Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Checking in here from Cozumel..... Hank, as we have discussed many times over the last 10 years, no artifact is worth dying for. As much as we like the goodies, sometimes you just have to leave it. I clearly remember my first dives on the Doria, it was just about the time that technical diving was coming about up north. IT was in the days when nitrox was new and trimix was newer. Divers who were doing mix were in a very small handful. Capt Billy was the leader of the pack for wreck diving, and many of us tapped into it. But then again it was those who already had significant amounts of in-water exposure time in a very wide variety of environments. We were diving twin 80's with a 40 cube pony and surface O2 ...... 20-25 minutes was a long dive. Clearly, in the years I have been on the boat (Wahoo) the advice we give to newbies for the Doria is simple and clear. Go down, swim along the Promenade deck (180ish) dont go too far from the anchor line, dont get ambitious, just enjoy the dive and come back up. It seems that in all the years that advice has been pretty good for us. ...... When the newbies call Capt Steve to sign on ..... he has them get the experience before he takes their money. When they get on the boat I know both you and Capt Janet and Steve and I as well as the rest of our crew, dont rest, always maintain a contant vigil with people in the water. Its exhaustive. but its how we do it. Mix is not the answer to poor diving skills, and mix is not the answer to greed. Maybe you and I and many of the other long time Wahoo Doria divers have a healthier approach to that attitude because we have our goodies already, one more dish here or there does not make a big difference. The fact is ...... in 1992 there were 4 Doria deaths. Here we are 1998 -- mix is prevelant, its the preferable choice ..... and we have 3 more ..... but it was not mix that killed these guys, (unless of course they were just incompetent to begin with and used a stupid mix) Speculation says its taking the wreck for granted and not having a plan, at least not one that they ever communicated to anyone. We will never have the real story. It seems to me that before one runs a trip to Mt Everest its best they go out as a client first. All I know is when I go out to the Doria, my primary goal is to come home. I think this latest level of technical instructors are so enamoured with the gas they forget rule number one. Gas does not make you smarter.... you have to be smart and have common sense before you do this stuff. For all of you out there who have not dived the Doria, or for that matter even the USS San Diego ( a great training ground for a good 100 dives before going to the Doria) Its a mother of a shipwreck, when all conditions are good ..... its a revealing experience. When the conditons get bad this place will wipe you out like you have never had your ass kicked before. Blue water stuff is a walk in the park. Go inside and dont assume it wont eat you alive. (Its proven that already). It scares the best of the wreck divers every time, and anyone who tells you "Oh yeah I been to the Doria, its pretty easy when you do it on gas" is probably full of major horse crap. IF you ever want to know who has been there , just call either the Wahoo or the Seeker, this is thier regualr specialty run, not a once in a while thing. If the names you look for dont appear on thier rosters they probably have not been there. Adios from Cozumel......... Joel -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]