Conflicting Guidance from the “Experts” and Insta-buddies

[Jax]

No one knows except the people who say them. When you hear one of these gems, ask why they believe that.

Some people love the sound of their own voice.

Seriously, advice given should always be taken with careful consideration. For instance, A diver that has spent 99% of his diving life in one particular site may have more insight into what may be the best practice for that site vs a well seasoned diver visiting the same site for the first time.

So how would these points be passed to a new diver? I will research something in a heartbeat, and also have the education and experience to differentiate an authoritative source. Most new divers don't know this.

I was actually chastised for not moving out because I was just standing there -- mentalling going through my self checks! and I was told I 'worry too much'.

 

[Monkey_Gland]

"never get involved in a land war in Asia" & "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

"Inconceivable"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. "

 

[fnfalman]

Everybody has an opinion or two about the best diving practices for themselves.

The OP should consider developing the same thing.

 

[SailNaked]

Advice is worth exactly what you pay for it. opinions are like back ends everyone has one.

my favorite piece of advice was from my dad, he said "you cant get in trouble diving one tank of air." this is of course only true if your sac rate is above about .8 (I did not calc just guessing) and of course your tank is at most an AL80.

Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies.

dive free and often.

 

[boulderjohn]

Clarification: My point is that new divers are lambasted with these . . . How is it that this happens?

So how would these points be passed to a new diver? I will research something in a heartbeat, and also have the education and experience to differentiate an authoritative source. Most new divers don't know this.

I don't think anyone ever intentionally passes along bad advice. They believe that what they are saying is true.

One afternoon in Belize I went to the bar to get something to drink for my wife and me. There was a guy going on and on explaining some diving concepts to the patrons sitting at the bar. These were non-divers who had asked him a question about diving. The bartender was busy, so I had to stand there listening to his detailed explanations for a while. Finished at last, he left, clearly proud to have passed on his diving knowledge to an adoring public.

As soon as he was out of earshot, one of those patrons said to me, "I couldn't help noticing the pained look on your face while he was talking. How much of that was true?" (The man was a doctor and knew enough to recognize that at least some of it was BS.) I then spent a really rather enjoyable 15 minutes straightening things out. That diver truly felt he had things mastered, but he was a prime example of why a little learning can be a dangerous thing.

If you read the new divers section of SB, you will find that new divers frequently ask some fairly basic question there and get some very wrong answers by people who think they know better. Very recently someone who was uncertified/untrained was considering accepting the offer from a diver to do a shallow dive with him along a reef. One of the SB people told him that there was no danger in this since on a shallow reef he would not be deep enough to get a lung expansion injury, even if he held his breath during ascent, since he would not be holding his breath long enough for an injury to occur. There was an immediate chorus of urgent posts warning the OP that a shallow reef was plenty deep enough to get a lung expansion injury. The guy who posted that advice stuck to his guns. The OP later wrote in to say his diving friend did not know such an injury was possible at that depth, either.

People give advice because they think the advice is valid. They believe they are right just as much as the people who are giving the good advice believe they are right.

 

[Jax]

Thanks, BJohn . . .

I'm torn in these situations, because I as a noob don't measure up against a divemaster, but I'm pretty sure my pained expression is obvious.

 

[Teamcasa]

So how would these points be passed to a new diver? I will research something in a heartbeat, and also have the education and experience to differentiate an authoritative source. Most new divers don't know this.

I was actually chastised for not moving out because I was just standing there -- mentalling going through my self checks! and I was told I 'worry too much'.

First off, a new diver has little opportunity to discern what is good or bad advice but then again, that's what learning is all about.

My advice would be for a new student to do more research on the instructor before taking the classes. Then after certification, find a mentor you trust and dive with them as often as possible.

BTW, If you were standing at the gate, doing a mental checklist, they just wanted you to jump in, no matter what they actually said. Do you check list, then move to the gate and splash in.

 

[boulderjohn]

Thanks, BJohn . . .

I'm torn in these situations, because I as a noob don't measure up against a divemaster, but I'm pretty sure my pained expression is obvious.

There has been strong research indicating that people who are not themselves knowledgeable about a certain topic really cannot recognize the different levels of competence in others. That is why people make poor hiring decisions when bringing people in to work in areas they themselves do not understand. I used to work in a school district that put a guy in charge of instructional technology who really did not know much about it at all. He knew more than the people who hired him, so he was able to snow them. On the other hand, he knew much less than the people he was directing (heavy handedly, let me add), which was painfully obvious to them.

There is no question that there are people who have instructor certifications who know far less than they should. At least you have some measure of competence, though. On the other hand, when using an "experienced" diver as a guide, you really have to ask yourself how you will know if this person is highly competent or just repeating misinformation accumulated over a number of dives. It can be a very tough call at times.

 

[elmer fudd]

Also the air thing is macho and no one likes to be the first up on the boat low on air. That's why so many people get uppity about a "low" fill at 2800. My response is that if you were planning to come up at 700 psi, and you start at 2800 just come up at 500. Problem solved.

But what if I was planning on coming up at 200?

 

[EzeeDiver]

"never get involved in a land war in Asia" & "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"

"Inconceivable"

That darn Iocaine powder...