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Hi Jason, > They seem to conflict. That is, in order to be a good, or qualified deep > trimix diver, you need experience with a narror margin. (Deep exeperience) > and yet you say you don't agree about the deep air statement. "being a good > deep air diver to be a good trimix diver." My point was that divers *should* have a lot of experience under "low-margin-for-error" (for lack of a better term) conditions, but that these conditions are not *necessarily* limited to deep air. (Deep air diving is just one way to gain experience in low-margin-for-error conditions. Shallow but long penetration cave dives, I suspect, are another; and wreck dives in wicked currents, low visability, and cold water would be another). It's extremely difficult to pinpoint a specific "quality" that experience in "low-margin-for-error" conditions is supposed to provide a diver. The words "sense of mortality", "respect for the elements", "humility", and above all, "discipline" come to mind. Some people describe it as "facing the demon", which I think is along the same lines as what I mean. At all the tech diver meetings I have been to, I have seen a bell-curve with "ego/machismo" on the y-axis, and "true qualification" along the x-axis. Beginner divers are often very humble, and the most extremely experienced divers are also very humble. It's the ones in the middle that are at greatest risk of getting killed. Most of the people I know who are experienced deep divers (myself included) have passed through this bell-curve in their own development and have somehow managed to survive. The trick is getting through the middle part of the curve and out the other side without getting killed in the process. There is only so much an instructor can do to get a person through the rough part; personal discipline is what it really takes. > As one who is slowly working on deep air experience, what else can be done to > help prepare for future gas training? - The best advice about diving that I have ever received is "Cover your ass". This means, no matter where you are on the bell-curve, and no matter what sort of dives you do, make DAMN sure you can get back to the surface alive. - There should be a MINIMUM of two unrelated problems that must occur before you get into trouble, and weakpoints (i.e., most likely failures) in your diving regime should be backed up by many more bailout options. - Re-read the last paragraph of Bill Gavin's recent post on mixed-gas training, and pay very close attention to it. - NEVER be anxious to progress further (in other words, test your limits very slowly and cautiously). - Never forget that the bottom line is to stay alive and minimize permanent damage. That's the most important stuff. Aloha, Rich Richard Pyle deepreef@bi*.bi*.ha*.or* ******************************************************************* "WHATEVER happens to you when you willingly go underwater is COMPLETELY and ENTIRELY your own responsibility! If you cannot accept this responsibility, stay out of the water!" *******************************************************************
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