Malicious gossip is a problem in diving and especially so in the 'tight knit/at odds with each other' cave community. Egos, passion, jealousy and other agendas all come into play as normally sensible people discuss this behind the backs of the people who were actually involved. I am good friends with Jim as well as some of the other people at odds with him on this. The bitter pill is an easy one to swallow and it's hard to get past the bad taste in your once you do. It's hard to challenge this gossip when it comes from people you like and trust, but it's important to get past your (and their) preconceived notions about what they may or may not have done. Some of the stories circulating about this are as wrong as they are down right mean. I was talking to a very respected member of the Scuba Industry and the Cave community, and he told me that he saw the download from Shannon's computer that showed what a liar Jim was. It turns out, she wasn't even wearing a PDC on that dive as hers was broken and being repaired.
Here's the thing: I've seen Jim teach. I've seen Jim dive. Jim's account of what happened appears to be entirely reasonable and consistent with his methodology. His student's account coincides with his as well. All this subsequent conjecture seems to be designed not to shed light on the truth, but rather only to malign Jim. It's malicious not helpful. You think you're hurting Jim by spreading these lies, when all you're doing is to diminish your own reputation in my and others' eyes. Don't act like you were there if you weren't. Don't act like you know a secret if all you're doing is regurgitating the malice of others. All that does is to foment more Cave Community Politics and the bitterness that comes with it.
Nothing we can do will bring Shannon back now. Nothing. She dove when she should have called the dive before she got into the water. If there is anything to learn from this is that there is nothing down there worth dying for. It doesn't matter that you've spent a lot of time, money and effort getting down there to dive. If you're sick or mentally distracted, stay out of the water. That's the prudent thing to do. That's the real take away from this incident. I'm only sorry that this lesson cost Shannon her life. That's the real tragedy here.
Here's the thing: I've seen Jim teach. I've seen Jim dive. Jim's account of what happened appears to be entirely reasonable and consistent with his methodology. His student's account coincides with his as well. All this subsequent conjecture seems to be designed not to shed light on the truth, but rather only to malign Jim. It's malicious not helpful. You think you're hurting Jim by spreading these lies, when all you're doing is to diminish your own reputation in my and others' eyes. Don't act like you were there if you weren't. Don't act like you know a secret if all you're doing is regurgitating the malice of others. All that does is to foment more Cave Community Politics and the bitterness that comes with it.
Nothing we can do will bring Shannon back now. Nothing. She dove when she should have called the dive before she got into the water. If there is anything to learn from this is that there is nothing down there worth dying for. It doesn't matter that you've spent a lot of time, money and effort getting down there to dive. If you're sick or mentally distracted, stay out of the water. That's the prudent thing to do. That's the real take away from this incident. I'm only sorry that this lesson cost Shannon her life. That's the real tragedy here.
