Um... Is That A Technology Solution To A Skills Based Problem I See?

[eelnoraa]

I could fix that problem right quick and easy.....

Well, you can't stop stupidity. They will always find a way.

OK. This is about where I do most of my solo shore diving though to maybe 30'+. Don't want to hear of people dying in 20' of water. It's probably more of a rarity that shark attacks (the usual statistics).

Colliam7 makes very good points.
I wouldn't do any of this stuff before or shortly after OW certified. But hey, my wife said "no way"--Klaustraphobia as stated.

I agree with you on Colliam7's post. It is not intended for divers. After all, why a diver would like to do this. I have seen it close up and personal, it is not as free as it seems in picture. That "scooter" moves very slow. I would say slower than I can with frog kick, because I could easily catch up to the drivers and join them for a picture. The actual run time is short too, about 20 minutes per session. It is for someone who has not trained for diving, someone who never think of doing it, but want an underwater experience.

Observing the whole operation, in Hawaii in this case, I would say it is far safer than DSD in open water. The drivers are brief topside, the "don't hold breath, just breath" did get mentioned. You aren't entirely free to room around, no chance of running out of air, the ascent and descent control is a button on the handle. There are also staff divers to attend to the drivers. And no, you are NOT locked inside the helmet. Think of it as duck dive but on a tethered "scooter". There is voice communication device inside the helmet, so the driver can talk to each other ... I can see the fun of this for someone who has never been under water.

 

[Rich Keller]

What is this machine? It looks like a death sentence. I think I'll stick to the caves - much safer. I can only imagine what it's like to have an engine malfunction and sink into the abyss riding one of these...

I can't believe to prototype for the new SEAL delivery vehicle is already on line! Wait, no, my mistake. That is a whale delivery vehicle. Never mind.

 

[Littlerayray]

I could fix that problem right quick and easy.....

That's why you would carry a big F'ING knife

 

[scagrotto]

And if you can slip out....going to the surface holding your breath = AGE.

Go back and pay attention to the full length video at 3:00 to see somebody bolt for the surface (in the right background).

 

[glassbottom]

Jet skiis are enough of a pain on the suface. Hate to think we will have to start looking out for these while under water.

Well they can be dangerous too in the hands of special people. Even on land.

And given the blue shirt, im pretty sure the driver was an employee, not just your regular, run of the mill, special person.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Wow! 12K each, I wonder how long it takes to get any ROI on those units?
Especially if they get trashed before they get payed off. But I think they are more positive than negative. At least they get people underwater to see the sights and from there a few may even continue to certifications. It probably helps to have actual scuba divers in the water with them so the scooter riders can get envious.

I think jet skis should be outlawed in many locations, I've seen them bring out the worst in people. I don't know why people turn into such idiots on them? I don't get to the tropics ever in heavy tourist areas, but I have been up to Lake Tahoe in King's Beach and they rent jet skis from a kiosk. There are many other people trying to enjoy water sports on the same beach either swimming, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, etc. and these jet ski idiots seem to loose all sense of safety or respect. I've witnessed them spray strangers out on the lake by charging them straight on then whipping around at the last second spraying them with the rooster tail, cutting off boats, zipping by dangerously close to people using rented pedal boats, coming within a few feet of swimmers while going 30 mph plus!
I'd hate to see what would happen if one of those U/W scooter unit pods was invaded by crazy jet skiers terrorizing their floats, it would be absolute chaos!
I've had my float/flag used as a cornering flag by jet skiers when diving in Tahoe. I've seriously thought of packing a spear gun for protection.

As far as that joke, I heard it a different way,
What's the difference between a Hoover vacuum and a Harley Davidson?
The position of the dirt bag.

But Net Docs adaptation is better.

 

[Reku]

Well they can be dangerous too in the hands of special people. Even on land.

And given the blue shirt, im pretty sure the driver was an employee, not just your regular, run of the mill, special person.

I literally just don't understand how he crashed that...I mean dude - you see the other jetski and you drive right into it. WHY!?!?!??!!?!!! - I vote for a jetski license, kind of like OW for renting and filling tanks.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I literally just don't understand how he crashed that...I mean dude - you see the other jetski and you drive right into it. WHY!?!?!??!!?!!! - I vote for a jetski license, kind of like OW for renting and filling tanks.

UIJS
Under the influence of jet ski.
They turn ordinarily good folks into idiots. Way too much power for the average untrained boat operator.
They become hypnotic and once a novice gets intoxicated by the thrill they do stupid stuff. Add alcohol and it's a recipe for disaster.
I watched a kid get ticket for haulin it in a no wake zone here at one of our local lakes by the county sheriff lake patrol. As soon as the sheriff let him go he sped off full blast still in the 5 mph zone, so the sheriff chased him down again. They did a field sobriety test this time and found the kid to be DUI, and under age. Arrested him and took him aboard the sheriff boat and towed the ski behind. Kid went to jail and ski got impounded just like a car.

 

[Reku]

UIJS
Under the influence of jet ski.
They turn ordinarily good folks into idiots. Way too much power for the average untrained boat operator.
They become hypnotic and once a novice gets intoxicated by the thrill they do stupid stuff. Add alcohol and it's a recipe for disaster.
I watched a kid get ticket for haulin it in a no wake zone here at one of our local lakes by the county sheriff lake patrol. As soon as the sheriff let him go he sped off full blast still in the 5 mph zone, so the sheriff chased him down again. They did a field sobriety test this time and found the kid to be DUI, and under age. Arrested him and took him aboard the sheriff boat and towed the ski behind. Kid went to jail and ski got impounded just like a car.

I should get my friend to bake those cops a cake - good job chasing after that scumbag. As punishment for reckless jetski driving we should put them in a pool and drive a jetski in circles around them closely - then they will know what it feels like. I hate jetskis. I rarely have had this problem with people driving smaller boats.

 

[Neilwood]

I should get my friend to bake those cops a cake - good job chasing after that scumbag. As punishment for reckless jetski driving we should put them in a pool and drive a jetski in circles around them closely - then they will know what it feels like. I hate jetskis. I rarely have had this problem with people driving smaller boats.

Better yet would be suspending a rope approx 3-4 feet above the surface so when one of these yahoos comes along they get it right in the chest and are thrown off. Stops them and maybe (just maybe) makes them think.