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><< "Poneys" are too stupid to recommend on a modern "tech" list, >> >Well , ponys added to a single 80 , or 100 or 120 cu ft tank for a no-deco >or short deco single gas ( air or nitrox) 70 - 130 foot sport dive .......may >not be what one would consider technical diving . But they are a very good >valid configuration for average divers in this area , IMO better than a >h-valve , or an octopus for redundancy. This all goes (again) to the application of the proper technique to meet the proper mission. Steve understands this, and George does not. To proceed: We all dive according to our learning processes and (hopefully) we look at and use the lessons that have been learned the hard way by those who went before us. The 4 levels of learning are Rote, Understanding, Correlation, and Application. Diving at different levels of technique can be used to understand the differences. Rote: Method is appliued just because the diver was told to do it that way, with no understanding of the process. A PADI diver diving reefs after 5 pool sessions is probably at this level. Understanding: The diver uses the techniques that were taught, and understands the reason for the system. This diver does not, however, develop new methods nor does that diver modify learned methods to meet the needs of the mission. A diver wearing side mounts while diving in the tropics at moderate depth is an example of this. He understands the advantages of this system of rigging, but does not critically analize the reasoning behind it and does not use the -appropriate- technique for the day at hand. A similar example is a wreck diver showing up for cave diving without modifying his gear, and the same can be said for a cave diver showing up for a day of wreck diving. A diver showing up for a live-boating day and finding that the local boats are geared for anchoring into the wreck is another example, as is the opposite. Correlation: The diver looks at the conditions that are present at any gven site and selects the appropriate tool for the day. He may, for instance, recognize that for many dives side mounts are appropriate, but knowing that the dive on this day will be a nitrox dive to moderate depths with minimal decompression obligation, he chooses to rig with a single 104 and a pony. He realizes that there is an advantage in security using a pony instead of an H valve, and selects what is really just mismatched doubles for his method. He looks at his cave reel, looks at the wave conditons today, contemplates 3 finger mitts V/S 5 finger gloves, selects the mitts and along with the mitts decides to use his manila reel as he knows that his dexterity will be impaired and he feels more comfortable with the manila line. He realizes that this is a drag addition, but weighs that against the other variables and chooses accordingly. He realizes that the dive boat has chosen to anchor into the wreck, and while recognizing the advantages of live-boating realizes that it's not going to happen today, and plans for an off-anchor deco. He has enough -equipment- be able to choose and enough -common sense- to do so. Application: This is the highest level. The diver looks at all of the available techniques, finds them lacking, and based on his own experience decides to design his own. He's tired of listening to the 'tech' and 'cave' divers bickering with the 'wreckers' over such details like if independant singles are unsafe, pony V/S stage bottle for deco, etc. For the life of him he cannot see the difference from a gas flow and reliability standpoint beween side mounts and independant singles mounted in a twin harness. It bafflles his how anyone can say that identifying his pony regulator (or dual singles regulator) is difficult to do, since he wears them over different shoulders and sees that the side mount guys seem to have no problem identifying their different regs. He's recognizes that the mainstream is making a lot over a little, and strikes off on his own path. He is the guy likely to be working with a milling machine and lathe making his own stuff. He's the guy using a rebreather and not bothering with the side mounts at all. He's the guy that was making ideal manifolds up 20 years ago, and he's the guy making his own bailout rebreather to back up his main rebreather today. With all due respect to the fact that I think that GI is a pompous ass, he's probably in the 4th category. So are the guys who would not use open circuit for anything other than bailout. The guys who 'look beyond' and then do it. Not to blow the horn of myself or my buddies, but we have gone past open circuit and consider it old technology. Tech diiving? You bet. Mainstream? Not just yet. Side mounts V/S Doubles V/S pony Bottles? Who cares? They are all obsolete. It's just a matter of time. But again, that is for the 'correct' application. The 'Correlation' level diver may leave his rebreather at home on nice days when 100 foot O/C nitrox mode is the easy way to make the dive. Rude comments deleted without so much as a second thought. Thoughtfull comments gladly debated. Hopefully the debaters will be at least at the 'Application' level, which based on the comments put forth by many 'Understanding' level divers may be a stretch. Dave Sutton -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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