This may not belong in this particular forum, but it was the best fit I could find. If there is a better forum for such a discussion, feel free to move this thread, IF anyone is even interested in pursuing this discussion.
My post is the result of reading an ongoing debate between members in another SB forum this week, where there was some disagreement about the importance of any particular gear choice, vs the idea that a well trained diver could safely dive almost any reliable, safe choice of dive gear.
My observation is that, barring a vital gear set up specificly needed to do a specialty tech dive, a skilled diver could pretty much dive safely on anything from the old J valve 72 without buoyancy, to the more tech oriented BP/W, and anything in between, with a minor bit of training and skill adjustment.
In other words I feel it is the skills that make the diver, and not the gear that he or she chooses. Gear choice to me follows skill development, and while they are both important, brand new, top of the line gear with all the bells and whistles will never turn a poor diver into even a decent diver, by itself.
I am not trying to start a fight. No one's answer is the wrong answer. It is all opinion, based on each person's experience and knowledge.
My post is the result of reading an ongoing debate between members in another SB forum this week, where there was some disagreement about the importance of any particular gear choice, vs the idea that a well trained diver could safely dive almost any reliable, safe choice of dive gear.
My observation is that, barring a vital gear set up specificly needed to do a specialty tech dive, a skilled diver could pretty much dive safely on anything from the old J valve 72 without buoyancy, to the more tech oriented BP/W, and anything in between, with a minor bit of training and skill adjustment.
In other words I feel it is the skills that make the diver, and not the gear that he or she chooses. Gear choice to me follows skill development, and while they are both important, brand new, top of the line gear with all the bells and whistles will never turn a poor diver into even a decent diver, by itself.
I am not trying to start a fight. No one's answer is the wrong answer. It is all opinion, based on each person's experience and knowledge.