>
> Some time ago, there was a discussion somewhere about the death rate on the
> Seeker, a boat that takes divers out to the Andrea Doria.  The same issue
> came up, self responsibility.  The fact was, however, that the boat was
> taking people to clearly high risk dives, where a lot of folks had died from
> DCS before, where the nearest chamber was a long way away, without a
> chamber, portable or otherwise and without insisting on gas and protocols
> that most who are experienced with deep, long dives believe are essential.
> In light of their failure, and the number of deaths on that particular boat,
> it was pretty clear that something other than simple diver irresponsibility
> was at work.

At the time of a good many of the deaths on the Doria travelled to by the
Seeker there were no 'standard' protocols', with respect to gas,  outside of
the fact that a good many of the dives and deaths were done while breathing
air. It was well known in the diving community that this dive was considered a
very advanced dive. It was also pretty well known that the Seeker was merely a
taxi service to get you to the wreck. After arrival you were pretty much left
to your own devices as far as the diving was concerned. I might be wrong here
but I believe there is a difference in this type boat and operations and that
of a recreational diving live aboard. I would expect the recreational boat to
be somewhat more aware of the consequences of putting someone less experience
in iffy conditions. I imagine this sounds somewhat strange to some, if not
many, but my feeling is that a person is more likely to do more research into
the dive conditions on a dive such as the Doria and pretty much knows long
before they get on the boat that they are likely to experience dive conditions
that represent a high pucker factor vs. what you generally find on the
recreational live aboard boats. IMO, this puts more responsibility on the
recreational boat to insure that they MAKE the DIVER aware of the conditions
that he/she is likely to experience on a particular site. I'm not saying that
they need to hold the hands of those that might not be as comfortable in the
conditions present, quite the contrary, I believe that once the information is
presented to the diver, it's the diver's ass once they step off the boat. I'm
just not convinced that the information is presented to the diver in sufficient
fashion to make them understand that the dive can be very challenging and if
they have any doubt as to their ability to complete the dive safely, they
should just sit it out and drink margueritas instead. Hope this makes sense....

>
> > Just to go back to the original article, Hasson stated that the DM's
> weren't
> > guides.
>
> I can't blame a DM for the accident.  I simply can't come up with anything a
> DM can or should do for me that I should not have already done for myself.
> They may share some blame for inappropriate action after the accident had
> occurred, but that's a different issue.  What I do find amusing, however, is
> how many DMs seem to insist on their right and obligation to control diving
> from boats they work on . . . until there's an accident.  Then, suddenly,
> it's not their job.

If I were to fault the DM on this or any other incident on a dive boat, it
would be in the quality of the dive briefing, assuming it's the DM that gives
the briefings. It's been my experience that the Capt gives the briefing,
sometimes based on the information given to him by DM after tying into what
ever we are diving on. Very typical in the northern Gulf diving. DM jumps in
and ties up and then gives the capt info concering vis and currents. Capt then
briefs the divers before splashing them. Bob mentioned that DM's didn't even
get wet in the areas of Florida that he has done. This not generally true of
the northern Gulf. They hit the water and tie in and will dive with a paying
customer if requested and act as a buddy and guide. They are also responsible
for hitting the water in an emergency and rendering assistance to the
distressed diver. I have seen more than one of them jump with a rescue buoy and
rope and assist a tired diver in a current that surfaced away from the boat.
This does not make them responsible for the divers actions while on their dive
though, unless they have agreed to act as a guide on a dive. This, to me,
places them in a responsible position for the divers under their control. Once
they agree to act as a dive guide, as a dive professional, they have more
responsibility for their actions and those of their guidees......


>
> > How do you gain experience of a new diving environment thousands of miles
> > from home - especially if the promotional literature doesn't emphasise the
> > risks?
>
> You discuss it here?  8^)

Or you seek the knowledge of a LOCAL that KNOWS the conditions that might be
present. Then you must decide if you are capable of diving under those
conditions. If that LOCAL decides to guide you on that dive, he/she accepts
greater responsibility for the outcome of that particular dive.


>
> Lee


__
Mike Wallace
34 47.534
086 34.132