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> From: "Chris Calvert" <chrisc@bc*.co*.nz*> > > 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 > > Very true. But I think that almost all dive shops (I wouldn't > like to comment whether this is good or bad) would go out of business > if they only sold hogarthian. This is where you are wrong. Just because you're diving "hogarthian" doesn't mean you never buy anything. I don't even want to think about the average amount I spend annually on additional gear (I always seem to need more regulators or tanks), plus things like fills. Dive shops have been selling fills as loss leaders for a long time, however I'm personally willing to spend the $4.00+ per tank fill (or more) to get a good quality fill from a clean system. Diving "hogarthian" has nothing to do with exactly what gear you buy. It's about a mindset, take only what you need and use the best tool for the job. Plus, because I've avoided the expense of buying useless things (such as black square lights and air integrated hoseless computers) I can buy things I really like and use (like my two scooters). Plus, because I wasn't so "soaked" on worthless stuff I can still afford to dive, and my diving is so enjoyable that I love to dive. So, that means I'm more of a long term customer to the dive shops that cater to me. > > 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. > > I should point out that 95% of mountainers don't live near mountains > either. One problem with living in the States is that equipment is so > easy and cheap to buy so it is much easier to overestimate your own > ability. Come to New Zealand and wait 3 months for everything. Chris, I realize that a lot of people need to come to this area to get good solid technical training. I also understand that cave training is a great foundation for any advanced technical diving. However, the point I am trying to make is that there are too many people who are pursuing this activity that really should just stay with the single tank reef stuff either because they're outright unqualified (ie. uncoordinated, diabetic, 300+ lbs, etc) or lack experience (ie. they have their PADI advanced and 50 dives and now they want to take a trimix course). The sad thing is that there are instructors out there who are happy to take the money and push the students through the meat grinder. When this happens people will get hurt. George wants to see the tanks from the student who died in West Palm. I want to see his dive log. I'm just sick and tired of seeing people who have no more then 50 dives come up to me and say "I want to get trimix certified". I mean, the question comes up of why, and the number one answer I've heard has been "because it's the highest level". To those of you out there who are still reading this let me spoil a couple of trimix myths for you. Myth - Trimix is the highest level you can achieve and is a way to prove your ability - False. Trimix is just a tool. Yes, it's a tool used for deeper diving, which does have increased risk. However, it's just a tool. There is no new "diving style" because you're diving trimix. Also, babes won't come up to you at the singles club and go "oh you big stud trimix diver take me home now" (well, Leslie might). Myth - You must be a math wizard to dive trimix - False. A monkey can dive trimix (and several do as can be shown by the posts of your typical "trimix certified" monkey on these lists). Just because you're diving trimix doesn't mean you're intellectually superior to everyone else. Myth - People who dive trimix deserve to have great egos - False. We're talking about something that a monkey can do here. You're not a super stud for surviving a trimix dive. Myth - I must become a technical diver to enjoy diving. If I'm not a technical diver I must be doing something wrong - False. This is so far from the truth it's laughable. Some of my most memorable dives are with a single tank in 30' of water in the ocean. Technical diving is not for everyone. I do feel that the training should exist for it, but I don't think everyone should be pushed towards technical diving. Years ago people had long diving carreers without having to become technical divers. Ken -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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