Quote:
Originally Posted by scuba=dude
there are small island all over the earth that the fishermen use home made "Hookas" and dive for all manner of sea food and they have never had any training for diving and are quite solo in there diving.....they are not from the USA
... be interesting to see what the injury statistics are like on those islands ... and how many of those people are still diving by the time they're 30 ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Bob, is right.
I started diving using Hookak, and every one of the island boys I dived with was not certified.
The death rate was high. The injury rate higher. The aussie govt supported an education program to start getting them trained, as well as educated on positioning of compressor exhaust hose, since the majority of deaths were carbon monoxide poisoning.
The oldest diver I met was in his late 60's and was an old helmet pearl diver. God love him he still was out on the Hookak most days by himself, yep, picking up some beer money in crays, but most were young, bold, and reckless.
I solo dive, and it is very deliberate. I have my own guidelines which are mine and determined by my own capabilities on any given day taking into account where I am and whats happening around me. I know the risks and I accept them.
Some time ago I remember reading a members statement on this and found it very true.
It went something like this......If you feel you have to ask the question when? Then you are not ready.