Quote:
| Originally Posted by Howard Payne ....
I love diving and I love divers - by which I mean that I invariably get on well with people who participate in this sport. Regardless of how we dive and / or how we've been trained - it's very rare that I meet a diver who I don't consider a kindred spirit and care about. Somehow, what draws us to the sport in the first place - draws us together.
..... |
I have to say that is not my experience. Diving is a hobby, a pastime, nothing more. Lots of people from different backgrounds do it and within that very different group you will find some that share your view it is a serious undertaking and others that don't give a monkeys.
I've seen folk dive when pissed from the night before (then chuck through the reg while down there). I've dived with a friend that only manages to avoid buddy separation on every other dive. I've dived with a guy who's regs free flowed three times on the dive and told me afterwards "they always do that, perhaps I should get them serviced".
I honestly think people join self-selecting groups. Those that are perhaps a little "anal" perhaps about safety protocols will end up in the likes of the DIR group and strengthen each other's viewpoint. Its a psychological phenomena known as cognitive dissonance IIRC.
Diving is a safe hobby. Those of us that push our personal boundaries take it seriously enough. I hear what you are saying but I think you are missing the point a bit.
It most certainly is not about training backgrounds or agencies, all of them preach safety. Sadly, some instructors fall very short of their agencies' aspirations. Some divers too are a little blasé about risk.
In the final analysis look at how many people smoke. You smoke, so you stink, you get smoking related diseases and you die prematurely. You pay a fiver a pack for the privilege. Humans are not intelligent animals, nor do they consider fully the consequences of their actions. Only frustration lays at the end of the path you are embarking upon Howard, sorry mate.
Chris