DIR- Generic Diver attitude! Be careful, experienced divers...
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RobPNW
Contributor
That's different than the described scenario though. That's you pointing out a legit safety danger based on scientific reality. The scenario was a so called "standard" based on some misplaced pseudo intellectual expertise and an assumption that one particular agency is the end all owner of what standards are right or wrong for every diver and every diving situation.
RobPNW
Contributor
It would have been interesting if the more experienced diver replied with something like "there are several different agencies and standards, other than PADI, what is it about my configuration that you think is dangerous or unacceptable?"
Then, maybe in the person's struggle to formulate a legitimate argument, they realize they don't know as much as they think they do, and it becomes a learning moment. Then again, a know it all facade is a hard shell to crack.
Then, maybe in the person's struggle to formulate a legitimate argument, they realize they don't know as much as they think they do, and it becomes a learning moment. Then again, a know it all facade is a hard shell to crack.
Here is a true story.
Carlos was planning a cave dive in Ginnie Springs, with a depth of about 30 meters/100 feet. He was planning to use a stage bottle (breathe it down before switching to back gas) that was clearly labeled "Oxygen." People pointed that out as a problem. He said not to worry, he had filled all the tanks himself, and he had taken an empty bottle labeled as oxygen and put air in it. The tank had air, not oxygen. It was safe to dive.
Others were not convinced. They told him he should analyze just to be sure. Eventually he got mad. He knew what was in his tanks, and he did not have to test them all over again. So there.
Yes, the post-mortem analysis showed it was indeed oxygen in the tank.
So what more could people have done?
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
It wouldn’t be my place to be the boat’s scuba cop, but I might mention something to the divemaster or crew/captain - somebody in charge.
If they had a concern let them deal with it, it’s their boat and their responsibility.
The only time I would definitely speak up without hesitation is if I knew for a fact that someone was left at a dive site and they were about to leave.
Where do you draw the line? when something doesn’t quite fit your personal approval standards but may not necessarily be fatal, or something that has been proven to be fatal?
What about the zealot that begins to spout off about how air is unsafe to be used at all and only 32% can be used, and if you go beyond 100’ you need trimix. I knew a guy like that and he was very vocal about it, to the point of being annoying. But in his mind anything but this was unsafe and he was genuinely trying to help people. He paid a lot of money to be willingly brainwashed and by god he was going to get his moneys worth!
What about someone jumping in with no BC? There are plenty of newer generation divers that would see this as a death sentence and certain suicide, but in Southern California for instance there is a whole cadre of old bug divers that this is perfectly normal and they’ve been doing this for years. You’d look pretty stupid haranguing them about their style. Tell the boat crew about your concerns and you’d get laughed at. But you see, this is cultural in that part of the world.
In the case of the OP, after a gentle ribbing asking the new guy about “Who is Patty” (giggle), I would sit down and have a friendly conversation with him (friend to friend) and in a very friendly manner try to open his mind to the varied configurations and how they work.
Of course it’s up to the new guy to have the capacity to put down his new found “expertise” and have the ability to “hear” what you might have to say.
Scuba diving has a rich history of gear and configurations and there is no one right way.
lermontov
Contributor
lermontov
Contributor
i would hope someone would point issues out that ive overlooked -for my own safety or comfort -people who get offended by othesr offering input are often inexperienced or view themselves as dive gods
of course a lot of the offence is prompted by the delivery of said advice most of us can discern between advice and critiscicm
Clearly I'm not! I spend every day of my working life keeping other people alive. It's stressful sometimes. I refuse to take responsibility for other people during my recreational time (nearest and dearest aside). That said, if an incident were to occur, I would do my very best to help, but I am not the arbiter of how other people choose to dive and I'm not going to get in to arguments with strangers about their dive kit configuration.
johndiver999
Contributor
If a gear configuration looks strange, I will generally say something. However, it will more be in the context of a question rather than say that XY or Z is WRONG. The content of my comments and tone will also be influenced by my relationship with the person and my perception of their expereince.
Not too long ago, I was recreational diving on a private boat with a guy who I was unfamiliar with and his friend said he was a dive master. He had very nice gear, I noticed - top of the line BP/W, fancy computer etc. I immediately noticed that he set up his BC backwards with the din filling pointing away from his head. I said something like " oh you set the tank up to have the reg pointing the opposite way". He said something like "yeah". I was cool with a backwards set up and even commented that I personally knew 2 EXTREMELY experienced divers who choose to set up that way.
The we helped him put his tank on and the hoses were all screwed up. We tried for a little to sort it out, un hooked the reg from the tank, moved the first stage and rotated it, but it was still wrong. I then realized that he was completely wrong, his regulator hose configuration was standard and we had to spin the tank 180 degrees in the BC. He was totally wrong about how he sets his gear up backwards, but was so clueless that he didn't even understand my original comments , which I offered when I initially saw him assemble the BC backwards.
So yeah, I try to pay attention to other people's gear and will comment when something looks strange.
Not too long ago, I was recreational diving on a private boat with a guy who I was unfamiliar with and his friend said he was a dive master. He had very nice gear, I noticed - top of the line BP/W, fancy computer etc. I immediately noticed that he set up his BC backwards with the din filling pointing away from his head. I said something like " oh you set the tank up to have the reg pointing the opposite way". He said something like "yeah". I was cool with a backwards set up and even commented that I personally knew 2 EXTREMELY experienced divers who choose to set up that way.
The we helped him put his tank on and the hoses were all screwed up. We tried for a little to sort it out, un hooked the reg from the tank, moved the first stage and rotated it, but it was still wrong. I then realized that he was completely wrong, his regulator hose configuration was standard and we had to spin the tank 180 degrees in the BC. He was totally wrong about how he sets his gear up backwards, but was so clueless that he didn't even understand my original comments , which I offered when I initially saw him assemble the BC backwards.
So yeah, I try to pay attention to other people's gear and will comment when something looks strange.
lermontov
Contributor
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