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I don't want to get into the personality issues here (god knows I have a 
bit of personality myself) but George is right that it may not be long 
before tech divers/cave divers have no place left to dive.  Up to a few 
years ago the entire diving industry was self regulating and out of the 
lime light.  For each of the past few years I have responded to new threats 
to my right to pursue and enjoy this sport.  And each year the pressure for 
regulation grows.  I suspect that in a few more years (if it takes that 
long) we will see regulation from outside the sport which will severely 
limit how we are able to pursue our sport and based on what George said, 
about his Helium supply, I guess some people are already dealing with 
outside interference.

The worst part of it is the we will all be judged by the actions of the 
worst among us.  The best instructors will be held accountable for the 
actions of the incompetent without regard for agency affiliations or 
personal safety record.  The diving community as a whole will be judged by 
the number of dead bodies that turn up in a year not by my record of 100+ 
dives in a year without a scrape scratch or pain.  The community as a whole 
will be judged by the few people caught stealing property from protected 
wrecks not by the quality of the photos and video that we capture and make 
public for all to see.

These are the facts which many of you refuse to face.  These are the 
reasons (often unspoken) why so many of us get angered by when we see the 
same dumb situations over and over again.  This is why some of us have a 
low tolerance for the poor training afforded so many divers these days.

When the hammer finally falls on this industry every diver, agency and 
organization is going to get hit on the toes.  No one will get a free 
pass.  not GUE, IANTD NAUI or PADI!!!  My only hope is that I have seen 
what I want to see and do what I want to do before it happens.  Because 
when the regulations and restrictions come down we all know that tech 
diving will be the hardest hit and many of you will have no one to blame 
but yourself.





Bill (aquadart) Bott

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