Dangerous Divers

[RoyN]

Just give them time, they'll grow over it. You're looking at one.

 

[NancyLynn]

Reading through the replies to my posts I understand that there will be places (like Australia) I'll never be able to dive. I accept that and that's life.

Don't write off Australia yet. My understanding is that once you have your C-card you don't have to pass any additional medical barriers.

I did my check-out dives in Australia, which means I had to get a physical once I arrived and meet their standards. We contemplated trying to complete certification at home so we would go with C-cards in hand, which we were told would be accepted without additional screening. (My spouse has extremely severe allergies which - depending on the timing of an attack and the medical exam - might have resulted in failing the exam.)

Happy diving - my spouse (who managed to get through the medical exam, but not the check-out dives) has been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes - I guess that shrinks the possibility of a someday having a diving spouse even more.

 

[Gombessa]

I've been told about dangerous divers and I've appreciated it. I wouldn't spam LDS community boards and internet forums with personal information, but one-on-one and while giving advice, I'd let people know what my impressions were and tell them to be on-guard if they were planning to buddy with the unsafe diver.

 

[Raintown]

Hillmorten,

Yeah - I'd consider the guy with poor vision "dangerous"... The diver with cancer? No. Does that mean I'd deny the poor sighted fellow some enjoyment? No way - but I'd make sure mine own eyes were not the only ones trained on him - I.E. I would have another diver or two helping watch out for him. Would I let him drive me home? Nah. But I definately would let him play me in a game of darts - especially if the loser bought the rounds for the evening!

If "dangerous" meant "risk-taking", then no. I would not dive with that person, and YES - I would politely spread the word. It will get out, eventually, but let's hope an innocent doesn't suffer before then.

Just MY thoughts... You all take care. : )

 

[moyabean]

I'm new to diving, but not new to the concept of social responsibility. Yes, I would warn others discreetly. The way I see it, when we're in the water, we're all in it together and only as strong as the weakest link. Someone who has a proven track record of "dangerousness" could possibly be that weakest link. They might become a terrible dive partner if they start doing stupid things or can't perform, or they could place themself in a situation that requires other divers to rescue them. By not saying anything, I'd feel that I'd be participating in their dangerous diving.

I have a friend who lost a brother because he decided to race to the surface. Of course, he burst a lung or something like that and died. He apparently had a history of such antics. Now THAT is a dangerous diver. If I had planned on going diving with that person and someone in the know didn't warn me about him, I would have been furious!

 

[The Chairman]

But back to the sub-question about what constitutes a dangerous diver. I have two friends who have been ostracized by their friends and labeled "dangerous". As Bob pointed out, it's simply because they dive differently.

Take our Venice shore dives. I ask that EVERYONE take a float. Why? Because I know that we are all doing our own solo dives. I have been there with a great fellow instructor and have had him lose me and not even know it. Is he dangerous? Some might think.

 

[garyfotodiver]

I once had an instabuddy who did not belong in a bathtub, or on a wreck in 70fsw. When the boat was heading back to the dock, I spoke to the captain.

In a similar situation, I would dive alone.

 

[JKPAO]

There may be a diver or two to keep an eye on at any given site, but to not dive with them?
what gives? Anyone can be dangerous! To warn others and not voiceconcern to the dangerous diver is almost asking for it to happen on someone elses' watch!
What ever you say can and will be used against you in the scuba police court! HA ha ha
Dangerous wait till you get a load of me! Let this be MY warning to all!
See you topside! John

 

[Jim Kerr]

If you knew of a local diver who is dangerous, would you warn others about him/her?

So far everyone else has given their interpretation of what they concider to be a dangerous diver. "You" the OP have yet to clarify what "your" interpretation is. Specifically exactly what was it that happened without naming names that makes you believe that the diver you're refering to is dangerous and not just inexperienced? Please elaborate and do not be vague.

P.S. If you happened to dive with a fellow down in Monterey that hands out "Professional Dive Buddy Cards" who's name is Fred and had an incident with him, then everyone except newly certified divers already knows about him. There is a thread already dedicated to him in the NorCal section.

He is said to be dangerous because of some stunts he's pulled on unsuspecting divers like coming up behind them and shuting their air off in the middle of a dive. That is just one of the stories I've heard which I can neither prove or disprove.

 

[bracdiver]

I believe I would. But do it discreetly without malice. You just never know how your dive buddy is going to perform on a dive with you. I've made dives with DM's who have logged thousands of dives that I wouldn't feel comfortable diving with again. Ultimately, your survival rests in your own hands, wether you're a novice or seasoned diver.