5thd-x Essentials of Recreational Diving v1.0

[djanni]

Don Janni,
Did you get to take a look at the PDF slide show on the disc? There's a bunch of the "whys" on there

I didn't know it was there until yesterday when I read about it on this thread.

 

[djanni]

Again Don, this DVD is a supplement to their class called Essentials to Recreational Diving. They never meant for it to be a replacement for class nor they did mean for it to be self contained and all inclusive of all information you need to understand each skill.

As an aside, a valve drill in recreational diving helps you understand whether or not your gear is configured in a way where you could reach your own valve. And BTW, practice allows you to get better at it. Reaching your own valve is beneficial in several scenarios including realizing that the valve is only partially open (SPG bounces when you inhale), the valve is not open at all (you take a breath and nothing comes out), checking to see that the valve has not gotten rolled off by an over-zealous buddy or kelp.

I don't think your reading the posts either. Look at the text that you quoted.

 

[Adobo]

I don't think your reading the posts either. Look at the text that you quoted.

Don,

It's quite possible that others are reading these threads and do not have the knowledge that you have. Trying to explain/convince you on the value of the things that are included in a class like Essentials is an exercise in futility and I accept that. But for the benefit of those who are open to the ideas outside of what is provided in conventional wisdom, I thought it would be good to provide some level of detail.

BTW, I've read quite a few of your posts... which include your posts on this thread.

 

[djanni]

Don,

It's quite possible that others are reading these threads and do not have the knowledge that you have. But for the benefit of those who are open to the ideas outside of what is provided in conventional wisdom, I thought it would be good to provide some level of detail.

While it appeared you were directing those comments/details toward me you do make an excellent point... and one that I hope a lot of people who have read this will remember and remember it in the future when writing about other subjects.

Far too often our statements are ambigious, full of personal opinions instead of fact, we stretch reality, we're ecomonical with the truth, we assume way too much and are therefore missleading to the uninformed.

I promise to do my part.

EDIT:
Adobo, I just took a look at your post "Beneficial Recreational Skills."

I have a question for you... what's the intent behind the little deceptions created by some very experienced divers who say they are not certified? Why do some experienced divers want people to think they are not? I find that deceptive and a bit strange. I don't think they're being humble either. When people accurately represent their level of experience I find it helpful. If they are commenting on a subject I'm interested in or making recommendations then their credibility goes way up if they have 500+ dives.

Regarding some of the Skills you mentioned in your post... You know, here's the difference as I see it; There are other things I do in my life where presion is extremely important to me but diving is an activity I do for fun and entertainment. While skills are important to me I'm not driven to look like the guys in the DVD. Looking like them is not important to me.

I can turn around without going vertical but I don't have that burning desire to be able to turn on a dime or without moving a muscle other than those in my lower legs.

My buoyancy control is pretty good but I don't have that burning desire to appear motionless as I hoover over the sand. I can hang long enough to get my macro pictures and that''s long enough for me. If two divers find it entertaining to face off and see who can hoover motionless the longest then good on them.

If you have that burning desire that's great. 25 years ago I might have too.

 

[Adobo]

While it appeared you were directing those comments/details toward me you do make an excellent point... and one that I hope a lot of people who have read this will remember and remember it in the future when writing about other subjects.

Far too often our statements are ambigious, full of personal opinions instead of fact, we stretch reality, we're ecomonical with the truth, we assume way too much and are therefore missleading to the uninformed.

I promise to do my part.

EDIT:
Adobo, I just took a look at your post "Beneficial Recreational Skills."

I have a question for you... what's the intent behind the little deceptions created by some very experienced divers who say they are not certified? Why do some experienced divers want people to think they are not? I find that deceptive and a bit strange. I don't think they're being humble either. When people accurately represent their level of experience I find it helpful. If they are commenting on a subject I'm interested in or making recommendations then their credibility goes way up if they have 500+ dives.

Regarding some of the Skills you mentioned in your post... You know, here's the difference as I see it; There are other things I do in my life where presion is extremely important to me but diving is an activity I do for fun and entertainment. While skills are important to me I'm not driven to look like the guys in the DVD. Looking like them is not important to me.

I can turn around without going vertical but I don't have that burning desire to be able to turn on a dime or without moving a muscle other than those in my lower legs.

My buoyancy control is pretty good but I don't have that burning desire to appear motionless as I hoover over the sand. I can hang long enough to get my macro pictures and that''s long enough for me.

If you have that burning desire that's great. 25 years ago I might have too.

Don,

I dunno those other people nor do I know their motivations. And frankly, I don't much care.

My intent is to do what I can to share information. Let my fellow divers know what I've tried very hard to learn for myself. And then let them conclude for themselves what they want to adopt and what they don't.

I assume that you are an intelligent person and that you think things through. I would ask that you give me the same courtesy and not suggest that I do the things I do just so I can look like some person on a DVD.

 

[PerroneFord]

I have a question for you... what's the intent behind the little deceptions created by some very experienced divers who say they are not certified? Why do some experienced divers want people to think they are not? I find that deceptive and a bit strange. I don't think they're being humble either. When people accurately represent their level of experience I find it helpful. If they are commenting on a subject I'm interested in or making recommendations then their credibility goes way up if they have 500+ dives.

LOL!

Experience can count for a lot. But an experienced idiot is still an idiot. I could care less how many dives someone has if they are safe and skilled. So, perhaps it is wrong to focus on the "number of dives" someone has, and rather focus on the message they are trying to convey.

How many NASA astronauts have been beyond the moon? Yet there are voulmes and volumes written on other planets, stars, etc. This is done with ZERO practical experience. A scientific study of the evidence at hand leads people to draw conclusions that may or may not mirror reality. When these conclusions are cross referenced with those who have other experienced, we might begin to form a consensus.

Don, where dealing with you is frustrating, is that you have rooted out your own little niche (happy recreational diver, no interest in furthering skills or knowledge, DIR divers are morons, etc.) and you have gotten comfortable there. Fine by me. You can be the "Champion of the Jacket BC" on ScubaBoard if you like. But facts are stubborn. People here with different experiences than you are NOT going to agree with your conclusions, and some may not even agree with your premises.

I choose not to engage you, in general, because it's pointless.

By the way, did you order the 5thDx videos just to berate them? Because you seemingly had no other purpose for them.

 

[dherbman]

My buoyancy control is pretty good but I don't have that burning desire to appear motionless as I hoover over the sand. I can hang long enough to get my macro pictures and that''s long enough for me. If two divers find it entertaining to face off and see who can hoover motionless the longest then good on them.

If you have that burning desire that's great. 25 years ago I might have too.

Don,

Have you ever been at a safety stop with a dozen or so other divers? It usually works out, but it would be much smoother if they all had some degree of mastery of the basic skills outlined in the DVD. Don't get me wrong, I do find the push offs, fin slapping, arm flailing and crashes highly amusing.

 

[TSandM]

Well, shoot, I really DO want to look like some person on a DVD, or at least the person in question . . .

 

[daniel f aleman]

Well, we can say one thing about a poster who indeed has 500 dives: he/she lived through them; never dicount survivability.

 

[JeffG]

Well, we can say one thing about a poster who indeed has 500 dives: he/she lived through them; never dicount survivability.

very similar to Scientology