Soliciting Opinions...

Question for the masses...

Preamble:

I'm certified: NASDS (SSI) Advanced Open Water, 1990. I have a few
hundred hours of bottom time. In the early 90s I ran a small part-time
salvage operation in northern Vermont (recovering anchors, fishing
equipment, even a couple of outboard motors). Been on several cold water
wrecks, trips to Barbados/Bahamas/Hawaii, but most of my bottom
time has been logged in lakes / rivers. In addition, I've probably got
about 50 hours of bottom time in the Montreal Olympic dive basin (50ft
training tank).

The partner I worked with during the salvage biz was my father-in-law who,
at the time I started retrieving lost goods, had all of 6 hours of bottom
time (he owned the boat, I did the recovery). The following winter he
went on a trip on the Aggressor, and spent a month doing Belize, Curacao,
etc, etc (the whole circuit). The following summer he was an "expert"
about everything.

Needless to say, by 1998 diving was a bitter, painful experience and I
haven't been in the water since. In 2000 my wife and I moved to San
Francisco, and I wanted nothing to do with diving because of all the
bitterness and bad memories I'd developed over the years of diving with a
"buddy" that was overbearing and, IMO, dangerous.

-----

Now, for various reasons (and 3000 miles distance), the bitterness has
faded and I want to get back into it (as does my wife) -- but, I'm
overweight and very out of shape. A friend of mine (newly certified in
2003, with around 10 hours of bottom time) is coming to visit in
October and is *insisting* on going on a diving with me. I don't feel
that a dive into the kelp forests of Monterey is something that I should
be attempting with him right now, given his lack of experience and my
dry-time/lack of physical conditioning. If I was still shape, then it'd
be a no brainer -- I'm just very concerned about having to be on
guard for the two of us at depth.

In addition, I just had surgery on my hand and am not allowed in the pool
until mid-September, giving me a mere 3 weeks until his visit to get used
to being in the water again and to try to get a couple of check-out dives
under my belt (I can start working on getting in shape now, so that's not
really a reason to not go for it).

He's pushing more and more for me to "not be a pussy" etc, etc -- but one
of the first things a new diver learns is not to be pressured into
something you're not comfortable with.

Am I being over-cautious? What do you think?


S.

"Anonymous Diver" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
newsan.2005.08.12.19.35.21.525185@sonic.net...

> Am I being over-cautious? What do you think?

Diving isnt a physically stressful or physically demanding hobby, or
shouldnt be.

If you arent having fun get out of the water.

A little ditty we were taught when handling ammo and explosives;

I = Injury
M = Medication

S = Stress
A = Alcohol
F = Fatigue
E = Emotion

If any of these simple things are an issue, think twice.

If two or more, dont dive.

"Anonymous Diver" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
newsan.2005.08.12.19.35.21.525185@sonic.net...

> He's pushing more and more for me to "not be a pussy" etc, etc -- but one
> of the first things a new diver learns is not to be pressured into
> something you're not comfortable with.
>
> Am I being over-cautious? What do you think?

I think you're a pussy...

...If you -go- diving.

You have put -wwwaayyy- too much time and effort into the simple "no,
thanks" that an experienced diver would give, and experienced divers would
accept.

All the reasons and rationalization of your position are waffling on your
part.

I'm possibly the most gonzo suicidal diver on this group, which is a fair
boast, and I've never once questioned someone who called a dive, for even
the flimsyest of reasons.

"Bad vibes" works fine for me, and you're -way- past that.

While I hope you dive again, and find the love you once had for it, doing
this dive is everything wrong about peer pressure in our sport, and whatever
bad happens to you, you'll deserve.

Invite your friend here for a discussion, and we'll be more than happy to
fuck him up real bad for you.

Barring that, just see what everyone has to say, and then e-mail your
friend a URL for the thread.

Kinda like leaving mouthwash in someone's mailbox.

Good luck with your diving.

Eventually.

Anonymous Diver wrote:
> Am I being over-cautious? What do you think?

Probably... Go solo dive it before your friend gets in town and if you
still don't feel comfortable after a few dives, tell him that you don't
feel comfortable with it... Diving is like riding a bike... Even after
being away from it for a few years, you'll pick it right back up
without any help... If not, oh well, Darwin will protect you...

Thanks for the candid reply. I haven't waffled with him, I've been
saying 'no' over and over and over and over, but he won't let it alone.

I wanted to do a sanity check to see if I'm being unreasonable. Who
better to ask than divers?

Still interested in more feedback, but I think Popeye's said all that's
needed.

I should also point out that I've got no issues doing a freshwater dive
with him -- without tides/currents I don't give a crap about my physical
condition, I know I can handle anything that comes up.

Any decent freshwater dives in Northern Cali?



On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 17:50:59 -0400, Douglas W. "Popeye" Frederick wrote:


> "Anonymous Diver" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
> newsan.2005.08.12.19.35.21.525185@sonic.net...
>
>> He's pushing more and more for me to "not be a pussy" etc, etc -- but
>> one of the first things a new diver learns is not to be pressured into
>> something you're not comfortable with.
>>
>> Am I being over-cautious? What do you think?
>
> I think you're a pussy...
>
> ...If you -go- diving.
>
> You have put -wwwaayyy- too much time and effort into the simple "no,
> thanks" that an experienced diver would give, and experienced divers
> would accept.
>
> All the reasons and rationalization of your position are waffling on
> your
> part.
>
> I'm possibly the most gonzo suicidal diver on this group, which is a
> fair
> boast, and I've never once questioned someone who called a dive, for
> even the flimsyest of reasons.
>
> "Bad vibes" works fine for me, and you're -way- past that.
>
> While I hope you dive again, and find the love you once had for it,
> doing
> this dive is everything wrong about peer pressure in our sport, and
> whatever bad happens to you, you'll deserve.
>
> Invite your friend here for a discussion, and we'll be more than happy
> to
> fuck him up real bad for you.
>
> Barring that, just see what everyone has to say, and then e-mail your
> friend a URL for the thread.
>
> Kinda like leaving mouthwash in someone's mailbox.
>
> Good luck with your diving.
>
> Eventually.

"Anonymous Diver" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
newsan.2005.08.12.23.23.32.170846@sonic.net...

> Thanks for the candid reply. I haven't waffled with him, I've been
> saying 'no' over and over and over and over, but he won't let it alone.

Then he has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he isnt the kind of
person you want to dive with.

This is a dive you need to thumb at the kitchen table.

Pops is candid and one of the best human beings we all know but dont let him
fool you, he is just a tiny little guy with a big mouth.

Ask him about the time he took all his gear off and threw it away during a
drift dive in Florida...

Anonymous Diver wrote:
> Question for the masses...
>
> Preamble:
>
> I'm certified: NASDS (SSI) Advanced Open Water, 1990. I have a few
> hundred hours of bottom time. In the early 90s I ran a small part-time
> salvage operation in northern Vermont (recovering anchors, fishing
> equipment, even a couple of outboard motors). Been on several cold water
> wrecks, trips to Barbados/Bahamas/Hawaii, but most of my bottom
> time has been logged in lakes / rivers. In addition, I've probably got
> about 50 hours of bottom time in the Montreal Olympic dive basin (50ft
> training tank).

Anyone can call a dive at any time for any reason, no questions asked.

Go read Popeye's reply again.

And whwen you are feeling like you want to get back in the water, lemme
know. I'll be happy to dive with you. Best of luck.

*

In article <pan.2005.08.12.23.23.32.170846@sonic.net>, Anonymous Diver
<nospam@sonic.net> wrote:

€ Thanks for the candid reply. I haven't waffled with him, I've been
€ saying 'no' over and over and over and over, but he won't let it alone.
€
€ I wanted to do a sanity check to see if I'm being unreasonable. Who
€ better to ask than divers?
€
€ Still interested in more feedback, but I think Popeye's said all that's
€ needed.
€
€ I should also point out that I've got no issues doing a freshwater dive
€ with him -- without tides/currents I don't give a crap about my physical
€ condition, I know I can handle anything that comes up.
€
€ Any decent freshwater dives in Northern Cali?
€
€

Lake Tahoe

Scott wrote:
> Ask him about the time he took all his gear off and threw it away during a
> drift dive in Florida...

At 90 feet no less IIRC.

We really should have shot a video. Remember the lightning lighting up
the seabed?

George

"Scott" <pugetsounddiver@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:HqbLe.28$UL5.4158@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Douglas W. "Popeye" Frederick" <Buzcutt454@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:11fqf5vdl7rija3@news.supernews.com...
> >
> > "Scott" <pugetsounddiver@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:2yaLe.38$v27.1017@news.uswest.net...
> > > "Anonymous Diver" <nospam@sonic.net> wrote in message
> > > newsan.2005.08.12.23.23.32.170846@sonic.net...
> > >
> > > > Thanks for the candid reply. I haven't waffled with him, I've
been
> > > > saying 'no' over and over and over and over, but he won't let it
> alone.
> > >
> > > Then he has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he isnt the kind
of
> > > person you want to dive with.
> > >
> > > This is a dive you need to thumb at the kitchen table.
> > >
> > > Pops is candid and one of the best human beings we all know but dont
let
> > him
> > > fool you, he is just a tiny little guy with a big mouth.
> > >
> > > Ask him about the time he took all his gear off and threw it away
during
> a
> > > drift dive in Florida...
> >
> > At 30 meters.
> >
> > Some people will do -anything- in front of a camera...
>
> Not to mention Joan...

Anyone hear from her lately?