Club requires members to sign "no solo diving" contract - So I won't be renewing

[DelrayDM]

This is probably going to become more common. One dive club I belong to handed out a new form that they require to be signed when renewing for 2014. This new form says I will NEVER dive alone.

I would sign it if it said I would not dive alone during club activities, but this says 'never'.

I am not going to ask them if I can cross out that paragraph; I don't let anyone make any changes to the releases I have students & clients sign, so I don't expect the club to be any different.

This club is a great bunch of people, I will have to be sure they understand that it is that contract, not their personalities, which will have me leave the club.

 

[raftingtigger]

If you like the club why not ask the board for clarification on the "never". If it means on club dives then request they add "on club sponsored dives" to the "never". Nothing ventured, nothing gained. What do you have to lose?

 

[Dr. Lecter]

The piece of paper they tell me to sign can say whatever it wants. If I'm not diving off their boat, what I do is my own business. The worst that could happen is they'd see you diving solo and kick you out of the club...which action you're about to do for them anyway.

It's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

 

[uncfnp]

I can only imagine that they intend this for club related activities and may be a liability issue. I am not a member of a dive club but it would seem that the purpose of club activities is social diving so diving solo at those times seems like a bit of an oxymoron. If the club were important to me, I would be willing to sign it based on those specific conditions. My initial reaction was extremely negative but given our litigious society, I can see the request based on that concern. But if it is intended in any way to dictate diving behavior beyond the club, well I don't have polite words for what they could do with that contract.

 

[Steve_C]

So let me get this straight:

You are assisting in a class and a student develops an issue. You escort them back to land/boat, see that they are ok and secure in the company of others and return to the class. You are now solo.

You are on a six pack with 5 divers and no mate. Captain cannot unhook from the wreck. So you splash and unhook anchor and return to boat. You are now solo.

You come up from a wreck and are on the hang bar. Your buddy finishes their safety stop and goes to the surface after you signal you are staying a bit longer. You have plenty of air and hang out for a few minutes watching stuff swim by and waiting for the crowd at the ladder to clear out. You were again solo.

If you took this literally you could not function as an assistant instructor or DM.

 

[cb5150]

The piece of paper they tell me to sign can say whatever it wants. If I'm not diving off their boat, what I do is my own business. The worst that could happen is they'd see you diving solo and kick you out of the club...which action you're about to do for them anyway.

It's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Agreed. It's a piece of paper for a scuba CLUB. Why should/would they care what you do on your own? Plus, most of the people who dive together are really diving solo...they're just too naive to realize it yet.

 

[wedivebc]

I left a dive club because they would not allow the use of rebreathers. Too bad...

 

[Randy g]

I refuse to join a club because, I am NOT wearing a stupid leather vest when I dive that says, in big letters,................... Live to dive, Dive to live.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

When a club starts doing stupid crap like that it's often because there is some personality or personalities with a Napoleon complex who feel they need to dictate what members do. It's these idiots that cause clubs to fail. And they should. Once you start dictating outside behaviors you turn the club into a cult. And soon only the ones who fall for crap like that are left. The fun goes away.

Next it will be no BPW's, no long hoses, no jet fins, you must have a snorkel, and so on. Sounds like they are setting up the equivalent of a Home Owners Association that issues fines to people for farting outdoors or whatever the little tin pot dictators who run them do. I would ask them out loud at the next meeting or outing whose idea this is and what makes them think that it's ok to do this. And I'd want to know specifically who initiated this and why.

How soon will it be before you can only belong if you cert with this agency or only buy at one shop. Another thing that kills clubs. And should.

 

[letterboy]

If the intent of it is to not allow solo diving on club trips/events it should say that.

say what you mean, mean what you say. otherwise STHU.

---------- Post added December 3rd, 2013 at 04:17 PM ----------

So let me get this straight:

You are assisting in a class and a student develops an issue. You escort them back to land/boat, see that they are ok and secure in the company of others and return to the class. You are now solo.

You are on a six pack with 5 divers and no mate. Captain cannot unhook from the wreck. So you splash and unhook anchor and return to boat. You are now solo.

You come up from a wreck and are on the hang bar. Your buddy finishes their safety stop and goes to the surface after you signal you are staying a bit longer. You have plenty of air and hang out for a few minutes watching stuff swim by and waiting for the crowd at the ladder to clear out. You were again solo.

If you took this literally you could not function as an assistant instructor or DM.

your logic has no place here.