The liveliest letters from the Diver mailbag...

---

IS WRECK-DIVING CODE JUST PAYINGLIP SERVICE?
I am pleased to read that the BSAC, PADI and SAA have signed up to a wreck-diving code of practice at long last. We are writing to the IANTD and TDI/TDE to ask them to follow suit.
I am also delighted that Diver has immediately put those who signed on the spot by asking for the practical implications of the code. I was disappointed to read that a BSAC representative seemed reluctant to pledge full BSAC support to the Coastguard or to the police in their investigations. If the BSAC is not prepared to apply such a code or to help provide evidence in criminal investigations, one must ask if there was any practical point in signing it at all, other than as a useful PR exercise.
We are dedicated to preserving and protecting war graves for future generations of divers to enjoy. Presently, a small, selfish minority of divers are upsetting friends and relatives of those lost and are putting future access at risk by refusing to dive such wrecks responsibly. It remains to be seen if the diving community/agencies are capable of self-policing such war graves and the many historical sites at risk. It is certainly in our interests as divers to do so.
Diver, keep up the good work in promoting wreck conservation and more responsible diving by continuing to press diving agencies in such matters. They might not like it, but it is vitally important that we know exactly where they stand.
Reverend Andrew Phillips, Friends of War Memorials Maritime Division, Sandwich

I have been following all the arguments and feel there has to be middle ground for us ardent wreck divers. No matter what legislation the government brings in, it will not stop wrecks being dived and items being collected. Divers have been collecting brass, etc from wrecks for many years. Even the great Cousteau was prone to a little collecting.
It would be impossible for any agency to police every wreck site, and if an area was targeted word would soon spread. Using modern technology, the items could be safely hidden on a marked site for another day.
Many hardboat skippers might operate a "look but don't touch" policy if their licences were in jeopardy, but I'm sure that if they stuck to this rigidly they would soon go out of business. I cannot think of any operators in the south who operate this type of policy, as wreck-diving is their major business.
The Rev Andrew Phillips has a point in saying that there should be protection for many of the more sacred wreck sites. However, let's carry on where possible but create more maritime museums that encourage us to donate our finds.
Most divers love to see their names in print and these could appear on plaques showing who found what where and when.
This would enable future generations to share in a vast history and stop these special artefacts being lost forever. Leaving them to rot is as much a crime as stealing them for personal satisfaction.
Bryan Savage, TWBSAC, Goudhurst, Kent

Sewage shock
I read your British dives article (Surprising Seven, April), and as the forecast was foul we decided to dive Porth Nanven Cove. As Mark Webster suggested, we arrived at low water. After struggling with our kit over Dinosaur Egg Beach, we were appalled to see a "Danger Raw Sewage" sign fewer than 100m from Mark's preferred entry point!
As it was low tide we thought there should not be a discharge, so we carried on with the dive, but I doubt if I would bother again, and certainly not at any other state of tide.
Geoff Beach, Helston, Cornwall

Editor's reply: Mark Webster has checked with South-west Water, which assures him that this outfall is not active!

Diving helped me breathe more easily
Before taking up diving, I regularly had asthma attacks and had to take steroid tablets after particularly bad ones. My club, Berwick & District Sub Aqua (SAA-affiliated), has given me tremendous support and excellent training, and I have been accepted wholeheartedly. Our basics included a lot of snorkel work which, although boring, has helped.
I was able to learn to hold my breath and use that breath to the maximum, improving my lung capacity before progressing onto scuba training. Now, when I dive I just relax and breathe slowly and deeply, as normal, without breath-holding.
My doctor was keen for me to try to overcome my asthma and improve my lung capacity. Since starting training, through gaining certification last April and up to the present, I have suffered only one mild attack at home and never when diving. I have done some 15 dives at St Abbs, our backyard!
My overall fitness has improved, too. At first I was quite a gas-guzzler but now I can get a good leisurely dive on air out of a 12 litre cylinder and not spoil my buddy's dive either.
Learning to dive has changed my life for the better and helped me to control my asthma without drugs, which has to be a good thing. I might be one of a minority, but perhaps more asthma sufferers will come forward and help to provide a bigger picture.
Fiona Mather, Berwick

Deep divers under pressure
Since the articles about Mark Andrews and his deep air exploits, and the dip by Natasha Abels and myself into Hurds Deep, we have all met a reasonable amount of criticism.
When an article appears in your magazine based on an extreme dive, I believe it has been written to show what can be done with training, experience and, more importantly, an everyday involvement in diving, with at least 250 dives a year to relevant depths.
I hear local instructors telling students that these dives cannot be carried out safely, and that might be the case if it was those instructors doing them; they cannot be relied on to take a group of novice divers to 6m once a month without significant problems occurring.
We are totally committed to our ventures, and as far removed from the average reader or dive instructor as minicab drivers are from Formula One drivers.
Can you explain why extreme divers attract such vehement criticism, as opposed to participants in other extreme sports currently in favour? How is it that deep free-divers escape such criticism when you realise how many convulsed or went unconscious during a recent internationally sponsored competition? How many free-divers have died as a result of trying to emulate their heroes?
In the debate between Mark Andrews and John Bevan at the London International Dive Show, I was sickened by Dr Bevan's arguments. He stated that public funds should not be put towards medical help for extreme diving exploits. Why not? We pay to treat cancer caused by smoking, liver disease from alcohol, idiot drivers who crash their cars, gender swap operations, etc.
If any dive was ill-conceived it would be Dr Bevan's record 457m attempt decades ago.
Mark Ellyatt, Jersey

Low-viz experience a con, not a pro
I live in the USA and see the magazine a bit late, but I would like to reply to Marc Mellors' letter (So Who Fails PADI Courses?, December).
I worked as a PADI instructor in the Caribbean for four years and in that time I did have to refer student divers, even those doing a resort course, as not being up to the level of confidence and ability I felt they should have for certification.
Once entry-level divers have got themselves certified they tend to regard themselves as experienced, but they are only as good as the quality of instruction they received. All PADI entry-level divers are encouraged to continue their training and advance their dive skills and experience.
I have had to deal with divers who had got into difficulties, varying from a mild case of vertigo to a death. Often their problems - and not just those of novice divers - came about because they had trained or were used to diving in limited visibility.
Although this does encourage divers to be aware of their depth, when diving in an environment with good visibility they feel they are shallower than they actually are. This then causes them to suffer the effects of nitrogen narcosis and have problems monitoring their air supply.
This could all be avoided by continued training and practice, even in a swimming pool.
Ally Barber, Orlando, Florida

Doing it right - the new gospel?
As diving's boundaries are pushed further and further back by the "technical" diving community, it is interesting that the more standard training agencies still limit themselves to the mainstream requirements of Joe Public. I would agree that this is where the money lies, but I have noticed a new direction being taken by our diving cousins in the USA.
"Doing It Right", a system advocated by Global Underwater Explorers (GUE), seems to be gaining a following. Some seem to believe in it totally while others, probably seeing it as some new-fangled cult, just scorn it as money-spinning. From what I see it seems to be more a way of life than a diving agency. Using terms such as "the unified team", "mental focus" and "DIR equipment configuration", it aims to make the diver a slick, clean diving machine.
Physical fitness is actively encouraged - to quote from the website: "Fitness includes cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, nutrition, abstinence from drug use, limited or non-existent alcohol consumption and avoidance of smoking. Overweight and/or out-of-shape divers must take responsibility for their lives by adopting an effective regime of diet and exercise.
"At a minimum, divers should average four days per week of cardiovascular exercise lasting at least 30 minutes and avoid high fat, high cholesterol diets, focusing instead on a generous consumption of fruits, vegetables and grains."
As with most US trends, it will take time to filter through to Europe, but with the increasing number of divers wanting to push themselves further, I feel sure it will. I will be interested to see how well it goes down. I have no affiliation with the GUE, I am just a keen diver.
Neil Soane, Burgess Hill, West Sussex

Dump to fill
Bravo to John Liddiard for a very comprehensive article on SMB deployment (The Dividends of Delay, April). I would like to add a personal modus operandi, which neatly pulls together points 4 and 10 on his Safe Practice list.
To prevent yourself becoming positively buoyant when deploying your SMB midwater, make the initial fill using the dump valve on your BC. As your net buoyancy does not alter, this should stop you drifting upwards.
Once the SMB is partially inflated, it is also easier to complete filling it with your octopus. As the SMB fills, and you release it to the surface, you are now slightly negatively buoyant, which assists in making a controlled ascent of the SMB line.
Vince Gray, London

Chest-beating exercises
I have been interested to read all the mail regarding treatment of non-BSAC divers by BSAC divers. Fifteen years ago I trained with a BSAC club in Ireland. When I approached another one in England, I was asked to go through a full proficiency test in the pool.
I went through some basic drills and then had to simulate a rescue. It went fine and I began to apply CPR. At this stage the instructor intervened and told me I was placing my hands incorrectly on the victim's chest. I explained what I was doing and was again told that I was wrong.
I could explain why his method was less efficient but he could not tell me why my method was wrong. I had completed all the Irish life-saving courses and the British Bronze Medallion, had worked for a summer as a beach lifeguard, was a qualified swimming teacher, had completed my 3rd Class BSAC and had trained as a diving instructor. This was one time that I knew for certain I was right.
I was so disillusioned that I never returned. I think this proves that the question is not about good or bad systems. It is about good or bad divers, good or bad clubs, good or bad attitudes, open or closed minds.
Michael Hannigan, Dublin

Highs and lows at check-in desk
I enjoyed Tony Sutton's article on airline baggage allowances (Battle of the Baggage, March) and agree that it's a lottery as to what a diver gets charged.
Last May three friends and I went diving in the Florida Keys and flew with Delta. Before departure I checked with the airline's customer services in both the USA and the UK (twice) regarding the fact that as divers we would have extra baggage.
All three times I received the same answer: the allowance was two checked bags up to 70lb each and two carry-ons up to 40lb each, if the external dimensions were within the standard limits. At no time was the fact that we would have scuba gear with us singled out for special consideration.
At Gatwick we checked in and had our pony bottles X-rayed. It was obvious that we had scuba gear with us, although we remained within both the permitted weight and number of bags. All was fine and we had a good holiday with some interesting diving.
On checking in at Miami on the return journey, with the same bags and kit all still within the prescribed weight and size, we told the Delta staff we had three pony bottles and would they like to check them?
At this point we were informed that there was an excess charge of $110 per scuba set and that either we paid up or our kit stayed behind - or the plane left without us!
We had no choice, and paid up. It seems grossly unfair that divers should be discriminated against when skiers, golfers and people travelling with small children (you can check strollers and car seats in excess of your normal allowance) can all check their gear without penalty.
Steve Adams

I think I've found the best yet! In May last year my wife and I booked a three-week all-inclusive stay on Kuredu in the Maldives. A fortnight before our departure this February I phoned Airtours International to enquire about weight restrictions and was told that as a diver I was allowed an extra 10kg.
How much will that cost? I asked. Nothing, was the reply, just tell them at check-in that you're a diver and it'll be OK.
Somewhat sceptical, I enquired again a couple of days later, only to be told the same. So off we went to Gatwick with our 70kg of well-packed bags and, hey presto, no problem. Well done, Airtours, other airlines take note.
Graham Poxon

May I sing the praises of Kenya Airways? I called its customer services before I travelled with it in January to ask if I could have any extra allowance, as I had all my dive gear with me. Its immediate reply was that its allowance was 40kg, but that it would also weigh my hand luggage.
At last - no need to cram the cabin bag with every heavy bit of gear and hide it out of sight at check-in - and, unlike Japan Airlines last year (30kg going but only 20kg on the way back) there were no problems when I came to leave
Marjolein Thrower, Richmond, Surrey

I am about to go to Canada for a holiday. While there I will be diving in Barkley Sound. I'm travelling with Air Transat, an enlightened airline. This is its information re baggage: "Scuba diving gear may be checked in the baggage compartment free of charge. Air tanks must be empty and the pressure gauge protected".
Wonderful, I can take the lot free. But, of course, it's a Canadian airline!
Roger Hudd, Tadley

Puppet on a string
I have just got my PADI Open Water qualification, and during one of my first dives was having a little trouble with my buoyancy. I could not get control, but after about half an hour it just seemed to click, and I easily negotiated obstacles - or so I thought.
When we surfaced, I rather proudly announced to my buddy, and everyone else on the boat, that I'd really got the hang of this buoyancy thing. My buddy, rather quietly, said I was mistaken. On pressing him for an explanation, he told me that while he was swimming above and behind me he would lift me up by the tank whenever we came to a rock.
Hmm, a little more practice is in order!
Sandy Upot, Sutton, Surrey

---

Appeared in DIVER - June 2000

---

We want to hear from you Write now to diving's brightest, most controversial letters section. There is £10 for the author of the lead letter each month. Address it to Diver, 55 High Street, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8HA, fax 0181 943 4312 or e-mail editorial@divermag.co.uk. Please include your full name and home address.

Go to Beachcomber
Previous Letters

---

DIVERNET NAVIGATOR