Diving like this is fun?
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Darnold9999
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The why of diving is different for everyone. It also changes over time. When I started, I recall it was to add another skill/experience, try something new. Some macho element as it had a "dangerous" label and as a 20 something guy this is/was attractive. That wore off quickly and I found that the work and discomfort (read cold) involved not worth the return compared to all the other demands on my time.
Went diving as a holiday lark and something to do on vacation for years. Kind of like visiting ruins - interesting, fun but not the focus of the trip. However each trip I found myself making sure there was water nearby and the quality of the diving entered more and more into the decision re where to go. Danger didn't enter into the equation at all. This was just an interesting world to explore.
Now I go on diving vacations - whole purpose is to dive. I dive in very cold murky water with way too much weight on my back for any sane person. Macho - don't think so, but I can't spend 2 3 weeks sitting around on the beach, I go stir crazy, and I enjoy explorying this world in my backyard.
I see new divers going the same route. Taking up the sport because it is a "dangerous" activity. They tend to be the ones that don't keep it up, as it really isn't that dangerous. I too have wondered if some migrate to the tech specialties to keep up the adrenaline rush. I can't see any other reason to go to 300 feet for 10 minutes and then spend hours hanging on a deco line staring at featureless pea soup freezing half to death. But I haven't tried it either so until then I reserve judgement.
Re women in diving, there is a real imbalance - this is a male dominated sport in terms of numbers. (Too bad, I like women
) Two things come to mind as the reason. First and most important, women by and large don't do dangerous things just because they are dangerous, they tend to need a better reason. They don't have the "macho" reason to try it out like I did. So they don't try it for one reason and learn to like it for another. Secondly, the gear, up here anyway the gear to dive weighs just as much for a woman as it does for a man. Tanks, suits, lead don't come, by and large, in small easy to carry sizes. Women have to pack just as much gear as we do and that is an impediment to many. My partner (at 4' 11") takes one look at the tank and weight belt and laughs. Won't even try, and I don't blame her. Yes a smaller tank would help, but not that much.
Tech diving may be a similar selection process. Those who go that route start looking for that kick and end up staying for another reason altogether. Just musing here, I don't think Catherine was out of line for speculating that there is a "boys club" macho thing driving tech diving. She may be wrong for many, but I suspect there is something to it for more. No value judgement here, testosterone drives a lot of us to do allot of things we wouldn't do otherwise.
On another front, knew briefly a female cardiac surgeon - she was married to a colleague. The money was great, but I got the impression that the driving force was as described. She did because she could - this was a woman driven by the possible. How far could she go, what was possible for her to accomplish. One of the most self confident people I ever met. I got the sense that she felt that she could do whatever she set her mind to, and for whatever reason needed to test herself at the edge of that confidence.
Went diving as a holiday lark and something to do on vacation for years. Kind of like visiting ruins - interesting, fun but not the focus of the trip. However each trip I found myself making sure there was water nearby and the quality of the diving entered more and more into the decision re where to go. Danger didn't enter into the equation at all. This was just an interesting world to explore.
Now I go on diving vacations - whole purpose is to dive. I dive in very cold murky water with way too much weight on my back for any sane person. Macho - don't think so, but I can't spend 2 3 weeks sitting around on the beach, I go stir crazy, and I enjoy explorying this world in my backyard.
I see new divers going the same route. Taking up the sport because it is a "dangerous" activity. They tend to be the ones that don't keep it up, as it really isn't that dangerous. I too have wondered if some migrate to the tech specialties to keep up the adrenaline rush. I can't see any other reason to go to 300 feet for 10 minutes and then spend hours hanging on a deco line staring at featureless pea soup freezing half to death. But I haven't tried it either so until then I reserve judgement.
Re women in diving, there is a real imbalance - this is a male dominated sport in terms of numbers. (Too bad, I like women
) Two things come to mind as the reason. First and most important, women by and large don't do dangerous things just because they are dangerous, they tend to need a better reason. They don't have the "macho" reason to try it out like I did. So they don't try it for one reason and learn to like it for another. Secondly, the gear, up here anyway the gear to dive weighs just as much for a woman as it does for a man. Tanks, suits, lead don't come, by and large, in small easy to carry sizes. Women have to pack just as much gear as we do and that is an impediment to many. My partner (at 4' 11") takes one look at the tank and weight belt and laughs. Won't even try, and I don't blame her. Yes a smaller tank would help, but not that much. Tech diving may be a similar selection process. Those who go that route start looking for that kick and end up staying for another reason altogether. Just musing here, I don't think Catherine was out of line for speculating that there is a "boys club" macho thing driving tech diving. She may be wrong for many, but I suspect there is something to it for more. No value judgement here, testosterone drives a lot of us to do allot of things we wouldn't do otherwise.
On another front, knew briefly a female cardiac surgeon - she was married to a colleague. The money was great, but I got the impression that the driving force was as described. She did because she could - this was a woman driven by the possible. How far could she go, what was possible for her to accomplish. One of the most self confident people I ever met. I got the sense that she felt that she could do whatever she set her mind to, and for whatever reason needed to test herself at the edge of that confidence.
ThatsSomeBadHatHarry
Guest
why is everyone being so touchy anyway? take it eas'...
it's so hard to convey tone of voice or intent in writing like this. it makes it difficult to understand what someone really means sometimes. think positive.
it's so hard to convey tone of voice or intent in writing like this. it makes it difficult to understand what someone really means sometimes. think positive.
daniel f aleman
Contributor
Blitz:
I would say, very relative, Ranger.
Some of us on this board were also in the Army; and some of us came home with a CIB.
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wow, just came home from dinner and loved reading all the viewpoints. seriously, I like all types of divers especially ones that talk about their motivations. I am also fascinated watching the guys that hike K2 and all those shows. I don't know why....I would never do it, but I cannot get enough of those stories...read all the books like "Into Thin Air" etc, and just cannot get enough of it on some level.
I know I do things some divers would not do, but if the viz drops I am very scared even going down the line.
Taking certain precautions like redundancy and following procedures surely mitigates obvious dangers down to acceptable levels. Certainly, the personality profile of a cave
divers is an intriguing subject. "Shadowdivers" developed the characters in a way that
that makes me wonder is that typical or unique? Those guys seemed like it was a men's group thing and a closed group that had to sanction some new person in by a certain level of group approval. I wonder if the divers are assesed merely on diver skill or what other forces are at play on some of the more technical complicated dives. Do they usually have a money guy that sponsors the trip, for example?
Dan, what is CIB?
Also, the guy that says Japan has a lot of female divers, is right! It never even occurred to me but we get a lot of Japanese divers here and they aren't couples, there are lots of women friends, traveling together.
I know I do things some divers would not do, but if the viz drops I am very scared even going down the line.
Taking certain precautions like redundancy and following procedures surely mitigates obvious dangers down to acceptable levels. Certainly, the personality profile of a cave
divers is an intriguing subject. "Shadowdivers" developed the characters in a way that
that makes me wonder is that typical or unique? Those guys seemed like it was a men's group thing and a closed group that had to sanction some new person in by a certain level of group approval. I wonder if the divers are assesed merely on diver skill or what other forces are at play on some of the more technical complicated dives. Do they usually have a money guy that sponsors the trip, for example?
Dan, what is CIB?
Also, the guy that says Japan has a lot of female divers, is right! It never even occurred to me but we get a lot of Japanese divers here and they aren't couples, there are lots of women friends, traveling together.
daniel f aleman
Contributor
catherine96821:
Sorry, Combat Infantry Badge - saw combat.
Blitz may have a lot to be proud of concerning his diving, but diving deep should never be done in a way where one feels that he cheated death, or that he's doing something that's actually tough - those days are long over.
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well, why not? No offense. If some person wants to cheat death, why does the scuba community get upset? I don't observe the hikers getting upset if mountan climbers take off in a blizzard and end up losing a few members. Please don't yell at me, I am just ASKING. What is unique about diving? That is what I can never figure out about divers. There is a moral judgement about how things are done that you don't see that much in other activities. If someone takes off in a boat in dangerous waters, we cheer them on. If a diver takes a lot of risk and puts himself in danger, people really get upset.
people who have been in combat have their perspectives changed permanently about many things.
people who have been in combat have their perspectives changed permanently about many things.
So I am still a new diver, and currently only dive at the recreational level, but to be honest, diving deep wrecks and caves was the main reason for me to get into diving in the first place. I am slowly working towards this goal, and I will get the training I need to do so, and yes, I want to be a technical diver.
And I am a small 110lb woman.
Currently, I dive in the PNW, with 32 lbs of weight, plus my tank. I carry about half of my body weight when I dive. I squeeze into a dry suit, pull on a hood and gloves. And yes, it is work and it is uncomfortable...until I get into the water and it is all just so worth it.
But why do I want to get into technical diving? I honestly dont know. Every time I dive the outside of a wreck, I just get so excited. I find it so amazing and beautiful in its own way. And I itch to get inside of it and take a closer look. However I am not currently trained for wreck penetration so I remain on the outside of it. But I just want to go in. It's so amazing to think that I am diving on a ship that has previously been occupied by people, and they can no longer access it....and I can. I guess it's the whole "I want to go where not many other people go" thing. And it is the same thing for my desire to dive in caves (getting cavern certified this summer and cannot wait!).
I have always also been one for a challenge. I have always enjoyed challenging myself and working for things. And yes, when I was first certified, diving posed that challenge for me. It was new, it was exciting, and I had to WORK hard for it. And I did. And I am improving. And I want to continue to improve and gain new skills, gain new knowledge, dive in different environments, and continue challenging myself.
Yes, I may be one crazy little woman. But wrecks and caves were the reason I originally got into diving, and I fully intend to pursue that. But in conclusion, I dont really know WHY, all i know is that I just WANT to. Who am I to argue with my desires?
And I am a small 110lb woman.
Currently, I dive in the PNW, with 32 lbs of weight, plus my tank. I carry about half of my body weight when I dive. I squeeze into a dry suit, pull on a hood and gloves. And yes, it is work and it is uncomfortable...until I get into the water and it is all just so worth it.
But why do I want to get into technical diving? I honestly dont know. Every time I dive the outside of a wreck, I just get so excited. I find it so amazing and beautiful in its own way. And I itch to get inside of it and take a closer look. However I am not currently trained for wreck penetration so I remain on the outside of it. But I just want to go in. It's so amazing to think that I am diving on a ship that has previously been occupied by people, and they can no longer access it....and I can. I guess it's the whole "I want to go where not many other people go" thing. And it is the same thing for my desire to dive in caves (getting cavern certified this summer and cannot wait!).
I have always also been one for a challenge. I have always enjoyed challenging myself and working for things. And yes, when I was first certified, diving posed that challenge for me. It was new, it was exciting, and I had to WORK hard for it. And I did. And I am improving. And I want to continue to improve and gain new skills, gain new knowledge, dive in different environments, and continue challenging myself.
Yes, I may be one crazy little woman. But wrecks and caves were the reason I originally got into diving, and I fully intend to pursue that. But in conclusion, I dont really know WHY, all i know is that I just WANT to. Who am I to argue with my desires?
daniel f aleman
Contributor
catherine96821:
I'm just saying that by now we really understand the basics of diving, especially that of Deco theory and how to use Trimix; and therefore, we know HOW to dive deep.
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creamowheat, good luck, you sound so inspired and driven! Yes, I feel that way in and around wrecks, especially historic ones where people perished. Awe-inspiring. I am a bit claustraphobic so to penetrate far isn't appealing. I do love the lighting in there.
Dan, so you are saying, just don't die a pointless, avoidable death.
Dan, so you are saying, just don't die a pointless, avoidable death.
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