Book Review: "Diver Down"

Even though I have not received my certification -- yet -- I found the book
to be far more educational than scary.

Taking lessons learned from others who have made really, really, stupid
mistakes, the author passes this info on to you so you don't make the same
dumb mistakes. I don't even dive yet, and even I'm reading this book
thinking what a bunch of idiots.

I would say diving is like marriage, or any relationship. All it takes is
two enthusiastic divers to team up and start a great dive. Unfortunately it
only takes one of those divers to end a dive, and if you are a good "buddy"
you will pay attention to your partner's wants and needs before tragedy
strikes. Fortunately in a marriage you always have a chance to go to
counseling. In diving you may wind up at a funeral.

It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is thinking
about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were preventable, so
nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.

Sheldon

snip

Virtually all the incidents in the book were preventable, so
> nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.


stuffed if I'm going to read it than

"Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
news:75-dnZbiCfdihI3bnZ2dnUVZ_qDinZ2d@comcast.com...
<snip>
>
> It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is
thinking
> about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were preventable,
so
> nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.

You may want to look at Chowdhury's "The Last Dive" also. Shadow Divers
recounts one of the indicdents differently.

Dennis

"Dennis (Icarus)" <nojunkmail@ever.invalid> wrote in message
news:cf4b6$46103460$1860878d$30439@KNOLOGY.NET...
> "Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
> news:75-dnZbiCfdihI3bnZ2dnUVZ_qDinZ2d@comcast.com...
> <snip>
> >
> > It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is
> thinking
> > about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were preventable,
> so
> > nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.
>
> You may want to look at Chowdhury's "The Last Dive" also. Shadow Divers
> recounts one of the indicdents differently.
>

"The Last Dive" is the book that I found so poorly written.

Sheldon wrote

> I would say diving is like marriage, or any relationship. All it takes is
> two enthusiastic divers to team up and start a great dive.

Actually, it's more like sex. You can do it along, but it's more fun in
groups of two or more.

> Unfortunately it only takes one of those divers to end a dive . . .

That's no unfortunate, it's critical. Any diver can end a dive any time,
for any reason.

> . . . and if you are a good "buddy" you will pay attention to your
> partner's wants and needs before tragedy strikes.

Depends on the circumstances and prior arrangements. ESG and I have done a
lot of dives together, but we're not much better than SOBs at best. That's
Same Ocean Buddies for those new to the sport. If Mike's in the mood to
ascend, he tries to let me know he's going, but is not obligated to. I do
that same. If either of us needs assistance, a situation neither of us is
inclined to allow, the one with the problem either deals with it himself or,
if suitable, initiates contact with the buddy, or other diver, that he seeks
help from.

> Fortunately in a marriage you always have a chance to go to counseling.
> In diving you may wind up at a funeral.

The only marriage counselor I ever went to, suggested, to my wife when I
wasn't there, that she should give up and get a divorce, which she did.
Guess who paid his bill. I'd rather drown that pay another one.

> It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is
> thinking about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were
> preventable, so nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.

Getting eaten by a shark is preventable too.

Lee

chilly wrote

> "The Last Dive" is the book that I found so poorly written.

I noticed that too. It was not easy to read, but the topic was interesting
enough that I forced myself to complete it.

Lee

Give "Deep Descent" a try. It's about diving the Andrea Doria, a
fascinating story and well written too.

Sheldon a écrit :
> Even though I have not received my certification -- yet -- I found the book
> to be far more educational than scary.
>
> Taking lessons learned from others who have made really, really, stupid
> mistakes, the author passes this info on to you so you don't make the same
> dumb mistakes. I don't even dive yet, and even I'm reading this book
> thinking what a bunch of idiots.

Just think about how vain is to use a couch reader standart when
appreciating a situation well below the sea surface.
>
> I would say diving is like marriage, or any relationship. All it takes is
> two enthusiastic divers to team up and start a great dive. Unfortunately it
> only takes one of those divers to end a dive, and if you are a good "buddy"
> you will pay attention to your partner's wants and needs before tragedy
> strikes. Fortunately in a marriage you always have a chance to go to
> counseling. In diving you may wind up at a funeral.

True if your buddy is not a diver (pretty unbelievable), but if you make
a real pair, you both are going to check the other's equipment before
diving and then know how to rescue each other with a safe emerging
speed. I know it sounds a bit formal just when you end a read on a couch
but that's the way we all do things down there and that's how you
explain how few accidents are in such "tragical" conditions.
>
> It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is thinking
> about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were preventable, so
> nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.

Thanks God, courses given by no matter who (Cmas, Padi, SSI...) are no
fast reading and sharks are so few that tey have plenty of better food
than human flesh.

Olivier

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:sDWPh.14987$6m4.9643@pd7urf1no...
>
> "Dennis (Icarus)" <nojunkmail@ever.invalid> wrote in message
> news:cf4b6$46103460$1860878d$30439@KNOLOGY.NET...
> > "Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
> > news:75-dnZbiCfdihI3bnZ2dnUVZ_qDinZ2d@comcast.com...
> > <snip>
> > >
> > > It's a very fast read, and I recommend it to anyone who dives or is
> > thinking
> > > about diving. Virtually all the incidents in the book were
preventable,
> > so
> > > nobody got eaten by a shark or anything like that.
> >
> > You may want to look at Chowdhury's "The Last Dive" also. Shadow Divers
> > recounts one of the indicdents differently.
> >
>
> "The Last Dive" is the book that I found so poorly written.
>
>

<shrug> I didn't notice.

Dennis

Douglas W "Popeye" Frederick a écrit :
> "Le fantôme du Parc" <fantome@parc.net> wrote in message
> news:46106a9a$0$14662$79c14f64@nan-newsreader-07.noos.net...
>
>>Sheldon a écrit :
>>
>>>Even though I have not received my certification -- yet -- I found the
>>>book to be far more educational than scary.
>>>
>>>Taking lessons learned from others who have made really, really, stupid
>>>mistakes, the author passes this info on to you so you don't make the
>>>same dumb mistakes. I don't even dive yet, and even I'm reading this
>>>book thinking what a bunch of idiots.
>>
>>Just think about how vain is to use a couch reader standart when
>>appreciating a situation well below the sea surface.
>
>
> The guy is working hard, asking all the right questions, and has his head
> on his shoulders.
>
> Already practicing in the pool.
>
> He'll be a top notch Rec.scuba Diver when we get done with him.
>
> Who are you to point out vanity on his part when we don't know how -you-
> dive?
>
>
>
>
You're pretty right, I was the vain one this time. Sorry Sheldon.
But just think how little help you'll get from a book in a diving situation.
I just pointed the fact that no reading replaces an underwater repeated
experience.
I'm a Cmas 3 stars, N3 in France, entitled to dive 60 meters deep.
Nothing like a reliable buddy, far more important than a shared
certification.
Olivier