Hehe, you've got some valid points there Omission. A few buddies and I were just having a grand old time pointing out everything we could possibly think of, and I posted it all. Although in response to the points you brought up...
- I can see the boot thing from either perspective. Each side has a case for and against, just as there are arguments for and against hose protectors. Used appropriately, and inspected under frequently, they present few/no issues in and of themselves. My personal preference is to leave both of them off, so that impending issues are glaringly obvious. Just my personal preference.
- You have a point on the compass as well. With crazy good vis like they obviously have, and with decent landmarks to navigate off of, it might be unnecessary. Possible argument there is that with wide open sand if you do get turned around for some reason, you're gonna have to surface to find your way back. On a technical dive (see the next point on that) it is not exactly convenient to do so. For me wearing a compass has never been so much of a hassle that it's worth leaving at home. It's just a matter of habit at this point.
- I agree on not needing a backup computer, and dive with a bottom timer and tables as backup to my Petrel. A first computer is even unnecessary so long as it is replaced with a depth/time device and tables. I made the call on the lack of backup depth/time device based on the fact that the watch looks too small for it to be a "true" dive watch. I could be wrong there though.
- On the argument for it not being a Tech dive, they are clearly wearing backmounted doubles and carrying two stages. While I have done very long range no-deco shallow dives in such a setup, I would say that I'm in a very small minority in doing that kind of dive (and even then most of the time some amount of deco is involved, even if it is only ten minutes or so). We can (and have on SB) debate on exactly where the line lies between recreational and technical diving, but I think I can say with some confidence that diving such a setup would generally fall into the realm that most of us would call technical diving, if only for the extra complexity involved in dealing with the equipment.
You did catch me in some overly quick assumptions though, so I'll take that licking! That's great though! Keeps us all honest.
@Mscdex, hahaha! That did come up in conversation... I was just trying to keep from getting too personal