LDS: Point of Pain

[pilot fish]

I didn't look, I was too busy shutting his air supply off as quickly as my blue smurf drygloved hands could. My dive buddy has over 9,000 logged dives, I trust that he has things set.

He is, however, new to cold water diving and forgot not to breathe the reg prior to getting into the water, which is well known to potentially cause a freeflow.

Could you ask him? I'd like to know if that could prevent that from happening, as they claim.

As you know, sometimes even though a diver has many dives, as the case with your friend, things can be overlooked. I dove with a very very experienced diver that forgot to turn his air on. I quickly swam over and turned it on, no harm done, but if he were overweighte and had no air in his BC he could have been very hurt, or killed. It can happen to anyone.

 

[Derek S]

Could you ask him? I'd like to know if that could prevent that from happening, as they claim.

As you know, sometimes even though a diver has many dives, as the case with your friend, things can be overlooked. I dove with a very very experienced diver that forgot to turn his air on. I quickly swam over and turned it on, no harm done, but if he were overweighte and had no air in his BC he could have been very hurt, or killed. It can happen to anyone.

We always do a pre-dive check before each dive. We hit the major things, I've yet to have anyone do a venturi check or ask for one.

Also, our dives are all shore dives, so it is diffent from a boat charter in that you have to inflate your wing to get out to the dive site (it's a 200+ yard surface swim to descent point), not mistakenly forget to inflate your BC and hop off the boat. We also both check our air pressure and make sure to note the difference as it will determine the length of the dive. This proves that our tanks are on and ready to go.

I'm not saying it can't happen, and my reply wasn't intended to have pangs of arrogance in it. I know anything can happen to any diver on any day regardless of experience, but as I said before, I've never heard of anyone ever calling for or doing a venturi check before a dive.

 

[pilot fish]

We always do a pre-dive check before each dive. We hit the major things, I've yet to have anyone do a venturi check or ask for one.

Also, our dives are all shore dives, so it is diffent from a boat charter in that you have to inflate your wing to get out to the dive site (it's a 200+ yard surface swim to descent point), not mistakenly forget to inflate your BC and hop off the boat. We also both check our air pressure and make sure to note the difference as it will determine the length of the dive. This proves that our tanks are on and ready to go.

I'm not saying it can't happen, and my reply wasn't intended to have pangs of arrogance in it. I know anything can happen to any diver on any day regardless of experience, but as I said before, I've never heard of anyone ever calling for or doing a venturi check before a dive.

I've never heard of a venturi check either, nor think one is necesssary, since a lot of divers do not have that feature on their second stages. Since you are doing a cold water dive maybe you should include it?

I also was on a boat where an experienced diver hit the water without fins on. Too funny. I was about to splash with my sunglasses on once. I forgot I didn't have my mask on. It dawned on me as I stood up to walk to the back of the boat .duh

 

[tonyd63]

:10:

 

[tonyd63]

Wal-Mart of the world

It all depends on the service rendered. I'd hardly pay anything extra to buy a plain backup light from my LDS, unless that LDS was explaining the lights to me, and helped inform me of a wise choice. Then, I wouldn't feel bad in your situation, because you are paying for the knowledge given.

If my LDS helps me with a decision, I'll buy from them. If it's something I know I want, they better not be more than 15% higher than the net, or I'm buying from the net.

The internet is why all of the dive operators are having a hard time. Just like Wal-Mart hurting all of the 20 year mom & pop stores in America. I as a dive operator and instructor trainer can tell you it has slowed us down. I had a man come into my store once with a regulator to be repaired under warranty. I refused to do the warranty work because he purchased the same regulator over the internet and saved less then $75.00. Well I got a call from my area rep, I told him that the last I knew I was the business owner and had the right to refuse service to whoever I wanted to, and if his product was so good, why are you letting your stores sell it on the internet cheaper then MSRP. I for one don't mind paying for something if I get good service. Plus if it needs service I can go back to the place I purchased it. I told the customer he needed to send the regulator back over the internet to have it fixed is what it came down to. If anyone here is a real business owner of anykind. You know what I mean. The internet is the wal-mart of the world. Let me just say, after everything is said and done. We will all end up buying everything on the net, because all that will be left is the federal government and wal-mart. I for one don't look forward to it.
I just had to get my .02 cents in on internet buying. I think the net is good for information, advertisement, communication etc. However I think we have taken it way to far.

Tony "D"

 

[pilot fish]

Wal-Mart of the world
The internet is why all of the dive operators are having a hard time. Just like Wal-Mart hurting all of the 20 year mom & pop stores in America. I as a dive operator and instructor trainer can tell you it has slowed us down. I had a man come into my store once with a regulator to be repaired under warranty. I refused to do the warranty work because he purchased the same regulator over the internet and saved less then $75.00. Well I got a call from my area rep, I told him that the last I knew I was the business owner and had the right to refuse service to whoever I wanted to, and if his product was so good, why are you letting your stores sell it on the internet cheaper then MSRP. I for one don't mind paying for something if I get good service. Plus if it needs service I can go back to the place I purchased it. I told the customer he needed to send the regulator back over the internet to have it fixed is what it came down to. If anyone here is a real business owner of anykind. You know what I mean. The internet is the wal-mart of the world. Let me just say, after everything is said and done. We will all end up buying everything on the net, because all that will be left is the federal government and wal-mart. I for one don't look forward to it.
I just had to get my .02 cents in on internet buying. I think the net is good for information, advertisement, communication etc. However I think we have taken it way to far.

Tony "D"

This is one big reason I have spoken out about this Tony, even to the point that Rick, one of the moderators, pulled the thread I had devoted to that topic. We are losing our souls to Malls and many purchases over the impersonal Internet. Why anyone would want to buy dive gear from those merchants that are NOT part of the diving community and the sport of diving is something only they can answer. When all the local dive shops are run out of business because of unauthorized sellers of dive gear, who will you get your dive advice from? What will happen to the sport of diving?

I wish you well Tony and hope things will change for the better.

 

[PaulChristenson]

I think it's more that they might start to authorize certain olnine sellers that are part of the diving community and will help get their products to a wider audience

Aeris has authorized internet dealers...I know I bought my Dive Computer from one...Georgia Offshore...

Paul in VT

 

[pilot fish]

Aeris has authorized internet dealers...I know I bought my Dive Computer from one...Georgia Offshore...

Paul in VT

Which ones have they authorized? Is there a list? What was the list for your puter at the LDS and what did you pay from Gerogia Offshore?

 

[pilot fish]

Aeris has authorized internet dealers...I know I bought my Dive Computer from one...Georgia Offshore...

Paul in VT

http://www.diverswarehouse.com/611

Paul, these prices don't seem that great, after you factor in S&H.

 

[Derek S]

Which ones have they authorized? Is there a list? What was the list for your puter at the LDS and what did you pay from Gerogia Offshore?

Do a search for Texas, there was at least 2 Internet Authorized dealers.

http://www.diveaeris.com/dealers.asp