Safety in Diving

First, let me say this comment to start off . "There are no short cuts in diving safety" Why did I bring this topic up? Well, as of lately there have been some mishaps internationally that could have been tragic in the diving community but ended, being a learning experience on the victims part. As a dive instructor for nearly 20 years I do not and never will promote SOLO diving. To me there is no advantage, no safety and less fun of an experience if you dive alone. This type of problem starts at the top of the food chain, our certifying agencies, then instructors that teach or promote solo diving.

Diving as you all know is a very special sport that requires thorough training, a good mindset of maturity & responsibility, it's equipment intensive and weather dependant. Canadians by the way are the best taught in the world. We strive to stay on top of the charts because we teach our divers safety. Our training is better due to learning in our more challenging elements, colder water the Caribbean , thicker exposure suits and a whole lot of lead weight around your waist or integrated buoyancy compensator device.

There are no short cuts in teaching either, or shouldn't be. We as instructors have to follow a set of standards provided by our certifying agencies to properly teach new divers basic skills. These skills must be done in the instructors presence to a satisfactory degree of ease for the student to continue to the next skill. It all seems easy and it is and should be followed through always by the instructor and the student. If the student does not learn these skills he has been cheated in safety and competence of the skill and never will deal with that skill hurdle when it approaches him or her. After all, Murphy's Law is always there when you least expect it. Many people walk into our training facility from international areas and want to go diving on our beautiful west coast emerald waters. Just about all of them are sent out with divemasters or instructors from our store to look after them as they are not taught with the same intensity and passion on safety as Liquid Heaven.

I recently had a newly certified diver walk in my store who just got certified in the Cayman Islands and had 4 logged open water dives. He was approx. 30 years old and his father at least 70 years old. Both of them wanted to rent gear from me. All of our all gear is new and very well maintained equipment. They wanted to dive the HMCS Mackenzie a 366 foot destroyer a mere 10 minutes from our store. They had their own boat right out front of the store on the waterfront beach. The father had no certification card or formal training and the last time in the water with scuba was 1965. I told both people that I could not rent gear to dad and I recommended very strongly that they do not dive the destroyer as the son has no buddy, he has no diving experience or qualifications for that depth and lacks "cold water experience". I told him very professionally that I didn't know them from Adam but I cared for their well being and made a decision not to rent gear to them. The young man's dad would not be allowed to dive even though he started diving before I was born yada yada yada how much experience he had etc... Liquid Heaven could not take on that responsibility of renting gear to 2 very green divers. They left very upset even though I tried to ease the 2 into my decision of choice. This decision was made in presence or several of my students in the store. To my dismay, I saw them 20 minutes later walking in front of my store towards the water with what appeared to be rental gear. I was speechless... my students were speechless.

We need to all stick together as a diving community and protect our fellow divers through education and safety. Fortunately they made it back from wherever they went. This could have been at fatal scuba accident waiting to happen. Money does not make Liquid Heaven's decision any different one way or another. We will continue to be honorable in the way we teach and look after our fellow divers from all over the world. "Stand for something, or fall for anything"

"Dream deep, Dive Inspired"

Darryll

Padi GranDadi