pasley:
To get back on point. The Aquarium of the Pacific has some divers who use FFM. Contact them and see who does their training.
Well, I was one of them. Training at the time (2 years ago) was done in house, on both AGA and OTS systems by the DSO. No public training is available.
I don't usually get into the personal stuff, but Rob, dude, you really need to take a chill pill. If you think I personally insulted you, you need a much thicker skin, which I would assume as a moderator you would have. Clearly I was wrong. No insult was intended. But interpret it however you wish. I've been on too many boards myself to worry about how other people interpret my posts.
On the other hand, you have gotten quite personal, judging my experiences as invalid compared to your vast wealth of knowledge. As a moderator, I expect more..... oh I don't know, moderation perhaps? For a representative of Scubaboard to denigrate the experiences and opinions of another poster is unseemly, don't you agree? Me, I am just a regular old member. And, for the record - I do not have 1000 dives nor am I an instructor, and do not hold myself out as such. Please read the profiles correctly (or correct the system's way of describing experience).
I stand by my opinion that, relative to the need in OW diving, there is a disproportionate (I'll abandon the use of the word "huge" to appease you) risk. You see, I believe that we should not introduce added complexity to the scuba rig where it is not called for by the dive in question. Instead, I think every diver should choose their gear based on the diving they do, and which is appropriate for their use, and that they are adequately trained. In other words, have a reason for using the gear you do. If there is no reason for it, don't use it. KISS (btw, I am not alone, I know at least two SAR divers who are in agreement with me, and from whom I adopted much of my diving philosophy, so it's not just my lame little PADI DM and DIR-F education fueling the opinion).
As, for example it is also my opinion that integrated octos present a disproportionate risk of a solution to a non-existent problem. That's just my opionion based upon the diving that I do, and looking at how the system will be used and what added problems will arise IN AN EMERGENCY. A lot of people disagree with me, but I don't say "well you only have 50 dives, so what do you know....." I prefer to tell people why I don't like integrated octos and let them decide. I could care less what other people (who aren't my buddy) use.
Interesting that the original poster hasn't stopped by to say why he is using it. Perhaps he was scared off. Or perhaps he sees he does not need to unnecessarily increase the risk so he can tell his buddy "look, a lobster" (and why any diver would want to communicate underwater absent a necessity is beyond me). Perhaps he is calling OTS. Whtever he is doing, I am sure we both agree that he should get adequate training should he decide FFM is the way to go.
Anyway, I am glad you concede, contrary to your original post, that there is in fact added task loading if the sh** hits the fan. IMHO, the additional task loading UNDER STRESS is the precise reason I advise against it for regular every day OW Diving. Why make a potentially life threatening situation more dangerous if comm or safety doesn't require it.
At any rate, you found me all worked up after dealing with the cheats at Dell computers, so I thought I'd just conitnue my rant into this post. I usually don't get into with people, but I was in a mood, so there you have it.
Since you've made it clear you don't respect me or my opinion, and there's no use in trying to dialogue, you are free to take the last word. I promise I won't sully this thread with my questionable experience any longer
Chris
