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13
In Over Their Heads?
One of the letters to the editor in
the last issue (Letters, Summer
2013) highlighted a common
problem in diving today:
complacency among much of
the diving public and failure to
remember some of the basic skills
taught in open-water classes. Each
diver must be responsible for his
own equipment and should know
that his breathing gas is on and
sufficient for the dive. Divers
should never rely on the divemaster
or boat crew to check their tank or
open their tank valve.
The letter also highlighted
another problem I often see on dive
trips: divemasters leading divers
through swim-through features,
which are overhead environments.
Most of the divers (including
the divemaster) are probably not
trained or equipped to dive in an
overhead feature. In my opinion,
leading a group of inadequately
trained and equipped divers
through an overhead environment is
irresponsible and dangerous.
Each diver should know better
than to engage in a dive for which
he is not properly trained and
equipped; but many divers defer to
the experience of the divemaster
and assume that if it weren’t safe,
the divemaster wouldn’t offer to
lead them through the overhead
feature. Divers should always take
responsibility for their own safety,
and divemasters, regardless of
their own training, should not lead
untrained divers into overhead
environments.
— Dave Potter, Shelburne, Vt.
A Dose of Optimism
In the introduction to “Ocean
Views 2013: A Time Capsule of
Excellence,” (Alert Diver, Spring
2013), I was disappointed by the
author’s pessimism when he
stated: “Unfortunately, no one
will ever get to experience those
oceans again….”
Human interference was
already a factor when the first
divers experienced the ocean’s
magnificence. With perseverance,
dedication and education, I believe
an even more abundant ocean than
what they enjoyed is possible.
Thanks for always being a great
source of information.
— Mary Alice Miller,
via email
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All letters included in this column
are subject to editing for length
and content.
TheMagazineofDivers alerTneTwork
AlertDiver.com / Summer2013
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