Disturbing trend: glorifying horrible dives on social media.

[Eric Sedletzky]

In the last few days/weeks I’ve noticed an uptick in some very strange dive stories involving some trust me deep dives into deco, people running out of air with deco obligations, crazy deep dives by some Russian group (which was extremely painfull to try and read, but I think I got the jist of it). There was a vid posted about another completely disfunctional dive in the St. Lawrence River by a guy who didn’t even seem to have the skills to clear a mask at depth and had no idea what coming up slow meant or sticking with buddies. All this seems bad enough, but a few of them actually glorified some of this disfunction as if it’s almost normal and just part of their diving life.
There was one line that stuck with me when a gal said “it was the funnest dive ever!!”. This was after just about running out of air with deco obligation and several of her group actually running OOA.
Reading some of this stuff and watching some of these videos is like the twilight zone. The one about the absolute freak out with ripped off mask and those eyeballs was extremely unsettling. How are these people getting certified to even get this far?

Am I imagining things or is this something that becoming an epidemic? Do these people even know how horrible their diving and common sense really is???
Or is this just the forward progession of our new online social media world where everybody puts their entire life on display for everyone to see, good and bad?

 

[StefinSB]

I haven’t seen any of those. Just the, to me, annoying photos of people dragging their regulators and consoles over the bottom.

 

[Fibonacci]

There does seem to be more of these incidents lately... maybe they were expecting Blue Planet level marine life on every dive and rapidly discovered the truth.
So then wanted to introduce some excitement and danger into their diving for bragging rights on social media?

 

[Dogbowl]

Recklessness, danger and excitement gets internet views. Ppl have died scaling cranes, high rises, bridges to get a selfie. It’s an unfortunate trend with millennials (and maybe other generations too). It’s just drifting over to diving.

 

[divinh]

The Russian diver wanted to do an analysis of what he did wrong. If you read further in the St. Lawrence River thread, the mask clearing could be a challenge because of the strong currents, based on divers who've been at the same site. Finally, are you sure the gal wasn't saying it with sarcasm?

 

[lowviz]

Man the helm. Steady as she goes, this too shall pass. I don't give it a second thought.

When 'they' find that gonzo diving isn't working for them over the long term, one or two will realize that they need to 'make westing'.

Let it Darwin play out. It is all for the greater good.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

There have always been people doing irresponsible, dangerous and downright idiotic things. I suspect that statistically there are no more now than in the past. What has changed is the ability to post it on the internet for a huge audience to hear/see it.

Unfortunately in my experience offering our "pearls of wisdom" to unwilling recipients accomplishes little but frustration on both sides. If a friendly question or two don't encounter an open mind a lecture or confrontational approach will guarantee a stubbornly closed mind.

It saddens me when people put themselves at risk because it is those who remain who pay the price. That said we have to recognize that people have a right to make their choices. If my gently gently approach doesn't work and they don't endanger anyone I am responsible for I'll respect their right to live or die as they choose.

 

[mcpowell]

Darwin has this.

 

[D_Fresh]

The Russian diver wanted to do an analysis of what he did wrong. If you read further in the St. Lawrence River thread, the mask clearing could be a challenge because of the strong currents, based on divers who've been at the same site. Finally, are you sure the gal wasn't saying it with sarcasm?

I second dininh's take on those particular postings. I've seen/read them too, and I do feel that the divers were likely diving beyond their abilities.

But I think @Eric Sedletzky's point is still valid. It could be people trying to mimic/emulate what they see on Shark Week, Sanctum, or wherever, or it could simply be Darwinism at work. It could also be more related to the reasonable cost and accessibility to GoPro/FB that these situations are coming to light more often.

In any hobby, sport, or activity there will be a portion of the participants who don't take it seriously, assume is all for entertainment and laughs, or simply go "sprinting" when they should be "crawling". I do wish that these people would/could understand the gravity of their actions, both for their own safety/sake, as well as the sport as a whole. But "some people ya just can't reach" (try as we might).

We are so fortunate to be among those who take diving seriously, we learn from each other's experiences and mistakes, and try to be the best divers and dive "ambassadors" that we can.

Cheers to everyone here on SB.

Stay safe

 

[Fibonacci]

~snip~
How are these people getting certified to even get this far?
Am I imagining things or is this something that becoming an epidemic? Do these people even know how horrible their diving and common sense really is???

Not your imagination!
Over my last 40 dives I have had three occasions where the 'buddy' of a couple had absolutely NO idea of how to read or understand their dive computer, haphazard buoyancy control, vague directional sense, rapid air consumption, overweight and very unfit yet supposedly had hundreds of dives logged all over the world!
They just tagged along with their mind in neutral, the 'primary buddy' making all the decisions... any sort of minor incident like a mask flood could escalate dramatically!