Some comments,
John cut his teeth on the San Diego. He has probably done a number of external surveys of the wreck and been inside it several times before that episode as well. I believe that it is in his and Jon Hulbert's backyard. Also, some of the wreck divers out there still don't believe in lines. In fact, on the boat, I remember John and Jon say something about "good progressive pentration techniques". That implies no guide lines.
As to dectective work, it is my understanding that most of detective work is boring stuff done in libraries. Read Shadow Divers. In order to identify U-869, John and Ritchie spent far more time in libraries, interviewing former U-Boat skippers, and reading previously classified reports than they did on the wreck. That is the nature of that beast. Other wreck diving books refer to this concept as well. The best work done when wreck diving is memorizing what is known about ship's plans to make a good dive plan.
As to the co-host and her first drysuit dive, I saw all of the suprise that it was her first North East wreck dive. I was a little suprised myself precisely because I *did* know where she learned to dive initially and did a great deal of her diving. Nobody thought to ask where did a great deal of her diving. It was in the nice warm waters of the Great Lakes in a two piece 7mm wetsuit. She probably didn't see the need for a drysuit until DUI sponsered the show. Are you willing to bet that she paid full price for that brand new DUI suit? I think not! As to the other issues, I am sure that she knows better. A person gets enthusiastic and we pillory them? I am sure that she won't do it again, LOL. (I hate the taste of salt water myself.) As to the rumored OOA, it is none of my business as I am not likely to be diving with her anyways.
Heck, ask some members here about some of my entries. I have one that was requested by an instructor teaching an OW class that I was diving with this weekend. It looks impressive in doubles (which I was wearing), but we definitely do NOT teach it, LOL. And that one is planned. Thank God it was for their fifth dive when they are basically on their own anyways.
Bottom line, it is nice to see any show that doesn't just show the "glamourous diving in some reef with the fish". I haven't dove salt water this year and won't for quite some time yet. But I still dive and see many things that I wouldn't if I didn't dive. I also love history, so shipwreck diving is my niche, too.
I missed the time frame when Ric Mixter's Great Lakes Indepth was on. But, he didn't show penetration dives or many wrecks outside of recreational levels as he was trying to encourage people to dive them. I have some tapes from that show and some of the specials that he now makes. That would be the kind of show that many of you would be talking about though.
