Dangerous Divers

[boat sju]

Yes, but do you have an issue with Almighty asking whether the OP considered the diabetic instructor to be dangerous or not. Some people would, others wouldn't. Almighty didn't say whether she considered him dangerous or not. She was asking for other's opinions. Reading comprehension, you should try it some time.

Almity,

If I misunderstood your intent I apologize.

 

[dlndavid]

don't worry, Mrs A is off by a day

 

[almitywife]

don't worry, Mrs A is off by a day

oh i wish! its monday morning 6.30am... wishing it was sunday!!!

i suppose what i was trying to say with my various examples is that there are variations of what someone would consider dangerous and each person can interpret them differently

the irresponsible diver that seems to be slap happy with safety procedures, training, refuse to listen to productive advice from far more expereinced divers and taking short cuts with diving concern me more that a person that according to legal standards is considered a at risk diver.

cheers

edit: oh and retro, as far as "calling out" one of these divers, i flirt from gue to tech to newbies to rec to wreck to marine research diving circles (hmmm-its true, i do get around!)....... i doubt any one person could figure out the diabetic diver i am talking aboot becasue of where that diver teaches so im not concerened but cheers

 

[TheWetRookie]

With my friends that I dive with I will caution them about diving with someone who I consider dangerous but in the end it is their decision. For me personally I will not dive with them.I have told two "experienced" divers so far that I will not dive with them.

As mentioned we must learn to be self sufficient and not be totally dependant on our buddies. But your buddy does have the responsibility to watch out for you as you watch out for them. If they will not watch out for you and take risks with your life then I have to ask why one would dive with him/her?

For those with medical or physical conditions, if they are upfront about it and have it under control then I have no problem with diving with them. If they are going to hide soemthing that I should be aware of as a buddy, then no I would not dive with them.

The bad buddy divers will be found out and people will stop diving with them. It is just the new divers that I worry about that happen to go out with these dangerous divers.

 

[NancyLynn]

Well Almighty, I gotta say that I didn't know much about diving requirements in Oz, but after researching it and the requirements under AS4005.1 and the SPUMS website....wow. Tough to become a diver down under! You gotta be tip top and athletic.

We were a bit concerned about the standards - we did our classroom and book training here (US) and went to Australia with a referral for the open water dives. That meant that we had to meet the AS4005.1 medical standards. My spouse had allergies that we thought might prevent diving (even after passing the US medical exam). Fortunately, it didn't - but we knew there was a chance we would miss out on diving since we were going without a C card in hand. (Once you have a C card, as near as we could tell they don't throw up any additional barriers, but who wants to do check out dives in Gilboa when you can do them on the Great Barrier Reef?)

 

[buckedoff96]

A quick comment about the post from almitywife, I'm diabetic (insulin dependant) and just started diving this year. DAN opened up diving in 2005 to diabetics. There are some very strict guidelines to it but by the way intructing or being a dive lead is for sure out for diabetics. These guidelines are acceptable to me. Part of my training with my teacher was to drink liquid glucose while on a dive.
Look on DAN's web page and search diabetes. If a diabetic follows the guidelines then they won't be an unsafe diver. Some of the guidelines include keeping the blood sugar under good control with no need of medical assistance for 12 month or more.
Anyway look for yourself on DAN. I figure if I can serve my country in a time of war then I for sur can dive.

 

[Richesb]

Dangerous to who?
I personally consider alot of things I see people do diving dangerous (certified but Unqualified for type of diving, poor equiptment, diving with tanks that are not full to save a fill, incapable of navigating). Yes, they may be lucky and get away with it on a regular basis.
I can choose to not dive with them, not allow them on our boat, but I can't "tell" others not to dive with them or allow them on their boats.
If asked I certainly would be candid.

 

[PvtStash]

A quick comment about the post from almitywife, I'm diabetic (insulin dependant) and just started diving this year. DAN opened up diving in 2005 to diabetics. There are some very strict guidelines to it but by the way intructing or being a dive lead is for sure out for diabetics. These guidelines are acceptable to me. Part of my training with my teacher was to drink liquid glucose while on a dive.
Look on DAN's web page and search diabetes. If a diabetic follows the guidelines then they won't be an unsafe diver. Some of the guidelines include keeping the blood sugar under good control with no need of medical assistance for 12 month or more.
Anyway look for yourself on DAN. I figure if I can serve my country in a time of war then I for sur can dive.

Diabetics werent allowed to dive prior to 2005 ? ...how stupid. As long as the diabetic knows the inherent risks and his/her Own condition they should be allowed to.

Do we deny diabetics drivers liscenses ? you go hypoglycemic behind the wheel of a car on the expressway and your endangering many more lives than your own, but nobody has a problem with that...

I'm glad your allowed to dive now, and I'm sorry if you've been denied that opportunity in the past.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

A quick comment about the post from almitywife, I'm diabetic (insulin dependant) and just started diving this year. DAN opened up diving in 2005 to diabetics. There are some very strict guidelines to it but by the way intructing or being a dive lead is for sure out for diabetics. These guidelines are acceptable to me. Part of my training with my teacher was to drink liquid glucose while on a dive.
Look on DAN's web page and search diabetes. If a diabetic follows the guidelines then they won't be an unsafe diver. Some of the guidelines include keeping the blood sugar under good control with no need of medical assistance for 12 month or more.
Anyway look for yourself on DAN. I figure if I can serve my country in a time of war then I for sur can dive.

OK ... since we're going to resurrect this post, let's clarify something ...

Nowhere did Ms. A say or imply that any of the divers she mentioned were dangerous.

Some of y'all seem to be reading things into her post that simply aren't there.

what constitute "dangerous"

This is a question ... basically pointing out that "dangerous" means different things to different people.

i know 2 divers that i suspect will die one day because of their actions & attitude to diving but hope desperately i am wrong

i also know one instructor that is an insulin dependant diabetic and in our country they shouldnt even be diving let alone teaching

i have known a diver who lied on their medicals to be giving diving certs (and car license) and a few years ago he nearly killed a family after a blackout while driving

These are examples of people she knows that "might" be considered dangerous, depending on how you define the term.

unfortunately i worry about karma and if i was to dob people in, i worry about the reprecusions.

This is Oz speak for "I prefer to mind my own business".

so what do you mean by "dangerous"?

Same question as she opened with ... the implication being that it'll mean different things to different people.

My take is that she's not "outing" anyone ... she's telling us that before we judge someone as dangerous, we might want to give some thought to what that term really means.

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled digression about diabetes and diving ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[overandunderwater]

Thank you Bob, going through this string was a little painful but was interesting. He speaks for me as well but I'd like to add that many divers have physical limitations however the ones that are up front with them, that plan for the emergency that hopefully will never happen, and communicate that to their buddy is a thoughtful diver, one that I would trust. The diver I trust most has asthma, carries an inhaler in her BCD and always talks to the captain of whatever boat we're on prior top diving. As for the original question, I believe it's been answered. If it's an immediate threat then you can voice concern, in fact it's your moral responsibility. If it's not then I'd do what you are doing, talking with other divers then talking with the person you are concerned with in a non-confrontational manner. I admire that fact you care enough to talk about it and suspect you'll make the right decision.