Scary story to relay...

[Firediver]

I am not sure the legalities behind "breaking the rules".. but it seems that no one is responsible unless there is a fatality during the dive. But even after a fatality the company could be shut down and there is nothing to stop them from opening a new business under a different name.... If that DM wasnt paying attention he could of had a fatality on his hands.... how many accidents will it take to change the protocols???

 

[k4man]

unfortunately, any deaths are too manyin diving...even for stupid people

 

[TSandM]

I remember seeing a bunch of "discover scuba" folks jump off the boat in Molokini crater and end up significantly deeper than 40'. They weren't kids, though. I was still nonplused.

The fact is that tropical scuba diving is so safe that people get very complacent about risks, I think.

 

[Thalassamania]

If you go to Germany I believe they will let you drive 200mph on the autobahn.

The autobahns are well know for not having speed limits for cars and motorcycles on some sections. This does not appear to negatively impact the road safety compared with motorways in other countries and motorways are safer than other road types. A 2005 study by the Federal Minister of the Interior indicated that there were an equal number of accidents per kilometer on the autobahn in sections without any speed limits.

 

[Mike Newman]

wait, could DM or LDS be held responsible for "breaking" diving protocol??

A responsible and reliable reporter could certainly bring the attention of their Agency to a breach of standards. Not enough reports of this nature are brought to the attention of the Agencies - and then it's they and NOT the transgressors who catch all the criticism when serious accidents occur..

 

[spectrum]

The fact is that tropical scuba diving is so safe that people get very complacent about risks, I think.

Is it safer or is it an illusion?

Sure it's easier to get a warm fuzzy in warm water and nice vis but like the saying goes, "it's all fun until somebody gets hurt".

 

[lynny_lynny]

A responsible and reliable reporter could certainly bring the attention of their Agency to a breach of standards. Not enough reports of this nature are brought to the attention of the Agencies - and then it's they and NOT the transgressors who catch all the criticism when serious accidents occur..

I reported someone in Sharm el Sheik when I was in the Red Sea...a DM down there took 2 people that have never had training down with us to 90 feet with a bunch of bad rental eqiuipment and no octopus. he was Naui, but I emailed them about it anyway. There is "bending the rules" and then there is plain neglegence.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

You know what, I'm not even going to bother arguing it. Other than to say, glad nothing bad happened and I am sure they had a good time.

 

[k4man]

... I don't think I'd want my kid doing it, but my friends, hell yes. Then maybe more of them would dive with me.

I hope you friends (and their kids) are reading this :11:

run, run as fast as you can!!

 

[ArcticDiver]

Don't know about the place this alleged incident took place. But, in Hawaii it is pretty common in my experience for brand new, never in the water dive students to be mixed with other divers on boat dives. The only consideration is that the certified divers are told to get off the boat first and the others then jump in the pool.

Last time I was on the Mahi (a 100' dive) there were several newbies getting wet for the first time who made the dive. Other times the first dive folks were held on board, or did surface skills until the second dive in shallow water.

Guess since this is not a rare thing or a new thing that warm water diving must be a lot safer than we give it credit for. Otherwise the accident rate and subsequent lawsuits would have shut it down.