O-Ring,
You are probably correct in that the Seeker may do more visits to the Doria, but that doesn't make it right either. Whether someone is an instructor, DM, or boat captain, we all have a responsibility to ensure diver safety. If there are people out there who are enabling people to push the envelope too far, then they need to step back and ask if they are doing the sport more harm than good. If this continues, there WILL be government intervention; something which none of us want. Statistically, diving is still relatively safe, but it is only proper attitudes that will keep it that way.
An excerpt from an ABCNews story...
"Bielenda points out that among the five deaths in the past two seasons, three of the divers had heart problems.
Some of these guys didnt even belong on a boat, let alone in the water, he says. "
*This is a reference to the last 5 divers the Seeker lost on the Doria.*
"Bielenda argues that attitude is equally critical when it comes to staying safe underwater. In his 20 years of guiding divers to the U.S.S. San Diego and the Andrea Doria, Bielenda has lost two divers. One of these divers died, he says, because he was too eager to retrieve a plate and dropped through a tangled cavern in the wreck.
Its an ego drive, says Bielenda. People get caught up in the drive to recover something because if you have an artifact, people cant pooh-pooh you.
But Dan Crowell, the owner of the Seeker, a boat that carries the most divers to the Andrea Doria wreck every year, argues theres little a captain can do to avoid attitudes.
Diving lends itself to some of the worst egos Ive ever seen, says Crowell, who in the past two seasons, had to retrieve the bodies of five people who had perished after diving off his ship. But this is America and everyone has a right to do what they want.
Notice the difference in attitude, Bielenda's concern is safety, Crowell's concern is, what? That they signed the proper release? That they paid the fee? I still assert that divers, pros, and captains MUST be watchdogs and prevent, to the BEST of our ability, ANY accident. While accidents do happen, those with the higher numbers need to be even more careful to try and prevent them, not just cover themselves from liability.
Your statement is akin to blaming Ginnie Springs for the deaths there
Actually, tchill, you're comparing apples to oranges. I am concerned about people (dive pros and boat captains) who are not being responsible, not the site itself. A dive site is an inanimate object and obviously can't be held responsible for anything.
