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Dan -- let's draw a picture, using elements supplied from the posts concerning it -- not my info but info supplied by those who were there and directly involved -- of a tragic event. Then you and everyone else reading this can form their own conclusions about it. If anything is innacurate, you point it out and show us why it's wrong: You've often stated your opinion that tri-atheletes are superior to other people in general. You've often stated your opinion that *only* elite level athletes, such as tri-atheletes, are qualified to be technical divers: the only ones who *can* or *should* be attempting technical diving. Jane was a tri-athelete -- a member of *your* S. FL athletic/diving community. It appears from your posts that she and Alan knew you before this accident. We may be able to assume she also knew, or knew of/heard all about WKPP's diving, people/accomplishments from you, george, mee, etc.(She intended to take "deep cave" from JJ.) We are certain that george knew her instr. and her instr's wife (his employee), etc. So either from you/friends or her instr., there was a feedback loop about extreme diving and elite level athletes. Jane was a recreational diver and divemaster. We can probably safely assume she was experienced/comfortable making *single alum. tank*, single mix (air) rec dives, in a wet suit, down to and no deeper than 130, since she was not yet a tech diver. From *george's* original post about this accident, we are told she was taking her tri-mix course *in preparation* for a "deep caving course from JJ." Not in prep. for a *Cavern* course. Not in prep for *Intro to Cave*, not in prep. for *Apprentice Cave* , not in prep for *Full Cave* -- but in prep for a *deep caving course* from one of *your diving community* -- from one of the best cave/tech divers/instr.'s in the world -- another elite level athlete/member of your community -- a peer. Again, it appears she knew about JJ/WKPP/george/cave diving/etc. -- either influenced by you directly -- or by other members of her/your mutual communities. With the confidence of an experienced *rec. divemaster* and an elite level athlete -- on a single/fatal dive -- a *training dive* -- she wore a dry-suit *for the 1st time* (according to the *original* version from you guys) -- in open water *twice* the depth she was experienced in -- with heavy doubles -- plus stage bottles -- containing a variety of gases -- and multiple regulators -- plus multiple inflation devices (suit and BC) -- having gotten the impression SOMEHWERE that she, as only elite level athletes are, was able/qualified to take on these tasks *all at once* -- in a class that she viewed as *nothing more than a Tech 101 prerequisite* for her *actual goal of becoming a deep cave diver*. My questions become: Who put her in harm's way for her fatal dive? Who mislead her about what it means/what it takes to be a tech diver? Who was her peer group? Her diving influences? Where were they when she took off to take the course? Who created the peer pressure that set her up for over-extending by far her actual abilities/experience? Who "sold" her on doing this -- who got the mind-set underway that *lead her to seek a tech instructor* (the one who later seems to have blown it big-time)? Who/what convinced her she could handle all this task loading at once? Did her instructor talk her into all this -- or was she already convinced, in your opinion, that this was risk-free, basic, kindergarten stuff for elite level athletes? Who gave her the impression that being an elite level athlete meant she was also *already* one of the elite/few qualified to take on tech diving? Were the messages she heard about the risks involved accurate or misleading? Who created her *perceived risk* attitude? Did she pull it out of thin air? Who's community was she part of and what messages about the risks did she receive from it? The dive lists? Wrolf's friends and neighbors? Mine? Neither of us had any contact with her. Neither of us recommends specific diving techniques/equipment. None of us go around dick-waving and bragging that we are the perfect specimens, the best in the world, accident-free, perfect safety record, done it all better/deeper/farther than anyone else can/hopes to; never claiming to be the authorities, the know-it-alls, the "real men", the baddest, tuffest, bravest, boldest. None of us have *ever* said we have taken the risk out of this kind of diving. Is that what you refer to as your group's "safety message"? Who was around her -- who were her peers/friends/info sources that helped form her opinions? Who would you ordinarily say is responsible for a friend going off half-cocked, over-amped, only partially or uninformed, going far beyond her actual skills/experience? Again, is that what you refer to as your group's (her peer group's) "safety message"? The impression I get -- from what you guys put on the list -- is that you all were her first source and her greatest influence before she even got on the boat that day. But who blames *everyone else* for her demise? If the shoe fits, Dan, wear it. And if it's uncomfortable for you, don't try to change it for a jack boot. You may be able to kick my ass and the asses of 90% of people on the diving lists. But I'd still be right -- and you'd still be wrong. Just my opinion. Christopher A. Brown The Technical Diving Video Library http://www.aulinc.com/video.htm ameruwlite@ao*.co*, Fax: 352.669.1256, or Phone: 352.669.5483 Life is short -- this is not a rehearsal. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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