Very strange thread -- would you dive with me?

[local76sparky]

based on the high praise i see that you have received and that you are close to my local diving hole i really hope a newbie like me gets the chance to dive with you!! sounds like i could learn alot from you.

 

[ScubaSteve2000]

I would dive with you in a heartbeat. The advice you've given in posts here, your blog and PMs is absolutely awsome. Leave your avatar and username as they are. You can't please everyone and there's no accounting for what goes on between some folk's ears. If they fear excellance well that's alright too.

Steve.

 

[NETim]

Thank you all . . . despite the fuss, I have actually gotten some good ideas from this thread.

Why do I want to dive with new divers? Because I remember what it was like, to be new and not very confident, in a place where diving is challenging. I remember how hard it was to get on e-groups and BBs and ask for dive buddies -- not only was I worried that someone would "sacrifice" a dive to buddy with me, but I also worried that I would end up diving with someone who would take off and leave me alone in the water, or refuse to respect the limits set in the dive plan. I really ENJOY escorting new divers into some of our good, beginner sites, and helping them have a solid, uneventful and enjoyable dive. I hope that having a steady buddy and having a good critter-spotting eye in the water with them helps to create someone who will continue in the sport.

I've been sad that none of the new divers I've reached out to in the last year has taken me up on my offer, but it never occurred to me why it was happening.

The good news? I'm going diving with a new diver tomorrow. I'll get to enjoy their excitement when we find a half dozen different species of sea star. I'm psyched.

And I'm mulling over a new avatar . . . although I'll sniff goodbye to the Borg Queen. Even my scooter is named after her!

The place wouldn't be the same!!

 

[diverrex]

I'd like to dive with you, I tend to respect your combination of scuba knowledge combined with a very level headed approach to issues more than about anyone else on the board (maybe your mentor also, and even your husband - what is it about that group of you that is so reasoned?)

But I could understand newbies being intimated since you have demostrated such a high level of expertise and demanding attitude. I also think there could be another issue, one that I think underlies a number of disagreements on the board. Some people, you I assume, very much look at diving as sport. Others, myself for instance, look at diving as purely recreational. Now that distinction is not black and white, there are all kinds of shades between and even overlapping issues. I assume even if you look at diving as a sport you very much enjoy it. And even though I look at diving as purely recreational I continue to seek out training and want to be a very proficient diver. But in general I just want to dive to have fun. I want enough rules to be safe, but not so many that the dive is rigid. I am sure I don't (nor my buddies) plan out our dives to the degree you do, but we also know we are staying within safe profiles. And if on occassion I dived with someone who wanted to do drills, I'd look at that as a worthwhile training exercise. But I don't want to be doing drills on every dive. I can understand why some do, and why some really enjoy it, it's just not what I want to do.

Now knowing my position would you still dive with me?

 

[StevenN]

More bunnies.....

That's some nasty looking skank you posted, please save us from that in the future.

 

[TSandM]

But I don't want to be doing drills on every dive. I can undeerstand why some do, and why some really enjoy it, it's just not what I want to do.

Now knowing my position would you still dive with me?

Oh, dear -- do you think I do drills on every dive? Far from it! In fact, at the moment, I can't remember the last OW dive I did where we did any drills, and I probably ought to set aside a little time to do some on one of my next dives.

I dive -- as all the non-instructor DIR divers I know do -- for fun. I'm a critter watcher; I love the cryptic, camouflaged and amazingly adapted life of the waters of the Pacific Northwest. The training and practice I've done just gave me the skills to have MORE fun, with less stress. They also prepared me to dive in environments that are pretty unforgiving, but I do THOSE dives for fun, too!

Sometimes I think everybody has an image of DIR/tech/cave divers as humorless, intense people with a military approach to diving. No fun allowed! Nothing could be further from the truth

 

[SelkieDVM]

Well, I HAVE been known to catalyze people's assimilation . . .

Your "electronic influence" has played no small role in my decision to take Fundies this spring.

Lynne, that makes two invites to NC you now have, come on over. I think Big John dives primarily out of Morehead as do I.

My bad, that would be three, I just read Marci's post.

Make that four. Hey, sounds like we've got the makings of a charter!

 

[Jax]

I would dive with you in a heartbeat. The advice you've given in posts here, your blog and PMs is absolutely awsome. Leave your avatar and username as they are. You can't please everyone and there's no accounting for what goes on between some folk's ears. If they fear excellance well that's alright too.

Steve.

What Steve said.

I'm sad to see you might change to accommodate the insecurities of others. However, I also understand your love of mentoring.

The only reason this vacation diver would not dive with you is that freaking' Artic slush you dive in!

Should you wish to dive the Sea of Cortez, let me know . . .

Sent via Mobile.

 

[wardric]

Should you wish to dive the Sea of Cortex, let me know . . .

That would be a cerebral dive

 

[wardric]

I would dive with anyone.