Accomplished Bad Divers - John Chatterton's Blog

[HowardE]

If you know or meet John, he often recounts the story of Accomplished Bad Divers. I can remember the first time I heard the tale of accomplished bad divers when John and I were at Beneath the Sea 5 years ago.

I have the privilege of assisting John with the classes he teaches, and we relate tales of such divers to our students, and now, he's written an excellent blog post about it.

As a long time diver in South Florida, boat Captain, and Scuba Instructor, I've seen my share of guys who just seem to be good at diving badly and making that their goal. It seems like everyone might know someone like Ed in John's post...

Accomplished Bad Divers | Shadow Diver | John Chatterton

Ok... Discuss.

 

[chrpai]

Well, based on the stories I've read and heard from regarding the divers in that region in that time period, I'd believe John has probably pretty much seen it all. When he wrote cave diving is probably a good thing or a bad thing... I'd say for at least one diver ( Michael H Kane is coming to mind ) it was probably the best thing he could ever do.

As for me, my "accomplishments" aren't measured by the number of cards, how deep, how far in or how long I've been under... they are measured one beautiful day at a time doing the thing that I love.

---------- Post added March 20th, 2013 at 06:27 AM ----------

Oh, and with divers like that in the water, maybe that explains his "you can't have my reg" mantra.

 

[jwalko]

While this isn't exactly a Bad Diver tale, I often wonder how this diver turned out. He seemed to have an inability to listen to the instructor during our OW checkout dives. He was an older gentleman and a bit out of shape. He did ok with his skills, but absolutely refused to listen to the instructor when asked to pair up with his buddy...and to stay in the group. During our OW dives 1 and 2, we did our skills and then were given a tour by the instructor, often pointing out interesting things, like a puffer fish, or a Moray Eel...or information about a coal barge that sunk during a storm at the site. This guy would just take off...zig-zagging all across the reef. Now, I know that almost all new divers are air hogs...but this guy took the cake. Being somewhat out of shape...and swimming like he was, he would burn up a Al-80 in about 15 minutes. The rest of us were frustrated, because we all had to surface as a group...and we all still had about 2k of air remaining.

I don't think this means he was dangerous...or even a danger to himself...but I do wonder what kind of diver he became.

John

 

[ScubaInChicago]

Was this story in defense of "This reg is for me"? Because it would help me understand how you would let someone DIE.

 

[HowardE]

Was this story in defense of "This reg is for me"? Because it would help me understand how you would let someone DIE.

No. It wasn't. He has no reason to defend his other post. And he never said he'd let someone die, and he never has.

Nice try though... lol

 

[Tessunderwater]

Wow. I'm amazed this Ed guy didn't die sooner with what he was doing. Sad story but myself and I'm sure others on this board know someone who is like that. I don't dive with those people


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[Scott L]

While this isn't exactly a Bad Diver tale, I often wonder how this diver turned out. He seemed to have an inability to listen to the instructor during our OW checkout dives. He was an older gentleman and a bit out of shape. He did ok with his skills, but absolutely refused to listen to the instructor when asked to pair up with his buddy...and to stay in the group. During our OW dives 1 and 2, we did our skills and then were given a tour by the instructor, often pointing out interesting things, like a puffer fish, or a Moray Eel...or information about a coal barge that sunk during a storm at the site. This guy would just take off...zig-zagging all across the reef. Now, I know that almost all new divers are air hogs...but this guy took the cake. Being somewhat out of shape...and swimming like he was, he would burn up a Al-80 in about 15 minutes. The rest of us were frustrated, because we all had to surface as a group...and we all still had about 2k of air remaining.

I don't think this means he was dangerous...or even a danger to himself...but I do wonder what kind of diver he became.

John

Most instructors would ascend with the clown long enough to see him surface then return to the group. That would suck royally for everyone to surface that early...

 

[KY_BOB]

While this isn't exactly a Bad Diver tale, I often wonder how this diver turned out. He seemed to have an inability to listen to the instructor during our OW checkout dives. He was an older gentleman and a bit out of shape. He did ok with his skills, but absolutely refused to listen to the instructor when asked to pair up with his buddy...and to stay in the group. During our OW dives 1 and 2, we did our skills and then were given a tour by the instructor, often pointing out interesting things, like a puffer fish, or a Moray Eel...or information about a coal barge that sunk during a storm at the site. This guy would just take off...zig-zagging all across the reef. Now, I know that almost all new divers are air hogs...but this guy took the cake. Being somewhat out of shape...and swimming like he was, he would burn up a Al-80 in about 15 minutes. The rest of us were frustrated, because we all had to surface as a group...and we all still had about 2k of air remaining.

I don't think this means he was dangerous...or even a danger to himself...but I do wonder what kind of diver he became.

John

I think I did a couple of dives with him in Bonaire a few years ago. :cool2:

 

[eponym]

It seems like everyone might know someone like Ed in John's post.

Here's one I witnessed during a wreck dive in Canada. Small dive boat, six or seven divers. On the way out one diver yaks about why he, as a photographer, has to dive solo.

Yes, you guessed it.

Photographer runs out of gas on the wreck. Photographer gets himself to a two-diver team and starts sharing air.

Now it gets interesting.

As the three get to the upline and start to ascend, the donor notices that the photographer is sucking down his twins like nobody's business. So the donor signals his buddy and starts sharing gas with him, allowing the photographer all of his remaining back gas.

Everyone got out, everyone was fine, although some deco was omitted. The photographer was put on oxygen and didn't dive again that day. But John's analysis couldn't be more appropriate.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Hubris is a common factor. As well, not taking personal responsibility and blaming others is a factor of the few really bad divers with whom I dove.