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Scuba Forum / General / April 2007Book 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 :-) <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 > <snip> > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 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. > "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 > > <snip> > > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > "The Last Dive" is the book that I found so poorly written. <shrug> I didn't notice. Dennis > 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 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. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > 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 > Sheldon a écrit : >> Even though I have not received my certification -- yet -- I found the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > 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? Douglas W "Popeye" Frederick a écrit : >>Sheldon a écrit : >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > 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 > Douglas W "Popeye" Frederick a écrit : >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > like a reliable buddy, far more important than a shared certification. > Olivier I apologize for my rudeness, and greatly appreciate your apology to Sheldon. There are divers here with 40 years and several thousand dives, and some waiting on their qual dives, and everything in between. As reliable buddies go, I have around 700 solo dives, so you'll find a great variance in philosophies here as well. :-) Welcome to Rec.scuba. > As reliable buddies go, I have around 700 solo dives, so you'll find a > great variance in philosophies here as well. Personally, I find about 150 solo dives makes a guy a reliable buddy. YMMV. esg >> As reliable buddies go, I have around 700 solo dives, so you'll find a >> great variance in philosophies here as well. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > esg I'm a slow learner... > Personally, I find about 150 solo dives makes a guy a reliable buddy. That depends upon what type of beer he keeps in his cooler for the after dive libations... > There are divers here with 40 years and several thousand dives, and some > waiting on their qual dives, and everything in between. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Welcome to Rec.scuba. Got a batch of 2" steaks. Wanna solo dive on that? :-) When you headed west? Dan >> There are divers here with 40 years and several thousand dives, and some >> waiting on their qual dives, and everything in between. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Got a batch of 2" steaks. Wanna solo dive on that? :-) > When you headed west? Dan I'm sooo close, it's sad (Bozeman- Butte and I-15 north tomorrow.). Weather and a brand new broken truck are kicking my butt. Hopefully, there's a chance I may come thru there on my way south. > > There are divers here with 40 years and several thousand dives, and some > > waiting on their qual dives, and everything in between. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Got a batch of 2" steaks. Wanna solo dive on that? :-) > When you headed west? Dan Ribeye's I hope. >> > There are divers here with 40 years and several thousand dives, and > some [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Ribeye's I hope. Filet Mignon :). You getting to the dry side of the state, call! Dan > Douglas W "Popeye" Frederick a écrit : > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > certification. > Olivier "entitled"? So am I. I'm not certified, however.  Signature“TAANSTAFL” ____________________________________________________________________________ "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3 ____________________________________________________________________________ >> Sheldon a écrit : >>> Even though I have not received my certification -- yet -- I found the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > He'll be a top notch Rec.scuba Diver when we get done with him. <snip> Thanks, Sheldon |
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