<--- 'nother newbie.
I find the analysis on these boards to be most helpful. Every single one (except P Turner) seems to involve a tiny misjudgement, exacerbated by complacency, arrogance, and sometimes just plain stupidity.
The list of names would not do as much as the constant analysis that discovers this same trend over and over.
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?" ~Sydney J. Harris
I invite you to suggest them read the clasic book:
Basic Cave Diving: A Blueprint for Survival
by the Great Sheck Exley.
There one will read:
1. Be Trained for Cave Diving, and Remain Within the Limits of Your Training
2. Maintain a Continuous Guideline to the Cave Exit
3. Keep Two Thirds of Your Starting Gas Volume in Reserve to Exit the Cave
4: Remain Within the Safest Possible Operating Limits for Your Breathing Media
5: Use Three Sources of Light
The first rule is crystal clear: NO Exceptions
Parker Turner crossed my mind as well.
The problem here is this divers ego. Its just as bad as Ben McDaniel and I doubt anyone can change this. I do hope gis cavern instructor is aware of the situation that happened. This is one of those times I would support voiding a cert as with the attitude I saw in his posting today somewhere else, he is a good candidate for a dirt nap. Good luck Alex, I hope you can reach him or his buddy.
I agree, plus each chapter starts with an analysis of a fatal cave diving accident illustrating the rule.Originally Posted by argyris
But there are those people who combine invincible ignorance with an "It can't happen to me" attitude and usually a bit of testosterone poisoning. Too much ego and too little judgment is a deadly combination - I've been seeing the results in the street and in the ER and ICU for 37 years.
Some of them can convincingly fake a safe attitude while they're in class, but once they're out from under the eye of their instructor it's YEE-HAW!
Mike
Totally agree. Gives the person the chance to "respond." If they can't, then maybe you may have helped them see the light... to think a little... and keep them less on the "defensive" The "Socratic" method works wonders.
Funny you should mention this (i.e. your "P.S."). It's a picture of Wes Skiles that's been a source of frustration for me as well, and a lot of discussion between me and my cave mentor about my rate of progress/experience, and when its right for me to "advance" to the next level. The picture of Wes' is the main ballroom of Diepolder II. It spoiled me rotten!In some respects, I almost wish I'd never seen it (out of sight out of mind). Had I not, I'd probably not have that in mind as a "career pinnacle" dive, and not be considering what task-list /time table it will take to get me to that end. My "end-game" vision would be a lot less "advanced."
FTR, NO I WILL NEVER EXCEED THE LEVEL OF MY TRAINING/EXPERIENCE!
I know (and accept) that my cave experience journey will be a lot longer than most (i.e. those with full time access to cave country). And I'm happy to let it take as long as it needs. I'm just saying it doesn't come without "frustrations." Uncertainty as to what that timetable should be (in my case) and the appropriate milestones is one. I tell my mentor I'm getting the itch to begin "normoxic mix" training, and he comes right back.... "Noooope... you still have a lot of cave to see, yet." I respect my mentor's judgement and I keep my "objectives" in check. Of course, he's absolutely right. But, like I say, it's just "frustrating" a little when you see all these videos & pictures, etc. (and look at the CDF threads
As for this thread's topic, one name comes to mind for me. I don't know the final disposition of his death (i.e. if there was any attributed fault on his part). But he was someone I actually had met, of all places, in the basin of P1 (he was teaching a class and was kind enough to stop and talk with me for a bit during S.I.) and less than 1 year before he died.
Robert Klein.
This is depressing. The whole thread.
Cave divers die , perhaps usually, from complacency and / or not planning..
Shut up and get your cave training.......and follow it!
Its that simple.
Richard Hardison
Maybe Sheck's obituary in combination with his books would have the desired effect. Quite frankly if someone thinks it can't happen to them then they don't have the right mindset for this sort of diving.
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