On recreational divers with pseudo-tech equipment

[jtivat]

Recreational divers + half-technical equipment setup - proper training = me shaking my head


A long post, but its something that I see on a weekly basis, and it makes me angry.

Hey is this the guy??

 

[ScubaSteve]

I think I have those gloves. Does that make me a Tech diver?

Hey is this the guy??

 

[Jimmer]

I think I have those gloves. Does that make me a Tech diver?

I dont think so, it certainly doesn't make him a tech diver.

 

[Randy43068]

It's easy to see why instructors would like everybody to get more training, and it would be hard to argue that training is a bad thing. But there is an instructor out there who certified this guy already, presumably deeming him competent to conduct a dive without plowing the reef.

Notwithstanding all that, a person with reasonable reading-comprehension skills could spend a few hours on the Scubaboard and find out how to set up his gear properly,
unfortunately "PROPER" to a lot of people are those bungeed wings of death
tech-style or otherwise. He could also get good advice on how to diagnose his buoyancy and weighting issues. This clown's problem is not a lack of training, but the lack of a clue.

I agree.

 

[vyvial]

... this is sooo true.

I read stuff here, then go hit the lake and try it for the sheer fun of the experience.

Yep, that's pretty much what the lake is for.

 

[Bismark]

That photo is hilarious. Is that a laser sight above his mask?........

 

[RAWalker]

That's a Borg Occular implant!

 

[SparticleBrane]

"Technical Spearfishing"

 

[Randy43068]

I wanna know what the dude is looking at... he's looking up at something. He's thinking "hey, is my light on?"

 

[Gombessa]

Yup! I'm the divemaster. I have local knowledge, have done the dive a hundred times and it is my job to make sure he has a fun time and gets to live long enough to tell his wife about the cool dive he had over dinner that night. I'm a professional and he is a clueless recreational diver.

If I had a nickel for every time a certified DM or instructor had no idea what some piece of my gear was or why it was set up some way, I'd be...well, I'd have about one dollar. But I'd have that same amount if I had a nickel for every DM I've ever met.

Divemaster != knowledge of "tech" configs or procedures.