Why I won't dive with you.

[Gary D.]

* Diver who is upset because I called the dive. Call a dive? Ya whimp, I never call a dive.

* Diver who no-shows. Now come on Rick. You couldn't even if you wanted to.

One more note. It's possible to overlook some of these if said dive has a nice boat. Ya tired of walking?

 

[Mo2vation]

curious - what's the beef with overweight divers? I know a few excellent divers that are overweight.

There is a significant difference between being overweight and being morbidly obese.

Lets be perfectly clear here: I didn't say I wouldn't dive with overweight divers (nice redirect, Walter... ) I said I wouldn't dive with the morbidly obese.


---
Ken

 

[NadMat]

curious - what's the beef with overweight divers? I know a few excellent divers that are overweight.

I think the quote was 'mobidly obese' and would guess was intended to mean morbidly.
If so, then those people are at constant health risk just due to their weight, and adding additional complications like pressure, stress, and exertion just up the chances of them having some sort of incident that the buddy will have to deal with during dive.

Also, for me personally, besides just not wanting to look at all that excess weight crammed into neoprene, my feeling is that anyone who is morbidly obese has little respect for their own health and safety, so how much concern are they going to have for mine? I don't mind diving solo, I just prefer to know beforehand.

 

[dherbman]

Until I became liable for divers safety, I never gave it much thought. Personal choice/responsibilty and all that... Now, I find myself wondering about how I would get a morbidly obese diver out of a site if they got into trouble. It's not an issue of personal taste for me, it's my plan that would be scrutinized if such and incident took place in my presence.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Good point herb. I worry about very big people who have a tough time getting on and around the boat. Sometimes they are so winded after putting on their wetsuit that I worry they won't make it into the water. I'm certainly not skinny but I don't just about pass out suiting up.

 

[rottielover]

2) I won't buddy up with the mobidly obese

Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to call you out on this one...

What is your def. for this?

One of the best divemasters my wife and I ever had the pleasure of diving with would fit the medical def. but he certianly had more and better skills than more than 3/4's of the divers we've ever been around thus far.

I would have to say that most people probly look at this guy walking down to the water thinking "bad thoughts" about him, but I have yet to see anymore more graceful under water...

If he's reading this thread, I just want to say: "we'd dive with you any where, and any time!"

 

[Diver Dennis]

I'll add that I've seen all shapes of people with those types of problems so I guess my definition is someone that has a 0 fitness level.

 

[bgi]

Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to call you out on this one...

What is your def. for this?

One of the best divemasters my wife and I ever had the pleasure of diving with would fit the medical def. but he certianly had more and better skills than more than 3/4's of the divers we've ever been around thus far.

I would have to say that most people probly look at this guy walking down to the water thinking "bad thoughts" about him, but I have yet to see anymore more graceful under water...

If he's reading this thread, I just want to say: "we'd dive with you any where, and any time!"

This was already addressed. Skills aside, if you're diving with a "morbidly obese" buddy whom had a problem, would you be able to assist? I'm not strong enough to get a 300 lb person out of the water. Being skilled doesn't make you problem-free.

It's trivially simple to come up with an exception to pretty much anything.

 

[Mo2vation]

Lets not let this spiral into a "well I know a 400 pound Super Diver (thanks Dennis)" segment.

I have to go through this every time I post it. Fortunately, there are people in the thread that are already reading where I'm coming from.

The reason I won't dive with the morbidly obese (as defined by most reputable sources, something like this: Obesity becomes "morbid" when it significantly increases the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases. Morbid obesity—sometimes called "clinically severe obesity"—is defined as being 100 lbs. or more over ideal body weight or having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher.) is because I can't get them out of a jam, and there is no way they can get me out of a jam.

No way this person has the strength or stamina to do a long surface swim, to chuff against a ripping current, to lift himself and me onto a pitching swim step, pull me up on a beach through the breakers in full gear, etc, etc.

And their sheer bulk signigicantly limits the assistance I can offer.

If you're morbidly obese, you are unhealthy. Severely unhealthy. All the "you go girl" in the world doesn't cover that. Diving requires an element of fitness to be executed safely and competently. You simply put yourself and your buddy at greater risk if you're morbidly obese and you're diving. There is no disputing that. I simply choose to cut that risk and pass on diving with these people.

Its that simple. Its not personal. I don't know the person. Its simple risk management.

---
Ken

 

[WilDive4Food]

As has been said repeatedly, Excellent list Rick. One that I had an experience with may fall amidst the risk factor or bragger, and wandering unaware buddy. A friend of mine bragged of how low his air consumption was and his BT's where record holding. I found out rather scarely on a 60' drift dive we went on. Nearing the end of the dive, I looked to see I had 1000psi and found my buddy beginning his accent without letting me know. At 45' I noticed a smaller trail of bubbles than normal and a paniced look on his face. Next.. you guessed.. no bubbles.. gave him my octo and away we went. Asked him aboard the boat what happened and he swears his tank couldn't have been full, even though we got them filled at the same time by the same person.

Long story short... I will not dive with him or any others that feel that the extreme risk or the "Know it all, and do it better" personality is proper. Not when mine and possibly other lives are at such risk.