Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Banner Advert

Message Display

From: "Dan Volker" <dlv@ga*.ne*>
To: <dive4wrk@pi*.co*>, "Jess Armantrout" <armantrout@wo*.at*.ne*>
Cc: "Techdiver" <techdiver@aquanaut.com>, <rebreather@nw*.co*>
Subject: RE: Promoting Rebreather Diving
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 10:14:10 -0400
Not to mention the fact that there are CCR Rebreather instructors out there,
of "considerable prominence", who pay very little attention to their
rebreather students through a great many of their dives---often even leading
the dive, with the students following...I won't mention the name of the most
glaring example of this from a few months ago---but this appears to be SOP.
Alternatively, one hour with an instructor like Erol, George or JJ or
Carmichael would be far more beneficial, and far from equivalent to one hour
with a great many of the CCR "big boys".
Ability of the instructor goes far beyond a simplistic view of some
"minimum" number of hours with some XYZ instructor---remember, McKnulty
might be teaching CCR right now if he hadn't shown his true colors a few
months ago.  What does the certification of the CCR instructor or SCR
instructor mean??? This is a question that really bugs me. As I see it now,
unless its GUE, the instructor cert means nothing---you damn well better
know about the ability of the instructor, and pay ZERO attention to his
agency cert status ( GUE excepted ).

Dan Volker

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rebreather-request@nw*.co*
> [mailto:rebreather-request@nw*.co*]On Behalf Of Jess Armantrout
> Sent: Monday, October 05, 1998 10:18 PM
> To: dive4wrk@pi*.co*
> Cc: rebreather@nw*.co*
> Subject: Re: Promoting Rebreather Diving
>
>
> I think my intentions with the post to Tom were not made clear, a mistake
> on my part.  After reading his post, I interpreted it as indicating 440
> minutes was what was required (minimum) to become an IANTD CCR diver.  My
> intent was to ask Tom if he felt this was adequate training to do
> mixed gas
> exploration dives at wakulla which he answered quite well with a no.
>
> I can assure you, my training was much more that 440 minutes, so I don't
> understand the stone throwing comment.  I probably was put thru the ringer
> more than anybody on this list before I was allowed to take my machine
> home.  Not many of you have had to do a dive with Vinnie...that is how you
> know you are ready.
>
> I also am not convinced that hours on a machine means dick, but I can tell
> you 440 minutes is not enough time to do mixed gas exploration dives at
> Wakulla, and on that point I think we all agree, so we can move on.
>
> I did not say the Halcyon was idiot proof, just the most idiot
> proof.  I am
> the one preaching fear of these things, remember?
>
> Yes, I meant SCR, of course.
>
> Yes, proven reliability does have to happen in the environment in
> which you
> plan to dive, else how do you know what can go wrong.  My last dive was a
> triple scooter, triple stage 7500 line laying and surveying dive
> with 5000'
> in bad viz.  Can the Cis do that with no problems?  How do you KNOW this
> until you do it, and do you want to find out there is something you
> overlooked about 75 minutes into the dive with 75 to go?  I didn't think
> so.
>
> So what is my point?  Too many people are being allowed to take rebreather
> classes that shouldn't be.  Too many people are diving rebreathers who
> should be diving an aluminum 80 but their SAC is so poor they
> need a "magic
> carpet".  Too many instructors suck.
>
> How do you fix it?  I don't know.
>
> What do you guys suggest, status quo?
>
> Trout
>
> ----------
> > From: LT Dituri <dive4wrk@pi*.co*>
> > To: Jess Armantrout <armantrout@wo*.at*.ne*>
> > Cc: rebreather@nw*.co*
> > Subject: Re: Promoting Rebreather Diving
> > Date: Monday, October 05, 1998 7:00 PM
> >
> > Jess,
> > 	First of all, I am an advocate for safe rebreather training with no
> > exception...  I don't care if you dive a Cis or a Halcyon or an
> > Atlantis...
> > 	Standards are just that and should not be compromised
> regardless of how
> > many hours a person has on mixed gas OC below XXX depth ...  I was under
> > the impression it was recommended 50 hours on the unit prior to using it
> > deeper than 150 fsw.
> >
> > > First of all, comparing the Halcyon and Cis Lunar is kind of like
> >comparing apples and cheese...not even in the same food group, and I
> >think we would all agree to that.
> >
> > 	TRUE!
> >
> > >The Halcyon is the most user friendly, easy to transition from OC to
> >RB, idiot proof RB out there.  I think we all agree with that.
> >
> > 	NOT TRUE!  It is a rebreather and it can kill you.  The second you
> > think otherwise, you are settimng the customer or the diver up for a
> > fall.  All the courses I teach are in that vein.
> >
> > > Second, the Cis Lunar is completely 100% unproven in long range mixed
> >gas exploration, while George, JJ and Brent had already done numeous
> >flawless dives on the Halcyon in Wakulla thus proving its' reliablity.
> >
> > 	TRUE.  However, proven reliability does not need to happen
> in caves.
> > Everything must start somewhere, and open water at 400-500 feet the Cis
> > has proven itself well.  That does not mean they can't do the required
> > time on the unit prior to using it in a cave.
> >
> > > I took a full IANTD CCR course from Erol and then made two more
> >additional trips to Sth Florida for a total of 20 days of training.
> >
> > 	Errol is NOT a CCR instructor and can teach no such course.
>  I hope you
> > mean he put you through a full IANTD SCR course on the Halcyon...
> >
> > >At one time or the other, I did dives under the supervision of George,
> >JJ, Brent, Robert Carmicael, Bill Mee and Erol, any one of which could
> >have washed me out (love that military lingo!), and still can today.
> >
> > 	A civilian using someones "military lingo" is silly.  Besides no one
> > talks like that anymore.
> >
> > > So, do you think that the number of hours on the machine is a relevant
> > > question in this scenario?
> >
> > 	YES, it does NOT matter how many hours you have OC, this is
> NOT OC.  It
> > does not matter how many dives you have in a cave or on mix...This is
> > different.  You can't tell the whole world they need to abide by a
> > standard and you do something different.
> > 	As I see it, you started doing deep cave dive with this
> unit after 30
> > or so hours on the unit.  You can do whatever you want, but practice
> > what you preach.
> >
> > >  If I am wrong here, I will aplologize for any aspersions you
> > > believe I may have cast.
> >
> > I love it when you are nice...
> >
> > > And, since I have already answered this question from you privatey, I
> >must assume you are just trying to stir up some shit.
> >
> > 	Not stirring shit, just pointing out that you were asking
> someone else
> > how many hours the W2 divers had and I was suggesting that people in
> > glass houses should not get stoned.(or something like that)
> >
> > > If not, in what areas do you feel I am deficient and how would you
> >help me to improve.
> >
> > 	If you are serious, you can come out here and take another class.
> > Before you get your panties in a wad, I am kidding!!!
> >
> > Warm Regards from Hawaii
> > 	Joseph Dituri, CEO Gallant Aquatic
> > ================================================
> > Paying $5 for training gives you $5 worth of training.
> > There is no substitute for doing it right the first time.
> > In this environment, you may never get a second chance.
> > Check out our NEW web site at http://www.pixi.com/~dive4wrk
>

--
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]