Wow!! This thread has gotten blown away! I thought the original intent was to express our appreciation for the insight and wisdom CD has brought to this board and those who enjoy reading about it with maybe a little humor mixed in.
If CD does not want his picture posted then I respect that.
CD has mentored me since well before I began cave diving. I cannot begin to count the times he has patiently worked with me through emails and other correspondence to help me get my gear set up, to understand principles and philosophies of diving I couldn't seem to grasp. I always told him "That makes sense". If something doesn't make sense to you, you cannot incorporate it into your diving.
He has also called me out on stupid things I did and discussed with him after a dive. He would always make me understand what I did wrong and what to do to keep it from happening again.
He preached situational awareness, make a plan and dive your plan, and when something happens to stop, think, make a plan then execute it and never panic to me so much that I have to believe that he played a big part in my getting out of that cave alive when I only had minutes to live back in July when I had an IPE.
And I know I am not the only one he has helped. He is willing to help anyone who genuinely asks him for advice and mentoring and is willing to listen. It is up to the individual if it makes sense to them and they are willing to incorporate it into their diving. I cannot think of one time he has steered me in the wrong direction.
If CD does not want his picture posted then I respect that.
CD has mentored me since well before I began cave diving. I cannot begin to count the times he has patiently worked with me through emails and other correspondence to help me get my gear set up, to understand principles and philosophies of diving I couldn't seem to grasp. I always told him "That makes sense". If something doesn't make sense to you, you cannot incorporate it into your diving.
He has also called me out on stupid things I did and discussed with him after a dive. He would always make me understand what I did wrong and what to do to keep it from happening again.
He preached situational awareness, make a plan and dive your plan, and when something happens to stop, think, make a plan then execute it and never panic to me so much that I have to believe that he played a big part in my getting out of that cave alive when I only had minutes to live back in July when I had an IPE.
And I know I am not the only one he has helped. He is willing to help anyone who genuinely asks him for advice and mentoring and is willing to listen. It is up to the individual if it makes sense to them and they are willing to incorporate it into their diving. I cannot think of one time he has steered me in the wrong direction.