TN-Steve
Contributor
Hey Gang,
Had some great diving this weekend at a local site. One thing that bothered me is that I saw something that made me very uncomfortable, and didn't know how to handle it.
The local site (which I will not name) does allow Solo Diving, but the individual has to be Solo or Tech Intro to Cave certified, and have full redundant equipment. (Pony or dual isolated tanks with separate regs). You also have to file a detailed dive plan with the shop and follow it. It was kind of busy that day there, and I had snagged a picnic table for setting up, and was waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. There was a guy and his wife looking for a place, and since I had plenty of room told them that they were welcome to use my table, that there were only going to be a couple of other folks coming, so no problem at all.
I noticed that he was the only one who setup gear, basic single tank and reg, and talking to him, got the feeling that he had been certified longer than I (no big accomplishment), but not for more than a year or so. I noticed that his wife wasn't gearing up, he said that she didn't dive, she just watched.
He dove, came back after his dive, packed up the gear and left before the rest of my crew showed up. (I was there early, they were a bit later). It wasn't until after he had gone in solo that I realized what he was doing. Since I didn't KNOW what his certifications were, but I knew I hadn't seen a pony tank or doubles I wasn't sure what to do. Part of me felt like letting the management know, but part of me was more the "You're not the SCUBA Police, mind your own business". I let the MYOB side win out... but did I do the right thing?
I'm not trying to police him, I thing I'm more concerned for the site, and that nothing happens that would jeopardize solo diving for those who do meet the site requirements. I also don't know how strictly they enforce them. I also didn't directly challenge him before he dove, so I could be mistaken, but the fact that he was solo single tank raises enough flags even for me.
What advice do you have. Next time I'm at the site, I'm going to present this as a hypothetical to them... see what they say.
Thanks, and I'll hang up and take my answer offline.
Steve
Had some great diving this weekend at a local site. One thing that bothered me is that I saw something that made me very uncomfortable, and didn't know how to handle it.
The local site (which I will not name) does allow Solo Diving, but the individual has to be Solo or Tech Intro to Cave certified, and have full redundant equipment. (Pony or dual isolated tanks with separate regs). You also have to file a detailed dive plan with the shop and follow it. It was kind of busy that day there, and I had snagged a picnic table for setting up, and was waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. There was a guy and his wife looking for a place, and since I had plenty of room told them that they were welcome to use my table, that there were only going to be a couple of other folks coming, so no problem at all.
I noticed that he was the only one who setup gear, basic single tank and reg, and talking to him, got the feeling that he had been certified longer than I (no big accomplishment), but not for more than a year or so. I noticed that his wife wasn't gearing up, he said that she didn't dive, she just watched.
He dove, came back after his dive, packed up the gear and left before the rest of my crew showed up. (I was there early, they were a bit later). It wasn't until after he had gone in solo that I realized what he was doing. Since I didn't KNOW what his certifications were, but I knew I hadn't seen a pony tank or doubles I wasn't sure what to do. Part of me felt like letting the management know, but part of me was more the "You're not the SCUBA Police, mind your own business". I let the MYOB side win out... but did I do the right thing?
I'm not trying to police him, I thing I'm more concerned for the site, and that nothing happens that would jeopardize solo diving for those who do meet the site requirements. I also don't know how strictly they enforce them. I also didn't directly challenge him before he dove, so I could be mistaken, but the fact that he was solo single tank raises enough flags even for me.
What advice do you have. Next time I'm at the site, I'm going to present this as a hypothetical to them... see what they say.
Thanks, and I'll hang up and take my answer offline.
Steve