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Theme: Re: The World According to Carla Fairbanks - Pt. 3
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Date: 30/01/01
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Author: Carla Fairbanks
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In article <20010129025936.18937.00000303@ng-fd1.aol.com>,
ne333ro@aol.com (NE333RO) wrote: > > Divers who lack training, experience or their > >own equipment should be designated as high-risk customers and excluded > >according to fixed rules from certain types of diving and dive sites. > > How do you intend to find out about their training and experience? Ask > them? Check their log book? Make them do some checkout dives? > I can't count the number of times I've heard divers tell everyone how great > they were, and how many patches they have, but are unable to even assemble > their gear properly. Of course. Divers who cannot assemble their gear who will be required to accept more conservative limits. Ditto with log books. God knows, nobody ever doctors > those. Such divers fool nobody but themselves and should be "invited" to dive elsewhere. > As far as checkout dives go, why should I have to "prove" myself (unless > they wan't to supply a free dive) everytime I want to take a wall dive. Better operators integrate checkout dives into a liveaboard or day charter schedule without necessarily announcing it. Essentially, the first dive of the day or week is rather conservative and designed so that staff can checkout customers (starts with observation of divers assembling their gear) and so that customers who may not have been diving for awhile can checkout themselves. > I hold an OW cert from NASDS, have 0 logged dives, According to NASDS standards and procedures, if you have 0 logged dives, you could not be certified as an Open Water diver. and on occassion choose > not to cart my gear along on vacation. Does this mean I shouldn't be allowed to > do any dive I feel is safe for me? > CORRECT. Divers who are willing to entrust their lives to rental equipment should not be given the same degree of respect and freedom as divers who bring their own gear and dive with equipment that fits properly and that they are familiar with. While this policy may occasionally impose unnecessary limits on an experienced diver, in general, it will enhance dive safety by appropriately limiting those who are not serious enough about diving to purchase or bring their own gear. Most divers who have their own gear understand the safety benefits and avoid rental gear. The vast majority of divers who do not dive with their own gear tend to be rather casual about diving, a high- risk group that is largely the result of resort training experiences. Finally, such rules should be stated up-front so that divers who object to policies aimed at enhancing dive safety can select less conscientious dive operators who take the money and bank on waivers and insurance policies to reduce the inherent risks of diving. Carla Fairbanks Sent via Deja.com |