Ben,

	What you need to consider is that with PADI training you have
reached what should be an advanced level of certification in a very short
number of dives. This is not your fault, it is your training agency's. The
point is that this attitude that has been given you from that is one that
will get you killed or at least in a wheelchair from technical diving. It
sounds like you do realize that this was intended as constructive criticism,
even though it was given with a laugh at your expense. Learn from the best
and take what they say to heart. That is why they are the instructors and
you are the student.

	Don

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Wiseley [mailto:wiseleyb@ya*.co*]
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 7:19 AM
To: Techdiver
Subject: thanks for the training info


Techdiver people,

Thank you for the many responses to my question about
where and how to receive cave training.  As was
obvious from my post I'm just getting into technical
diving but obviously need some more practice before
attempting Cave 1 with GUE.  I'll start diving here in
New England with doubles (and take the flack from the
lobster boys) until I get really comfortable with it.

My ego's not as big as Texas but I feel I must at
least try to defend myself against George.  This will
be my last post regarding this to avoid an all out
flame war.  

I've done some very "risk management" sports in my
time.  They'd include white water kayaking (try diving
in 20 mph current with no tank and getting pinned
under your boat to a rock), paragliding (try keeping
your cool as a down draft hurtles you towards power
lines), ice climbing (do I even need to justify that
one?), and mountaineering (what I'd give for oxygen
toxicity concerns :)...  Diving in January in New
England may not be as technical as Cave Diving but
it's certainly no walk in the park.  I don't, however,
feel I know it all... I think asking what I did on
techdiver should have pretty much explained that.

In any case, the sports I mentioned above all went
through what Cave Diving went (and is still going)
through.  A lot of people were dying and everyone was
getting pretty pushy about regulations and training so
the sites/areas/sport wouldn't be shut down.  People,
unfortunately, are not nearly as smart as they might
think they are.  Accidents happen and those of us that
will evolve and breed again learn from the mistakes...
those that don't loose fingernails on cave ceilings
trying to dig through limestone.  

Every sport has new people trying to learn.  Most
people in risk management sports understand that the
yahoo who just showed up is going to attempt their
sport one way or another.  Some people remember when
they were that yahoo.  The people who are good at
their sport realize that they must help that yahoo
before they have to rescue them.  While George might
think he's in line for a humanitarian award he has
obviously given up on trying to help anyone new to the
sport.  His attitude will have people seeking out the
instructors who will train anyone and will ultimately
get those people killed.  Him saying "let's just rule
out GUE right now" leaves me with what option?  Not
cave diving or finding an unscrupulous teacher who
doesn't care.  Either way - he's added to the problem.
 Would you rather have kids give up and go to a
community college or work their butt off and get into
Harvard.  I think the answer is obvious.

I don't know anything about George.  From the posts
I've seen on techdiver he seems pretty f'ing good at
diving (maybe one of the top people in the field) -
it's unfortunate that his attitude is so bad.

Thanks for you help techdiver people.  I'll get more
training before entering your realm again.

-ben


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