Man, tough crowd this week. I'm surprised y'all are able to dive and post on the forum when not feeding and caring for your high horses.
Not everybody has time to sit around all bs with a ton of people in person to get all of these great hints. I've been to peacock a brunch but never knew where p2 was because I never really cared. I live 3 hours away and have a job that takes precedent over bs. So I drive in for the day, dive, then head home. I have such little time to putz around after a dive, I bought a compressor because I don't have time to stick around and get tanks filled.
And sure there's tons of caves other than the "tourist" caves, but I personally prefer to spend time exploring and learning the nooks and crannies of those places rather than spending the extra time I don't have exploring places nobody goes to. I save my "exploring" for France and Mexico, but even so those caves have lines in them too. Still it's adventurous enough for me.
There seems to be some that look down their nose if you're not sucking down helium 300 feet in diepolder or laying new line. Guess what, very few of us are going to do that. Some of us just like to get away from our everyday stresses and get mentally lost (not figuratively) in a cave somewhere. So maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to take the douche down a few notches. Some of us only have time to ask questions when we get off of work at night, because after a dive we can't stand around talking.
You read too much into this. It's hard to detect a playful jab and sense of humor on these threads sometimes.
As an example, James talks about his fancy caves all the time. He does make deep long dives, but he'll also go diving with idiots who should have never even been certified, in the hopes of getting them up to speed. He's certainly one of the best divers out there, but he'll go do a short dive in Ginnie to show you something new. He's done it with my certed students several times.
Some of it is a jab at Where'sWaldo. Not because of his diving ability, but because he's a goober who brings it on himself.
And lastly, on the road of cave diving life, some divers are just farther down the road. So they might know of that there's some really friggin awesome experiences just around the corner that will give you exponential enjoyment over diving the same 5 caves in Florida. Don't hate their passion, find a way to get them to take you with them.
I'll start...
Where'sWaldo... You wanna go dive Church in a couple of weeks?
I know the backstories very well. And my comment was not only directed at James. I understand that there are playful jabs that are between friends, but I stand behind my statement. There's been a lot of comments lately in this thread and others that come off very heavily as negative towards divers with lesser abilities or experience. Basically, a little high horsey. I'm sure much of it is jokes, but I'm also sure there's some ego attached to it as well. I'm certain I'm not the only one that sees it, I'm just the only one that will point it out.
And no, I'm not butt hurt. It's just annoying because I don't want to ask a "dumb" question and it be suggested I find new mentors.
Why yes that was me inshorts and a t-shirt
oops, a drysuit @ the 700' marker
I like to think of the CDF as being my mentor, my dive buddy also happens to be my girlfriend and nothing towards her but I am the more experienced diver. I have about as many dives with her as I do with people coming into cave country needing a buddy (WOOHOO dive #22 last saturday). In my short list of dives I have gotten to dive with Forrest, Sandy, NetDoc, Chris R (also my final instructor for Cave1) and all have had positive feedback on my skills.
Pete is right though, I do tend to bring it on myself, I will ask a question even if I know the answer just to see how everyone else feels about a subject. Just like this feed, I have learned a LOT about PII that I did not already know. I know who is going to berate me and who is going to give valuable feedback, I have fun with the beraters and soak up the knowledge from the others.
So, my advise is if you have a question, go on and post it. Ignore those who give you a hard time over such a silly question and listen to everyone else who has the valuable feedback on whatever it is you asked.
Caver's whether wet or dry ALL love their drama.
Tim
Why yes that was me inshorts and a t-shirt
oops, a drysuit @ the 700' marker
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