ArcticDiver
Contributor
Leah's thread on how to define a good diver and the widely varying responses helped me focus a bit on just what is a good diver. In the years since I've been certified I've seen a bunch of divers from many different disciplines, and some from no discipline.
I've heard and experienced others say so-and-so is, or is not, a good diver based on type of gear, age, sex, training, home place, and other criteria. Heaven knows there has been a lot of cyberspace taken up on the subject. I've always sort of said if the person is a Professional (which includes having competence in their skills enough to be safe and respect for themselves and everything around them) that was enough. But, even that is open to a wide variety of definitions.
So, I've come to the conclusion that saying someone is a good diver is akin to saying a particular restaurant is a good restaurant. A restaurant is good, or not, depending on the individual's taste buds. A diver is a good diver, or not, depending on the individual's perceptions. Some of those may be so deep in the mind that the person making the judgement can't even articulate them
Keeping that in mind, henceforth I'm only going to ask two questions:
First; is the diver competent enough to not kill or injure themself or me?
Second; is the diver having fun? If we are to dive together will the other diver contribute to my having fun?
If the answer to both is "yes" that is a good diver and I'll gladly dive with them and learn from them.
I've heard and experienced others say so-and-so is, or is not, a good diver based on type of gear, age, sex, training, home place, and other criteria. Heaven knows there has been a lot of cyberspace taken up on the subject. I've always sort of said if the person is a Professional (which includes having competence in their skills enough to be safe and respect for themselves and everything around them) that was enough. But, even that is open to a wide variety of definitions.
So, I've come to the conclusion that saying someone is a good diver is akin to saying a particular restaurant is a good restaurant. A restaurant is good, or not, depending on the individual's taste buds. A diver is a good diver, or not, depending on the individual's perceptions. Some of those may be so deep in the mind that the person making the judgement can't even articulate them
Keeping that in mind, henceforth I'm only going to ask two questions:
First; is the diver competent enough to not kill or injure themself or me?
Second; is the diver having fun? If we are to dive together will the other diver contribute to my having fun?
If the answer to both is "yes" that is a good diver and I'll gladly dive with them and learn from them.