cert dives with animals and caverns!

[diverbob]

I’ve seen it sooooo often. I’m sure that’s not what you intended, but if you read over the posts, you can see how someone new to diving would feel under attack.

We also read about how things didnt work out every day in the accidents forum. If your kid comes home after getting his drivers license, and hes drunk off his butt, are you going to conratulate him on his first beer? I hope not.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

BTW don’t let ‘em intimidate you, and don’t let ‘em pull you into a long war explaining and justifying your dives.

Taking my own advice, I'm out a here.

Still waiting for the 'Poor Lobster' post! Come on people, don't let me down!

 

[Michael Schlink]

Welcme to the board, and congratulations on your first dives. I think it's wonderful that you have taken up a sport so many of us love.

3Dent- we only chimed in because YOU gave him very bad advice regarding overhead environments, being an instructor and a very experienced diver I think I have a responsibility to intervene in this case.

As far as pulling on the lobster well as you know that's a whole 'nother thread.

Now if we were to look at the original post we have a brand new diver messing with the marine life and then going into an overhead where his buddy "bolted" from and then he followed him out. You want to pat him on his back, I want to know who trained him.-M

 

[Wendy]

Welcme to the board, and congratulations on your first dives. I think it's wonderful that you have taken up a sport so many of us love.

3Dent- we only chimed in because YOU gave him very bad advice regarding overhead environments, being an instructor and a very experienced diver I think I have a responsibility to intervene in this case.

As far as pulling on the lobster well as you know that's a whole 'nother thread.

Now if we were to look at the original post we have a brand new diver messing with the marine life and then going into an overhead where his buddy "bolted" from and then he followed him out. You want to pat him on his back, I want to know who trained him.-M

I agree 100%

 

[David P]

Wow, next time Ill bring up gun control and abortion... First I would not harass (sp?) nor harm any animal. I considered it... practice. As far as the cavern diving goes, there were I believe 11 of us, 3 students and the rest were DMs and other previous students of the instructors. The instructor said that if he (and we students) felt comfortable with our skills, we would attempt the cavern. It did not go in very far but the opening was big enough to drive a semi through. Even though there is no need to justify my dive to anyone other than myself, I would like to say that with the training I have received I would have felt comfortable enough to make an emergency exit and free ascent from the 70 feet OOA if ALL else went wrong. And considering the numerous other divers with considerable experience, I feel my risk factor was quite small. Honestly I feel my first pool session was more dangeous than this overhead dive, I didnt have to swim a mile with weights around my waist and no form of bouyancy other than my own body!

I do appreciate the concern, I think honest caring like this helps make the sport safer for everyone.

 

[DandyDon]

Hi David,

Glad you enjoyed your dives. Those kelp beds are mind boggling, aren't they?!

Sometimes reactions can seem like more than they are here when some of us try to read between the lines. I had some similar feelings about a newbie in an overhead environment when I read your post, but saw enough questioning with Wendy's post and was hoping you'd be back soon to clarify. All this might have gone smoother if you'd said instead My instructor and DMs lead us on a dive of the USC conservatory/ blue cavern... It did not go in very far but the opening was big enough to drive a semi through. GThanks for clearing that up for us.

As far as bugging bugs and other marine life - most divers feel we shouldn't, unless hunting with a license. Lobsters are pretty similar to cockroaches in some ways, but as explorers in a fragile enviroment, many of us feel we shouldn't bother them. Dive Guides often do to entertain tourists, and this set a bad example, but it's kinda frowned on.

I know how you feel about the reactions. I've had worse. It's talk, Keep coming back!

 

[Wendy]

Wow, next time Ill bring up gun control and abortion... First I would not harass (sp?) nor harm any animal. I considered it... practice. As far as the cavern diving goes, there were I believe 11 of us, 3 students and the rest were DMs and other previous students of the instructors. The instructor said that if he (and we students) felt comfortable with our skills, we would attempt the cavern. It did not go in very far but the opening was big enough to drive a semi through. Even though there is no need to justify my dive to anyone other than myself, I would like to say that with the training I have received I would have felt comfortable enough to make an emergency exit and free ascent from the 70 feet OOA if ALL else went wrong. And considering the numerous other divers with considerable experience, I feel my risk factor was quite small. Honestly I feel my first pool session was more dangeous than this overhead dive, I didnt have to swim a mile with weights around my waist and no form of bouyancy other than my own body!

I do appreciate the concern, I think honest caring like this helps make the sport safer for everyone.

Thanks for clarifying your cavern dive.

but sadly I still do not agree with it. Without overhead training I think its a bad idea, even if an DM or instructor says its ok, otherwise it is a trust me dive, and in this case it doesn't even sound like they were in there with you. Famous last words seem to be, its is ok, I'll just go in a little bit, I can make it out ok, and beleive things can go bad, I was there when this has happened and divers died, one only having his ow c-card for 2 hours.

Sorry for the lecture, but you know if I didn't say something, and something bad happened I would feel worse. So there I said it.

And I don't think me asking questions about someones dive is going to run them off the board, I think other members argueing with people in front of new members will run people off faster than me asking questions.

 

[DandyDon]

And I don't think me asking questions about someones dive is going to run them off the board, I think other members argueing with people in front of new members will run people off faster than me asking questions.

Yep. This is why I didn't react after seeing you'd already asked. Unfortunately, he didn't answer of nearly 2 days, leaving time for the other.

Hey David - check in more often.

And what Wendy meant, I think, on the trust me dives is - when we're new and in training, we don't know any better than to trust the Inst & DM, even when their leadership conflicts with previous training. Now you have been advised.

 

[Corigan]

Congrats on your certification and I know you will have many great other experiences on the way.

I do agree however that training and experience would be the best option before entering another overhead enviornment. That isn't a statement to pick on anybody, but just one for safety.

As for not being sure why your buddy bolted, I would ask him. Possibly he felt he was diving past his limitations or that maybe he has some issues with caves. I have been in a few caves on land and do not like the experience one bit. I think they are beautiful, but the idea about land being able to shift or collapase on me is just too much to bear. I know if I was being lead into a cave I would most definately be turning around and bolting.

Matt

 

[Hoppy]

Lobsters are pretty similar to cockroaches in some ways,

Don if thats an example of your culinary knowledge no wonder you're single

Note to self , refuse all Thermidors at Dons place. :11ztongue