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> THIS MESSAGE IS IN MIME FORMAT. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3003221489_1021709_MIME_Part Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable I was asked by Olivier Isler to post the following message: My French friend and fellow diver Fr=E9d=E9ric Badier has passed on an email to me (from G. Irvine, Feb. 20/99) containing erroneous information that I wish to correct. An article detailing my last dive at the Doux de Coly as well as my thought= s on cave diving was published in DeepTech number 14 (4th quarter 98). For those who have not have read it, I wish to make the following point. The WKPP uses a progression technique which I respect entirely even though, as the following analysis will show, it is in fact the exact opposite of mine in almost every respect. The WKPP operates in 3-diver teams supported by a considerable number of safety tanks. This is very understandable: the rebreather used by the team= s is the Halcyon, which offers little in terms of redundancy, and it is imperative to always be in a position to return on open circuit in case of = a rebreather malfunction. This technique, though very safe, is very constraining. It requires: - a great number of divers as support team (the WKPP is the largest cave diving operation ever, with more than 80 active members if my information i= s correct); - a permanent and easy access to the system being explored; - caves sufficiently wide to allow for 3 decompressions taking place simultaneously; - the possibility to leave equipment in the system without worrying about i= t being damaged or misplaced (e.g. by surges in the current). As, during my whole diving career, I never enjoyed the benefit of condition= s such as the above, I had to seek a technique giving me complete autonomy an= d freeing me of those constraints. My technique relies entirely on the exclusive use of the Semi-Closed Circui= t rebreather. It involves three completely autonomous and interchangeable systems, as, in case of failure, returning with only one functioning systems is mentally unbearable. Carrying with me all my needed gas supply eliminates the need for safety tanks and allows me to dive solo in total safety. The only few tanks staged in the caves for the dive are deco mixes and nothing else. This is my technique and and my philosophy. I believe it is the direction o= f the future in diving, and, even though it may not conform with others' ideologies, I wish that it be respected and not deformed. As to my non participation in the Wakulla 2 project, even though I don't share many of Bill Stone's ideas, my reasons for not participating were entirely private and not the result of any personality clash. Olivier Isler --MS_Mac_OE_3003221489_1021709_MIME_Part Content-type: text/html; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Rectification</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR=3D"#FFFFFF"> <I>I was asked by Olivier Isler to post the following message:<BR> </I><BR> My French friend and fellow diver Fr=E9d=E9ric Badier has passed on an email to= me (from G. Irvine, Feb. 20/99) containing erroneous information that= I wish to correct.<BR> <BR> An article detailing my last dive at the Doux de Coly as well as my thought= s on cave diving was published in DeepTech number 14 (4th quarter 98).<BR> <BR> For those who have not have read it, I wish to make the following point.<BR= > <BR> The WKPP uses a progression technique which I respect entirely even though,= as the following analysis will show, it is in fact the exact opposite= of mine in almost every respect.<BR> <BR> The WKPP operates in 3-diver teams supported by a considerable number of sa= fety tanks. This is very understandable: the rebreather used by the te= ams is the Halcyon, which offers little in terms of redundancy, and it is im= perative to always be in a position to return on open circuit in case of a r= ebreather malfunction.<BR> <BR> This technique, though very safe, is very constraining. It requires:<BR> <BR> - a great number of divers as support team (the WKPP is the largest cave di= ving operation ever, with more than 80 active members if my information is c= orrect);<BR> - a permanent and easy access to the system being explored;<BR> - caves sufficiently wide to allow for 3 decompressions taking place simult= aneously;<BR> - the possibility to leave equipment in the system without worrying about i= t being damaged or misplaced (e.g. by surges in the current).<BR> <BR> As, during my whole diving career, I never enjoyed the benefit of condition= s such as the above, I had to seek a technique giving me complete autonomy a= nd freeing me of those constraints.<BR> <BR> My technique relies entirely on the exclusive use of the Semi-Closed Circui= t rebreather. It involves three completely autonomous and interchangeable sy= stems, as, in case of failure, returning with only one functioning sys= tems is mentally unbearable. Carrying with me all my needed gas supply elimi= nates the need for safety tanks and allows me to dive solo in total safety.<= BR> <BR> The only few tanks staged in the caves for the dive are deco mixes and noth= ing else.<BR> <BR> This is my technique and and my philosophy. I believe it is the direction o= f the future in diving, and, even though it may not conform with others' ide= ologies, I wish that it be respected and not deformed.<BR> <BR> As to my non participation in the Wakulla 2 project, even though I don't sh= are many of Bill Stone's ideas, my reasons for not participating were entire= ly private and not the result of any personality clash.<BR> <BR> Olivier Isler<BR> </BODY> </HTML> --MS_Mac_OE_3003221489_1021709_MIME_Part--
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