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Steve -- Nice to run into another skydiver on the techdiver board. Altho' I don't jump any more (can't afford to throw $ out the door of an airplane), I do constantly see similarities in safety issues. Parachuting, as an organized sport, is way ahead of tech diving in solving training/responsibility/liability issues. Your post is right on. I would like to see more folks in the scuba industry research how things are done in skydiving. There is a lot to be learned which would improve the learning curve scuba. In fact, when helping organize the rebreather forum in Key West many moons ago, I invited Bill Booth, inventor or the single-point parachute release, to tell everyone about his vast experiences with liability issues. As you know, but other readers might not, he created both a device to jettison a malfunctioning main parachute instantly (which is now universal, making him rich) and sells a tandem parachute system allowing 2 jumpers to skydive in a single harness. That system either works -- or the groundhog will be delivering your mail. Bill gave a very informative presentation (hilarious too) explaining his disclaimer, attached to each unit where you can't put it on without seeing it, that any assumptions about the equipment are your own. A buyer has to sign a whole raft of documents proving that there is no way s/he could have not recognized the risk -- and accepted it. You can't own a system without completing Tandem Master training. The rebreather manufacturers and potential rebreather instructors listened closely, and perhaps we will see some similar concepts that will help get rebreathers out and be used effectively and safely for scuba. Other aspects of jumping procedures developed over the decades (checking each other's gear before embarking, dirt-dives to rehearse and memorize maneuvers, hiring of a an expert to coach a team, video critiquing of technique) are all potential cross-over techniques that would benefit scuba divers of all levels. I would encourage anyone in scuba instruction or prod. development to investigate the skydiving world and see how problems have been resolved (incl. legal rights regarding access of public property, standards, psychology, public relations, etc.,etc.). Christopher A. Brown The Technical Diving Video Library by Sci-Graphica PR/DOCENT FILMS Tallahassee FL 32311 chbrown@fr*.fs*.ed* P 904-942-7222, F 904-942-1240 It's not the pace of life that concerns me -- it's the sudden stop at the end.
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