SparticleBrane
Contributor
There's a good chance I don't speak French...
BP/W are banned! And other fun things I've learned on my first chartered dive ...
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Scared Silly
Contributor
Scuba Duba Doo:
C'est vrai.
I worked in France in the mid 90s and did a fair amount of diving a long the Cote d'Azur. And in deed you did need a license to dive. This was a yearly license that at the time was around 150FF (30USD). The license also provided insurance in case of a trip to the chamber or some other accident. Yeah bizarre but that was their system.
However, Truk Lagoon requires a permit, as does Ras Mohammand, and the Bay Islands. These are not quite the same as they are more for conservation.
scubamikey:
When my wife and I had a dive shop and were inspecting lots of tanks there was more than one occasion when we found defects in new tanks. Each time the manufacturer replaced the tank but we definately found them.
I don't even know what prices are like now but when we had a shop, tanks were one thing that didn't really pay to buy online. They only sold for a few dollars less than what we sold them for and by the time you pay to ship, inspect and fill them it ended up costing more. On the other hand, since I provided tanks filled and ready to dive, I made out better if people baught the tank someplace else.
Due to the fact that I know some divers/instructors who have been in this since early on who use and teach state of the art equipment and techniques I tend to disagree. The backplate has been around for a very long time (the original backplate and harnesses that were used even before there were BC's). Greg Flanagan is generally credited with making the first backplate similar to what we use today (out of a road sign, the story goes if I remember right), I believe back in the 80's. Everything else, especially the components usually seen in a hogarthian configfuration, has been around for a very long time. Aside from some of the changes in computers most of the "new" stuff amounts to little more than style changes. Split fins are sort of new and there are some newish materials used in exposure suits but regs and BC's work about the same as they have since the single hose reg and BD's with power inflators first came out.
there has certainly been some changes in the way that we apprach decompression but, there again, it's some of the more experienced divers that I know who keep the keenest lookout for better ways to avoid spending the rest of thier life in a weel chair so they are up on what's going on.
abitton:
:lol:
daedalusx:
actualy... ... ... not at all
Diver Dennis
Contributor
catherine96821:
As well as our bank records so they can analyze how we spend our money...
This new permit is so controversial that I doubt there will be any "scubapolice" for a while. It's a stupid law (just like the federal gun law) that only serves to provide work to FQAS employees. It's another example of Quebec's and Canada's way to consider citizens like children, to infantilize them, to take them by the hands instead of responsabilizing them. It wont save any lives, it will just give a false sense of security. Hey, the have their FQAS card, they are safe now, nothing bad can happen now :sigh:
Rishidian
Registered
The Kraken:
Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction must make sense.
If someone wants the name of the operation, why don't you send it in a personal message? I understand the desire to not bash a company, but I believe other divers would want to know the company name so they could avoid it. That DM was irresponsible and unprofessional in his interaction with you, and was blatently ignorrant of current diving practices and equipment. I, for one, would not want to go diving with someone who treats their customers like that; especially with an attitude. What if there was a problem? Would he be able to get around his prejudices and help you? Would that other diver be able to fish his octo out of his pocket and give it to someone who needs it in time?
Dive operations are in business to provide a service to divers. Customer service should come second only to safety. That guy failed both, and is undeserving of future business.
When I was in Hawai'i, I called several dive operations. They all made a big deal about having my C-Card and Log available - while on the phone. But I only had to show my C-Card while renting tanks. While on the boat, the DM was watching all the divers to see what kind of equipment they had and how they handled it. That tells them a lot more about their diving capabilities than a log book. They had a couple tasty pieces of advise for me, and delivered them quietly. Just so you know, they suggested that I get Hose Protectors for my brand new Dive Rite reg, and showed me a way of working my tank straps so I don't have to completely undo them to attach another tank of the same size. I appreciate the way they handled things. While it was my first experience with a boat dive operation, it set the bar very high for any others I will dive with.
-Rishidian
daedalusx:
wardric:actualy... ... ... not at all
Actually the quebec gov't is only looking at its own citizens health because outside visitors/tourists can get a temporary card for $5.00 by just producing a C-Card.
Kind of like when you go to Bermuda and do not need a drivers permit to rent a scooter but as a resident you have to take the course & pass an exam.
It doesn't make sense but when you talk about any government, I think "making sense" is not in their vocabulary.
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