Posted by Ken Kurtis on February 02, 2005 at 10:47:26:
In Reply to: bracelets are fool proof posted by northcoast diver on January 31, 2005 at 23:09:25:
Even the USCG doesn't think this is fool-proof. (Ironically, I had a discussion with them about this very thing this morning.) They feel that it's simply one other method of accounting that should be considered.
This "fool-proof" bracelet system doesn't account for:
1. Diver forgets to take bracelet.
2. Diver forgets to put it back.
3. Diver loses bracelet.
4. Diver's buddy takes bracelet as joke.
Anything short of seeing your actual face and matching it with your actual name has a margin or error and even that's not fool-proof because you also have to insure that no one jumps off the boat after you've seen them while you're doing the rest of the visual verificiation.
(As someone said last year, the only truly fool-proof method is simply never allowing anyone to leave the boat.)
Thinking something is fool-proof encourages complacency because of an over-riding belief in the system and complacency invites problems. Having doubt in the infallibility of the methodology will encourage diligence which should increase accuracy (IMHO).
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA