Posted by Tribes on June 03, 2002 at 17:06:16:
Ok Mike, Lets face it, diving without a BC is a macho cult thing (just like some of the DIR…. BS). There is simply not a reason to dive this way, other then a wanting to be part of the cult.
You say the diving this way "works great under a lot of circumstances". And that this is a "demonstrated fact". But just because they have been getting away with it, doesn’t mean that it is a smart or safe way to dive. It’s not a big deal to hide a wing up inside a backpack. If something happens, and thing do happen in the hazardous environment that we play in, the BC may save your cookies.
As far as the bad old days go, most of the divers I knew in the late 60’s and early 70’s bought BC’s. Yes, I saw some who resisted. There were many that resisted the SPG and the Octo. But like most things that make life better and safer, common sense won out.
I have no ideology hang ups, only common sense hang ups and diving without a BC in the year 2002, makes no sense, common or other wise.
Tribes