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Rob wrote regarding a post from Dennis Pierce: >This is exactly why scuba diving should be banned completely. It is >simply too dangerous. Furthermore, if aquarists were not willing to pay >such exorbitant prices for such fishes the diver likely would never have >been in that situation. And, Dennis, you own no small measure of >culpability in the matter for not physically restraining the guy and >preventing what you knew was going to be an inevitable consequence of the >rule violations. Frankly, the punishment fits the crime. That diver will >not soon forget the consequences of the abomination he has brought upon >himself and his family. Rob, I must disagree; I know alot about this one as the fellow who took the spinal hit was my "buddy" during the Trimix course this last summer. I'm the one who had to abort a dive because he went 20 feet over our planned depth. In defense of Dennis, he talked long and hard to the fellow both at the time of the course and later. He also chewed me out, properly so, for violating our plan, going down and grabbing the fellow off the bottom as opposed to sticking with the planned dive and just watching, signaling him, etc. After passing the course, I left Hawaii, Dennis had to actually ban the fellow from his shop for violating the rules and lying to him about his activities. I don't know what more Dennis could have done: He kept trying to educate him and when all else failed cut him off of all supplies including air, mix, etc. Dennis can babysit the fellow 24 hrs. a day; he did what he could. We all did. I know I talked to him until I was blue in the face about the decision he made when acting as my buddy. As is often the case, there's alot more unsaid about this accident, some because the fellow refuses to tell us what really happened and why he did it (I think he was as deep as 340fsw on air based upon what he told me and refused to tell me). Was the hit "deserved"; you bet, no doubt about it. Was the dive plan stupid, no doubt about it. Does Dennis have responsibility because he tried to teach the guy how to dive safely? NO WAY. Does Dennis have responsibility because he "cut him off" from mix, air etc. at his shop? NO WAY. HE DID WHAT HE COULD. Don knew the risk he was taking, he'd taken a type II hit before to the brain which may explain, in part, his trouble with the Math etc. He was young, thought he was invincible, violated all the "rules" and was wrong. He knew better but did it anyway. Enough said. Harold H. Gartner III 6900 Via Alba Camarillo, California 93012 home: (805) 482-9743 home fax: (805) 987-6804 office: (213) 487-6240 E-Mail: hgartner@ra*.or* CompuServe 71470,1423
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