In recent discussions, we had numerous threads of RULES, Scuba Cops,
Max Depth, and so on.  The trouble with any RULES that do not take
into account the PARTICULAR DIVER to whom the rule is supposed to
apply and indiscriminantly apply it to EVERYONE are generally
ill-founded and ineffective rules.

In the process of "old ginger root" digging in my BHD, I came across
the archives of *MY* Rule, which I thought I first posted in October
1990, but apparently even before that!  Basically, my RULE places 100%
of a diver's safety PRACTICE back to where it belongs -- the
RESPONSIBILITY of a "certified diver" himself to be a Responsible
and Self-Reliant Diver.

Here's da RULE:


Date:         Sat, 19 Feb 1994 12:40:00 EST
From:         "Reef Fish (Large Nassau Grouper)" <RFLNG>
Subject:      Re: diving rules
To:           Multiple recipients of list SCUBA-L <[log in to unmask]>

John HC <[log in to unmask]> says of
Chuck Shipley <[log in to unmask]> 's original posting on the subject:

> I agree with Bret 100%, at least with the way you've presented his points
> in your synopsis.

I agree with John 100%, on Bret.  I could have nitpicked Bret here 'n
there, but nah.  I think Bret's comments are more suitable for the usual
boat-diving in warm waters than elsewhere.  Not as applicable to drysuit
diving in the Norwegian fjords, say.  :-)

I have only ONE RULE for myself (and anyone else who cares to listen) ...
            ^^^^^^^^
Begin build up ... attention getter ... and give Flamers time to fetch
and fire-up torches:  :-)  8-)

This Rule HAS NO EXCEPTIONS and is INFALLABLE: (intentional, big claim :-!)

  1.  Applicable to newbies ... as well as to Bret, Jacque Cousteau, etc.

  2.  Applicable to all diving environments:  warm/cold; salt/fresh water;
      Palau current, Caribbean, London ;), and other world-class sites. :-)
      Also applicable to SC lakes, quarries, mud-puddles and other not-so
      world-class sites.

  3.  The Rule even covers cases/situations in which Bret's comments to
      the commandments, or the commandments themselves, are not applicable.

  4.  The Rule was first announced in SCUBA-L (circa Fall 1989) after Reef
      Fish was FIRST flamed :-) by some reader for mentioning the safety
      of dive computer usage.  :-)

                      : ... enough suspense ... :

Rule:   Know YOUR limits and dive WITHIN them.      B-)

Good and Safe Diving Y'all,

-- Bob.