Arrogance and humility among divers

[mdb]

Were they? I wasn't around back then (I was six when he did the last notable thing I see on wikipedia) but I haven't heard of other divers from that time doing things like that. Was it a really common practice or are people justifying the bad behavior of someone that many people idolize as a hero.

His brother was sentenced to death for collaboration with the Nazi's.

His brother was finally sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was openly an anti-semitic.

He destroyed reefs to get his photos and videos etc.

On the other hand, he put SCUBA diving in front of many who became
ambassadors of the oceans.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I was always amazed at the number of men who told me they were former Navy SEALS. I would think that would be something they would probably want to keep classified. Also, none of them looked as if they could have ever been in shape to pass a Navy diving class.

 

[mdb]

I was always amazed at the number of men who told me they were former Navy SEALS. I would think that would be something they would probably want to keep classified. Also, none of them looked as if they could have ever been in shape to pass a Navy diving class.

Posers are so rampant.

I have met many over the years.

Listening to someone at a bar or restaurant going on about his exploits.

Usually a few simple questions- What unit were you with with? Where were you in country?
and other simple questions, put the posers uneasy and uncomfortable.

In the case of the posers claiming they were Navy Seals-"What class were you in? Who
was your Senior Master Chief? What team were you assigned?

I really do not know why people need to pretend something they are not.

 

[boulderjohn]

Fortunately the agencies do recognize this, and allow (or even encourage) individual instructors to tailor their training to the conditions in which they teach.

Actually, with PADI it is required that you prepare students for the conditions in which they will dive. It is hard to believe any agency would do otherwise.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Actually, with PADI it is required that you prepare students for the conditions in which they will dive. It is hard to believe any agency would do otherwise.

It's a nice sentiment, but PADI ... like other agencies ... are a bit short on specifics when it comes to meeting that requirement.

As an example, explain to me how PADI requires you to teach buddy skills. Every agency says you should (must) dive with a buddy, but they're a bit short on techniques for doing so successfully. There are techniques for diving in the low vis conditions typical in many areas that are not part of the standard OW curriculum. They leave it to the instructor to "fill in the gaps". Some do, others don't. This isn't specific to PADI ... and it's the reason why so many divers have difficulty maintaining the integrity of their buddy team ... because they were never actually taught how to.

.. Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[RayfromTX]

Common courtesy and politeness are sometimes maligned as political correctness and being too sensitive. There are some unfortunate individuals that never learned the value of diplomacy and therefore incorrectly view it as a sign of weakness. Those that are able to communicate without insulting and offending others are at a distinct advantage in this world. Those that are not often fail to recognize how many opportunities they miss when people just refuse to include them.

I am encouraged that as a society we are continuing to evolve socially. When I see people ridicule others for expecting common courtesy it is an indication that they are uncomfortable with our changing society. It's a process.

Arrogance on the other hand is an indication of lack of self confidence. We can perhaps help these people by assuring them that they are indeed good enough to deserve our respect rather than fall into the trap of wanting to tear them down which only makes them try harder to inflate their own image. This being human stuff isn't all that easy.

 

[boulderjohn]

There are techniques for diving in the low vis conditions typical in many areas that are not part of the standard OW curriculum. They leave it to the instructor to "fill in the gaps".

That is true of many or most skills--a dive course not only cannot teach what every condition is like throughout the world, it should not do that. Why fill students' heads with information they may never use, will likely forget, and will have time to learn it should the need arise? For example I did not do a single dive in conditions where the tide made one iota of difference until I had more than 800 dives and visited in your neck of the woods. When I arrived, I learned from locals what I needed to know about diving with the tides, information that should be taught to anyone doing their OW class there. In contrast, we go over diving at altitude with every dive class in Colorado, something a Seattle-area diver may never have to think about.

 

[Wookie]

Posers are so rampant.

I have met many over the years.

Listening to someone at a bar or restaurant going on about his exploits.

Usually a few simple questions- What unit were you with with? Where were you in country?
and other simple questions, put the posers uneasy and uncomfortable.

In the case of the posers claiming they were Navy Seals-"What class were you in? Who
was your Senior Master Chief? What team were you assigned?

I really do not know why people need to pretend something they are not.

Around here you have to know how class numbers are assigned. And who the possible Master Chiefs are. Because the real guys never advertise it, but they all seem
to retire to San Diego or Key West....

 

[Hoag]

Around here you have to know how class numbers are assigned. And who the possible Master Chiefs are. Because the real guys never advertise it, but they all seem
to retire to San Diego or Key West....

... or Panama City FL

 

[Wookie]

We get the army guys here. Very few navy. Their school is here.