Disturbing trend in diving?

[mbs]

But comes back out of deco during the long stop before finally returning to the boat.

My computer has never gone into deco on that dive but others have (looking at you, Suunto).

See my 2nd post. There was no long stop for the rest of our group. They blew through their air. Probably not a problem though since most probably didn't have computers...

 

[The Chairman]

See my 2nd post. There was no long stop for the rest of our group. They blew through their air. Probably not a problem though since most probably didn't have computers...

I've been on some long "hikes" underwater. They have sites they want to show you, so you have to fly to get to each place, like a forced march. The problem with that is that not everyone can keep up without blowing through their air. I can think of least three times I've had to share my air because my 'buddy' was running low before we got back to the boat. On two out of those three, I've had to be my buddy's DPV as well, due to currents. I've lost count of all the times I've had to share air. Living and diving in the Keys off of the cattle boats made that a somewhat common occurrence.

 

[Nemrod]

This topic makes me think on how we consider risks - and which scenario is riskier?

A: follow a DM on a rec dive with no computer or watch, following their instructions to keep me safely within NDL

To be clear, the DMs typically have computers. Many of the Cozumel DMs were diving air even when customers were on Nitrox. I have noted over the years that the DMs now generally use Nitrox also same as their customers. They love the new Peregrine computers.

You can tell a lot about a man from his shoes so goes the saying, shoes can tell you a lot, tells you who they are, where they have been and where they are going. Same with scuba equipment. Not about wing vs poodle jacket, does the gear look like it has been used but well kept, neat and tidy and well thought out and functional?

The God of the three great monotheistic religions watches out for fools but while God is infinite his mercy is not always so.

 

[boulderjohn]

As I read all of this, I am baffled, because my experiences in recent years has been just the opposite--dive operators sticking to very strict rules to make it as certain as possible that no one has a problem on their boats. In many cases, that absolutely means following a DM and not departing in the slightest from that route, but it also means having all the proper equipment in order to dive. I have been getting very frustrated by this.

 

[The Chairman]

I have been getting very frustrated by this.

Need to borrow some gear, John???

 

[boulderjohn]

Need to borrow some gear, John???

No, not a gear problem. Here are two examples from this past year.

• Dives with an absolute requirement to follow the DM and not depart from that dive in any way, with a second DM in the end to make sure of it.
• This example is strange. The dive operator I have been using (with some reluctance) in Florida requires a dive buddy, unless you have solo certification and have signed a separate solo waiver. I have the credentials, but I have not signed the waiver--my fault completely. Two days ago I did a dive to a deeper (but still NDL) wreck, with a second dive along a shallow reef. On the first dive to the wreck, the DM did not seem to care that I was on my own, and I had a great dive. On the second dive, because of the need to go in groups, I had to join one of the other groups--I could not solo the shallow reef without that waiver. The DM looked at my equipment (personal steel tank, BP/W, bungeed alternate, two tech computers) and decided that my ideal match for that dive was an instructor, his young student, and the student's father. We had to head to the surface after a half hour. I delayed as much as I could and still stay with them, and I still reached the surface with 2,000 PSI. We got on the boat, and I got my gear fully packed before the other groups began to be picked up.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

All I can say from reading all this is I don't know if all this deviance is being taught (or not taught) in OW or left out of WRSTC standards, or if people are choosing to just not dive according to their training. I'm referring to people with supposed full OW training, not DSD.
Leaving out a personal computer or some other depth and timing device is not to any standard as far as I know.
So now I'm beginning to understand why some divers seek out something like GUE fundies especially if when all they've seen is this kind of crap. It makes perfect sense that they figure the only way to excel past this sh_t show is to go to an agency and a community that has some integrity.
If this is all they see I can't say I blame them.
I had no idea that diving had fallen this low.
Normalization of deviance.
Is this how they think they will keep diving going?
Is this what vacation diving looks like on life support?
Or is this a product of a foreign dive destinations' economy on life support?

Time for me to go hide under my kelp bed again.

 

[boulderjohn]

Leaving out a personal computer or some other depth and timing device is not to any standard as far as I know.
So now I'm beginning to understand why some divers seek out something like GUE fundies especially if when all they've seen is this kind of crap.

A dive agency can devise standards that teach you to use a computer on a dive. It does not have the power to require you to buy one or use one once you are certified.

A dive instructor can teach students to use the dive computer and recommend computers for them to purchase, but that instructor does not have the power to require you to buy one or use one once you are certified.

What do you propose that agencies and instructors do instead?

 

[scrane]

I generally find the value of a thread is in inverse proportion to the number of replies. Sometimes known as clickbait.
And I'm not really bothered by why and how and with what equipment others choose to dive.

 

[NothingClever]

A dive agency can devise standards that teach you to use a computer on a dive. It does not have the power to require you to buy one or use one once you are certified.

A dive instructor can teach students to use the dive computer and recommend computers for them to purchase, but that instructor does not have the power to require you to buy one or use one once you are certified.

What do you propose that agencies and instructors do instead?

We could join the elite by becoming an instructor.