On Tuesday, March 20, 2001 6:09 PM, Poe Lim wrote:

(snip)
> Bob, FWIW, I think there has been a lot of misunderstanding about Codes of
> Practice or Australian Standards;

Hi, Poe!  I rather think that Bob understands their purpose very well <BWG>,
but plays 'Devil's Advocate' in order to stimulate thought and make people
actually *think* about why they support a position rather than blindly
accepting it! :-)

Mind you!  I could be wrong about that!  :-)

>they are not "law", ie they are
> recommendations you should follow, but you are not strictly speaking
obliged
> to follow, unless there is a law that directs you to do so. But of course
if
> something happens, and you have not followed the Codes or Standards, then
> you are up the creek without a paddle (I guess similar to a peer review
> situation).

Well put!  And it does highlight the fact that it's an "industry" code - not
a consumer-based one! :-)

> From my only experience diving the GBR on a liveaboard, the operator is
> fairly flexible if you are demonstrably experienced, and will cut you some
> slack. There was no mention of max depth (although where we were, you'd be
> hard pressed to go past 30m), no requirements for snorkels (we asked),
> although you could not do a reverse profile of more than 3m (from memory).

As you discovered, most operators give allowance for true experience -
rather than a customer's claim to be experienced.  And as far as reverse
profiles are concerned - given the fact that most dive locations over the
course of any one day are selected with safety in mind, (certainly on the
reefs visited by your operator) - then I don't think that it's any big deal!
:-)

> For those undergoing training (most of the boat), yes, enforcement was
> strict.

Which is no bad thing!  Otherwise we might as well dispense with any form of
training!  :-)

>Unfortunately the GBR seemed to attract a lot more inexperienced
> divers that most other places I've been too, perhaps due to its reputation
> making people dive there when they might not elsewhere, and I think the
Qld
> Code of Practice reflects that.

You were very kind - and very diplomatic - when you wrote "more
inexperienced"!  I've seen dive crew reviled because they questioned the
training of an overseas person holding a DM certification, but who - when
completing a medical waiver - confessed to being an asthmatic with high
blood pressure and a history of black-outs!  :-)

And you're spot on about the Code's intent.  :-)

Strike