On Monday, August 28, 2000 3:29 AM, John Nitrox wrote:

> >In fact, apart from a night dive when I buddied up with Strike,

>         Darn, now your name has to come out of my log book as my buddy on
the
> Columbia Shallows (God only knows where we really were) night dive.
Anyhow
> you and Strike made a dashing couple all clad in black.

John!  I played safe and entered everybody's name in my log book! :-)

I should point out that I neglected to carry an U/W torch to Cozumel and
Viv - who was loaded down with camera gear - kindly loaned me hers.  (I
suppose it can honestly be said that I was carrying a torch for Viv!) :-)

I still remain impressed by the "Mexican GPS" system of finding a particular
reef at night in a dark ocean with no shore lights or markers to determine
position.  (For those who weren't there, the skipper tied a line around the
Divemaster who - fully booted and spurred - was towed face down through the
water using a light to pick out the reef that we'd decided to dive on!) :-)

(snip)

>While the
> agencies can't dictate that people be comfortable underwater, at least
they
> can require that people have the skills necessary, if not sufficient, to
be
> comfortable underwater before they begin an open water course.  After all,
> it's recreational scuba, and anyone who isn't having a good time is
> probably in the wrong activity.

I can still recall - when I used to teach - people stating as their reason
for wanting to learn to dive, " 'cause I suffer from claustrophobia and have
a fear of the water.  Learning to dive will help me overcome those
problems!"   :-)

Strike