
For over two months now, we saw the Gallery of California Backpack Diver. This rogues gallery supports a way of diving which was out dated 30 years ago. By diving with the backpack only, you take away one of the best safely devices that the dive industry as come up with… a BC. A backpack diver will tell you that they dive this way to be unencumbered by the BC, they are more streamline in the water. This is just plain old BS, it would be easily to add a small wing and still be streamline (and have the added safety of a BC). The main reason they dive this way is because they think it is MACHO, they think that they are stronger divers then everyone else, so they can get away with it. This is an irresponsible way of diving, I know of at lest one diver who die, because he was diving this way.
Another form of irresponsible diving that this bbs seems to support is solo diving. The excuses for diving this way are many and varied. But what it comes down to, is when you dive solo you loose that extra set of fins (to pull you back to the boat), that extra gas supply (when you run out), that extra brain. Diving solo is one of the most irresponsible ways of diving (and this board seems to support it).
The ocean is much bigger and stronger then any of us (even the most MACHO). We need every edge we can get to survive. There is always going to be risk in diving and not taking advantage of today’s equipment and training is just plain stupid.
Some divers will say that they choose to dive this way and are willing to assume the extra risk.
But this is a cop-out, because everything we do has consequences. Having a dive accident effects your love ones and family, it effects the divers who have to make the rescues, it effects the EMS worker, the fireman, the policeman, and the diving community as a whole.
Many new divers read this board and are influenced by what is written supporting backpack diving and solo diving is IRRESPONSIBLE.
SeaSerpent