Scuba Extremists

[DaleC]

Seems to me the hostility toward solo diving used to be more intense, but it's gradually eroding as it becomes better known. For the most part on the forum, I think it's become a case of arguing how it stacks up against the buddy system rather than 'right way vs. wrong way.' But it's still forbidden outright at a number of places.

Richard.

What I see now in solo is not an argument against the buddy system but self taught vs formal education. Same with sidemount. Seems the fact that you can take a class legitimizes the activity but then marginalizes those who were doing it beforehand.

 

[AfterDark]

What I see now in solo is not an argument against the buddy system but self taught vs formal education. Same with sidemount. Seems the fact that you can take a class legitimizes the activity but then marginalizes those who were doing it beforehand.


IMO one can only be marginalized if one allows it. By marginalized I assume what is meant is being allowed to dive solo on a charter or not because of a lack of a cert. The fact is that I'm much of a charter diver so my world isn't effected at all by the current popular perception of solo diving good or bad. I dive on my own from shore anytime I want to who's to stop me? Marginalized? Not me, I started solo diving when it was a scuba felony and I'll continue to do it as long as I am able. Being an extremist myself other extremists have very little effect on me.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

So far the only boats that haven't allowed me to solo dive did so not because I don't have a card, but because they have a general policy against solo diving and wouldn't let you do so even if you did have a card. There's only one of those "locally" ... and he's on Vancouver Island, so I don't go there very often. And knowing he doesn't allow solo diving gives me the opportunity to plan my trip with a dive buddy of my choosing anyway, so it's not an issue. Last year's Red Sea trip was a different matter, and there were times when I'd have loved to go solo, but the boat had a blanket policy against it. Next time ... and I'll go on the same boat next time ... I'll plan to have an alpha buddy along on the trip.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Russoft]

I've encountered "extremists" in every hobby I've been involved in. I'm not sure "extremist" is a good word to describe it though. It's those people that make me feel that unless I'm subscribing to their way of enjoying the sport or hobby, I'm not doing it right and I'm inferior as a result. The closest example I can think of is some folks in the firearms community who shun optics/scopes and accessorizing their firearms. If you can't steady your rifle in prone, sitting, and kneeling positions using a sling, you're worthless and should give up now. In the fitness community, it's the guys who believe that unless you're doing free weight exercises exclusively, you're muscles will shrivel up and die because machine exercises have no value at all. In nutrition, it's the paleo guys who think that the only acceptable foods are meat, nuts, and fruit. All these types are similar to the types who look at my jacket-style BCD, Poseidon regs, and mask on forehead and shake their heads in disgust.

I'm sure "all those types" have stumbled upon SOME valuable ideas, but the way they promote their ideas ruins the experience for others.

 

[wedivebc]

So far the only boats that haven't allowed me to solo dive did so not because I don't have a card, but because they have a general policy against solo diving and wouldn't let you do so even if you did have a card. There's only one of those "locally" ... and he's on Vancouver Island, so I don't go there very often. And knowing he doesn't allow solo diving gives me the opportunity to plan my trip with a dive buddy of my choosing anyway, so it's not an issue. Last year's Red Sea trip was a different matter, and there were times when I'd have loved to go solo, but the boat had a blanket policy against it. Next time ... and I'll go on the same boat next time ... I'll plan to have an alpha buddy along on the trip.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Bob PM me the name. I am not aware of any operator that does not allow solo diving under the right conditions.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Bob PM me the name. I am not aware of any operator that does not allow solo diving under the right conditions.

I'm certain you know him ... and it's not a big deal. I like the guy and will abide by his wishes ... it's his "house", after all. So I'd rather keep names out of it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DaleC]

I didn't mean marginalized on charters. I meant marginalized in discussions. When an activity becomes legitimized by a formal course the concept of doing it yourself can become perceived as a suboptimal method, even though that is where the grassroots of the activity came from before it became "legitimate".

Building your own sidemount rig is a good example of that. At one time many discussions revolved around how to do it but now that off the shelf rigs have become mainstream, DIYing a rig is dis'd as a valid pathway.

"Just buy it", or "just take the course", replaces "do it yourself", which then becomes considered somehow unreasonably risky.

 

[Frosty]

The other kind of "extremeist" is the newly converted evangelist.
It doesn't seem to matter in what part of life it is from Christianity to selling Tupperware their eyes gleam with the bursting/burning passion to convert you to their way of thinking.
Diving seems to harbour those sorts too.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The other kind of "extremeist" is the newly converted evangelist.
It doesn't seem to matter in what part of life it is from Christianity to selling Tupperware their eyes gleam with the bursting/burning passion to convert you to their way of thinking.
Diving seems to harbour those sorts too.

... upon losing their virginity, most folks act like they invented sex ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Nemrod]

Well said for a bunch of extremists!

Compared to you extremists I am but a simple militant minimalist solo SCUBA diver, extremist hardly and I took my long hoses off and did not even take fungies first .

Meh.

N