Mo2vation:
because I can't get them out of a jam, and there is no way they can get me out of a jam.
"Jam" is going to be different situations, gear failure, entaglement, etc. so It's hard to argue that somone that's 100 lbs. overweight could NEVER get you out of a "jam", it all depends on the situation and thier fitness level. Now if that same diver were even 20 pounds OVERWEIGHTED (lead not fat) I can see that argument clearly. Just because somone is FAT does NOT mean that they have a Zero fitness level. (Watch monday night football if you need an example!)
Mo2vation:
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.
If they've passed OW (PADI) then they had to prove watermanship skills by swimming (what is it 200 yards or so I can't remember) and "rescue float" for 5 min (if I remember right). I've known several people that meet your def. of 100 lbs overweight that could do all the things you've listed. Just because someone is FAT does not mean that they are not strong.
Mo2vation:
And their sheer bulk signigicantly limits the assistance I can offer.
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.
If you base your buddy choice on somone that can "lift you out of the water" then your severely limiting your buddy choices. I don't know very many people that can lift 50 pounds of dead weight from water to shore who dive, much less heave your typical 125lb. (more like 150 w/ gear) diver from the water onto shore...
Get yourself a crash test dummy, suit him up in full gear, heave him into the local quarry and then get him out again.... I'll wait
Look, I'm not trying to be mean, or put anyone down or anything, I just don't see fat people diving as a huge issue. Eveyone that complete's an OW course has to demonstrate some sort of waterman ship, and last time I was in OW class they didn't teach us how to haul somone out of the water, just how to tow them back to shore.
I would further venture to say that in most diving situations there are going to be other people around, be that on a boat, or on shore. Most rec. diving is done in area's where there are other people, at least within shouting distance. So your going to have some help hauling dead weight from the water.
You probly have to go through this everytime you post it cause of your wording... Why not change styles too say "I won't dive with people that have a zero fitness level" or something to that effect. The way it's worded currently makes it sound like "I don't want to dive with fat people" Which as you've said is obviuosly not the case.
All that being said, I'm 6'1" tall, and 235 lbs. Ideally, I'd be 180 lbs. of lean mean musscles, but alas I am not. I should also lift weights more often than I do, but I work too much to pay for my scuba addition. So I'm def. FAR away from those skinny wirery looking guys I see diving, I'm sure you've all seen them on the boat, but I stand by statements.
Why not turn this into the 400lb superdiver thread, you brought up the subject!
Fat divers of the world UNITE! LOL