Going out and buying the right gear will help you go a lot farther 
but it won't get you all of the way. The one thing I haven't seen any 
of you guys discuss is the fact that the newer divers are lacking 
thought processes. They all seem to just want to "go to the end of 
the line as fast as possible" and prove themself. They're not 
enjoying the cave diving for the cave, but rather the pervasive macho 
ego attitude. This whole "must prove my ability" attitude has gotten 
into the entire "technical diving" community and is what causes 
accidents like you just saw in West Palm. It's scary when 95% of all 
new cave divers don't even live near underwater caves. It used to be 
the otherway around.

Ken
ps - Anyone want a dorsal fin hood?


> From:          "H20caver" <ezimmerm@ch*.ca*.us*.ed*>
> To:            <polarbea@sa*.ne*>,
>                "Cost effective home improvement"
<freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*>
> Cc:            <CAVERS@ww*.GE*.CO*>, <TECHDIVER@aquanaut.com>
> Subject:       Re: Added info re three missing in WPB
> Date:          Thu, 15 Jan 1998 15:18:07 -0500

>         This another reason for the mentor program, but it's hopeless as
> long as the "pay your dues so you
>         can go on a guided dive-if we like you and you buy the beer"
> attitude persists. Not everyone who tries
>         this is going to grasp the technique and develope the ability-no
> matter how much training-EZ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Protocols need to be established for the conducting of these dives that
> >the training agencies should insist on before using a given boat and
> >captain.
> >
> >I was fortunate in that when I started doing this type of diving, I
> >inadvertantly stumbled upon the best instructors and boat captains in
> >the business.  There were no courses per se and much of what I learned
> >was by watching others.
> >
> >Today, this type of diving is not "underground" and there is no reason
> >for this to occur.
> >
> >I personally have witnessed courses being taught where the instructor
> >and
> >students were using dual independant doubles with trimix in one tank,
> >36%
> >in another (both back mounted tanks) with 80% slung in a stage!  In all
> >fairness, most of the instructors I know are VERY conscientious people
> >who would never do anything such as that, but we need to weed out the
> >incompetants before natural selection does it for us.
> >
> >Joe C.
> 
> 
--
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