Diver image. Do you even think about it?

[TSandM]

Don't dis the color scheme thing! I have yellow H's on my harness (thank you, Koos), yellow hibiscus flowers on my light canister, yellow flowers on my Jet fins (when I'm not using my YELLOW Jet fins . . . ). It all looks just spiffy with my black and red dry suit, too.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Mmmmm...Yum Yum Yellow.

 

[Z Gear]

I think I will rap it up on this topic of diver "image".

I will begin with stating although some took offense to my opening up this topic I was curious on what most thought of the subject. Honestly they chimed in and gave me their response. As I would think most did not really give it much thought which was to be expected some took it a little personal, and there were a few that did think presenting a good image was something they liked.

Although I got a little flack I don't regret starting the thread. I actually learned a great deal. While I still want to improve on my image, I did learn that the majority, while they are not sloppy are on the contrary neat and tidy with their gear. The streamlined approach is primarily for function purposes. The guy who most impressed me with his response was Storker. His analogy was pretty well articulated. What I came away with on this was that on how some of the worn equipment is in a away part of a natural sign of an experienced and seasoned diver. It makes total sense and puts things into a better perspective.

Image is a personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer.

 

[Tigerman]

Do I care about how I look on the boat deck in my dive gear? Nope.
Do I care about how I look in the water, in my dive gear? Yep, because how you look in the water actually impact both your diving and the enviroment youre diving in. If youre bicyclekicking vertically across the reef youre not very effective and youre likely to damage the reef.
Do I care about how I look look on the boat when NOT in dive gear? Yeah, to the extent that I dont want to offend people by wearing a speedo...

 

[DaleC]

Z, it sort of sounds like you had your mind made up before hand, dismiss those who disagree with your POV as not being thoughtful, and like the answers that best suits yours.

Amazing....

 

[gcarter]

Z, it sort of sounds like you had your mind made up before hand, dismiss those who disagree with your POV as not being thoughtful, and like the answers that best suits yours.

Amazing....

I don't think that he realizes the volumes he speaks when he says "I still want to improve on my image", when everything he says is focussed on the image rather than the skill or the technique, when anything anyone says is immediately translated into his interpretation of what that does for image. The selfie generation at it finest.

I don't know anyone (except maybe surfers, if you believe him) who successfully progresses in their chosen activity or sport by focussing on image.

Image is an inadvertent by product of skill development, not a goal.

 

[DaleC]

Well I give the benefit of the doubt. I think he is using the two terms interchangeably with the result that people are reacting in a surprising way (to him).

If someone IRL talked about their "image" as a diver most of my friends would raise the proverbial eyebrow. We just don't think that way. If someone said they wanted to become more "squared away" that would be met with a different reaction. "Oh, ok, do this this and that. try this etc...". If they then turned around and said "Great, that really improves my image", eyebrows would again be raised. We would expect them to say "that really improves my performance (in some tangible way)".

Function has to do with function. We focus on that. but not really how we appear to others, especially bystanders. Yet, because we are friendly and approachable, not cool and aloof (and some have huge camera systems) many bystanders come up to us after dives to ask us what we are doing. We often talk for a long time with them if they seem interested. That helpfulness does more for our image than the colour of fins or what hose goes where. Our intelligence in answering their questions speaks to our "experience" (or insanity as the case may be).

 

[Z Gear]

Z, it sort of sounds like you had your mind made up before hand, dismiss those who disagree with your POV as not being thoughtful, and like the answers that best suits yours.

Amazing....

On the contrary Dale, I get that some don't really care about the outside appearances "image ". I didn't understand that at first, but that has been cleared up now. As for myself I still want to present a good image and I am sure there are others as well.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I think image directly relates to the person not the activity. There may be certain sports that attract a certain person with a high degree of conceit or narcissism, surfing, wake boarding, skiing (maybe) snowboarding (maybe). Some of those sports attract a younger group that preens itself for the attentions of the opposite sex.
With scuba diving I think it's an older crowd so that activity is diminished by a more mature attitude. I think diving is a more mature sport just by default because of the responsibility involved.
As far as style, I don't think many people really know enough about scuba (I'm thinking beachcombers) to know what they're looking at, or what's in style and what's not. I actually don't think there is a seasonal or "latest" style in scuba. Maybe on a boat full of other divers somebody will stick out of they have something unusual or all brand new (usually means a new diver), or perhaps if they are using vintage gear.
I think divers in general don't worry about impressing people, they just want gear and configurations that work, whatever that combo may be.

 

[DaleC]

Present a good image? To who, for what? What gain do you expect to get? If you say respect it's only superficial, given by those who have no understanding of what you are doing. Those that know, will respect you for completely different reasons. My experience has been that worrying about "image" ties people up, it doesn't free them.

here are a couple of videos of me trying different dive gear. I do not present a "good" image but I had to risk looking foolish to gain experience. Many would never gain the experience because they would not risk the image.

[video=youtube;Y7STLNzjHnk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7STLNzjHnk[/video]

[video=youtube;RSnoLfTsEGw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSnoLfTsEGw[/video]