World Wide Diver
Contributor
Originally Posted by World Wide Diva
I never listen to the DMs during the briefing - too BOOOOOORING. I've got too much money coming out of my ears that I can't hear him what he's saying.
Obviously it's up to the DM to baby sit me when I'm in the water. What am I paying him for?
Rich divers have the money to do whatever they want. But why would I want to spend P400 ($8) on a safety balloon? The DM should have one.
It's NOT up to the dive shop to provide them with any safety equipment - if the DM didn't have the safety equipment already then they shouldn't have hired him in the first place.
I think it's great that you're comparing the Philippines to the US and Europe. I don't know why can't this country can't be more like them.
Posted by a fool with a big chip on their shoulder. I wish the Mod can ban stupid idiots like this.
The post is about diver safety - important for us all.
If there is plenty of boat traffic anywhere where diving takes place, then divers need to take precautions on surfacing.
SMB's are the best for this.
However, how many divers here have seen jetski users using SMB as turning points? How many divers have seen 8yr old child (girl) killed by this?
Point is, people can take the p*ss and make a joke by my/our safety, but safety here is often dictated by a lack of understanding/enforcement of safety rules in dive areas.
All I say is that regard for life is cheaper here in PI's than in the US, Canada and majority of Europe. Why? - because scuba diving is better regulated in these places and that here, there is an attitude that 'god' will protect you from harm + que sera sera. For sure, this is not Europe or North America with same attitudes, and divers should realise this.
So, people like Philippines because of its 'deregulated'and 'raw' diving. Me too, and most Filipino's on this forum are experience divers.
But, to actively bring inexperienced divers here (as many tourism companies do) and promise them great diving without them having 'good experience' is recipe for disaster. Many dive tourist honestly think that they are 'liberated' in the PI's and can do whatever they like here.
I'm for a sensible medium between 'East meets West' and I do not blame inexperience divers in 'kangaroo' inguests for dying in incidents like this just because 'we should accept the this is the Philippines' and 'life is cheap'.
C'mon people - there are established procedures that divers are tought (or should be) by experienced 'teachers' whatever their agency,
And still, people are killed in our sport because they do not follow the basics (or are not taught properly), or surface users simply are ignorant that divers are 'down below'.
Rules, regulations, procedures are already laid out by multitudes of dive agencies and statutes in laws across the Globe.
Whether or not we abide by them is up to us.
If people deliberately come to the Philippine Islands to avoid diving within these norms to feel that they are 'liberated' - and the culture supports this, then who are we to criticise several deaths every year due to this?
Some stupid comments on this thread seem to infer that there is a market here in the Philippines for divers with a death wish (minority).
IMO, this is a disgrace.
Usually the investigation takes place before warranting such a response (ie You don't know enough about this event to comment). 
I just realised you weren't talking about yourself! :mooner: I take that back... Sorry, my bad....:cool2:
