Feesh wrote:
> Now I am beginning to hear all kind of noises about recreational
> ICE DIVING from folks who probably had never been certified as an
> ice-diver, and possibly never done an ice-dive, mouthing off on
> ice diving -- it's pretty safe to single out Christian as one
> these. :-))) I think there are other, besides Lee and
> Christian, of course. :-))))))))))))))))\
Well, speaking for myself only. About ten years ago I did the entry
level certification to Cave Diving here in Oz. The agency was and is
the only one whose certification actually lets you dive Australia's
caves. Now like Strike I believe, this is not for me, our caves are
just too far away and too difficult to get to, amongst other things. I
did it because a mate was doing it (and I, quite incorrectly, thought
it would be "fun" - it wasn't). Robbert is now a very good penetration
standard cave diver (and wonderful photographer, just won second place
against Neil Vincent's first at the local Scuba Expo, did you meet
them Strike?
I've also dived in fairly cold water, Lake Jinabyne in the Oz Alps
springs to mind, but, no, I've never been ice diving. Never said I had
either. Does this mean that I am not allowed an opinion?
You have a "certification" as an ice diver. You have consistently
ignored that there are other ways of ice diving than the one you
promulgate, indeed some have said that your method of ice diving is
contra indicated and you have chosen to ignore this. I'd suggest that
your method of ice diving would be laughed at in some parts of the
world where this form of diving is (almost) mandatory if you're going
to dive at all.
You're right, Probably Lee and certainly I have never ice dived. Do
your, three I believe such dives, and course make you the professor on
this activity? I think not.
> #> 2003 WORLD WORST 10 ECO DIVING
>
> #> We rated the worst eco dive destinations based on the condition
> #> of marine habitats and government policies related to marine
> #> habitat conservation.
The complete list is:
1.Antigua & Barbuda
2.Australia
3.Dominica
4.Florida
5.Grenada
6.Japan
7.Malaysia
8.St. Kitts
9.St. Lucia
Now, at a guess the diving areas of all except #2 would comfortably
fit into a corner of the Oz Great Barrier Reef. As a certainty they
would be a pimple on the landscape of all of Oz's diveable areas.
Heck, to just pick up on one point, why "Oz" and just "Florida"?
Shouldn't that then be the USA? Or is Florida a country, just like
Texas? ;-)
> This is NOT to say that I necessarily agree with many of their
> conclusions of "World's Top 10" best or worst (in fact, I think
> they are DFs and FOS in many of their assertions) ........
Personally I feel that all such ratings are pretty well useless since
they should (but can't) depend on the preferences of the person who
intends to go there.
For example I'm not really that much into wreck diving, yet I rate
Chuuk/Truk Lagoon, and the Thorfinn for that matter, as a destination
I'd walk to if I could.
> BUT since I never talk about subject I DON'T KNOW about :-)(unlike
> many posters on this list who are the LOUDEST on subjects they
> know not about :-)))), I can't comment on the above rating, claiming
> ignorance about ECO diving in Aus or Florida. I just wanna hear
> who can tell us what about wot I dunno.
So I saw the ratings, all of them. They didn't really tell us much of
the bases they were arrived at. YOU'RE the Statistician and I surely
respect you for that. How's about an opinion on the statistical
methods they employed to arrive at their conclusions?
Feeeesh, you (really, realistically) know not about ice diving. Yes,
and I only know what I've read and discussed with people who know
better than I do.
Diatribe expected anytime soon. Please, however, don't yet again tell
me (or Lee or anyone else for that matter) that we know nothing of it
simply because of your piddling PADI (insert most any non-specialist
Instructor Agency you want here) ice diving course.
I used to do a little of what follows in London many, many years ago, so,
Enjoy ripping the Lost Wages people off at BlackJack, and I truly mean that,
Christian
--
I haven't quite worked out the secret of life yet, but I just know it
must have something to do with lunch. Unattributed.
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