Is 130 ft too deep?

[android]

You're not being too harsh. Unfortunately, I think during the first couple of dozen dives, pretty much everybody gets to go on a "trust me" dive that on reflection (if the diver is lucky) turns into a "I can't beleive I did that" dive.

...

I just did a quick skim though the SSI OWD manual, and didn't find any mention of a decision process where the student could decide if he or she was ready for any particular dive.

It's unfortunate that knowing which dives are unacceptable is a skill that's developed only after going on a lot of dives, while the need for it seems to be greatest for the newest divers.

Terry

This is really a silly assertion. My wife and I were certified this spring and only have a few dozen dives. But it doesn't take much brainpower to decide where not to go. It's called survival instinct.

No overhead, no deeper than 60', no no-bottom diving, no wreck penetration and no caverns for us. And it better be fair weather and warm water cause we aren't going into some dark, freezing hole either.

And we plan to get in at least 50 dives at < 60' before moving into any dives in the 60 - 80ft range and maybe move up in 20ft x 50 dive increments. And there needs to be something damn interesting to see down there. I'm not diving 100ft just to see the number on my depth gauge.

Sorry, but if a buddy or DM passed my cutoff depth, I'm not going with them. And these limits and my procedures will be discussed in advance.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Why not? If I ask him to take me and he's comfortable diving with someone at my skill level, I see no harm.
Life it what causes death......you can't escape it.

You do what you want but I'm going to try to put it off for awhile. LOL

You can totally eliminate a chance of a dive accident 100% if you quit diving...doesn't mean you might not get hit by a bus on the way home (I hope you don't...I'd feel bad).

I start every dive with every intention of living through it and having fun...not with the attitude that it doesn't matter because you have to die sometime. While there's no guarantee 'things will work out that way I maximize my chances by diving within my capabilities such that I have a chance of surviving even if my buddie screws up big time.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Call me crazy, but what is life without some thrill in it?

You know? I've seen a few people hurt diving. I've seen a few turn into wild inhuman animals in panic and try to take every one with them.

They DID NOT HAVE FUN and they didn't look the least bit thrilled. If you think that drowning or spitting your lungs out is thrilling then you need a good doc.

What is thrilling is doing a challenging dive or even an easy one to see something you want to see and having the skill and knowledge to pull it off flawlessly and not being surprised when you do. That's a thrill and you won't get it by needlessly following some one you hope knows what their doing just being a butt plug.

That's what we call them by the way...butt plugs because they don't have a clue and just follow the leader with their head up the leaders butt because they can't do anything else. LOL

 

[Web Monkey]

This is really a silly assertion. My wife and I were certified this spring and only have a few dozen dives. But it doesn't take much brainpower to decide where not to go. It's called survival instinct.

Yeah, it's really "silly".

Check around and see how many new divers had close calls before they figured out that they didn't have to follow the DM if they weren't comfortable where he was going.

Terry

 

[android]

Yeah, it's really "silly".

Check around and see how many new divers had close calls before they figured out that they didn't have to follow the DM if they weren't comfortable where he was going.

Terry

Well, you're right about close calls, but I don't think it's because there aren't enough guidelines in the books and training. After all, we had the same books as everybody else.

Perhaps they never listened to their mothers. Moms teach you not to follow other people doing stupid things.

They usually phrase the lesson as a rhetorical question: "If your friends jumped off the Empire State Building, would you jump off too?"

 

[mweitz]

My question is, what does she do at 160' when her "trust me" guide has a heart attack?

I think that you should never dive in a situation where you can't take care of yourself by yourself. Even though the guide may be a "pro" the unexpected can happen to all of us.

Thinking that you are immune from the unexpected due to your experience and education level is when you become truly dangerous IMNSHO.

Mark

 

[Hank49]

That's what we call them by the way...butt plugs because they don't have a clue and just follow the leader with their head up the leaders butt because they can't do anything else. LOL

"We call them"? I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you're part of an elite dive society who's job is to patronize anyone who dives outside your rules.
While you're at it, put an end to freestyle motocross, Indy cars, sky diving, .....

 

[Rick Inman]

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you're part of an elite dive society who's job is to patronize anyone who dives outside your rules.

Yeah, Mike. I didn't realize you were either http://www.scubaboard.com/f166-dir.html

 

[Hank49]

My question is, what does she do at 160' when her "trust me" guide has a heart attack?

She has 30 dives so she has learned to ascend at 30 feet per minute and do a safety stop, assuming it was not a deco dive. She was briefed before the dive to do so if he had a heart attack or they were spearated for some reason. She has plenty of air becaue he had redundant gas for the dive.

 

[Hank49]

I'll bet they have atleast a 50/50 chance of living.

Probably more like 99.9%. Dive accidents happen primarily on the surface or from 10 meters up.