"When the fecal matter hits the propeller, it's time to duck..."

Yep, pard, this is the place. This is where I get to get up on my soapbox and yell at the world: "YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY CHAPS MY HIDE!?"    In short, it's my response to the BS that we all occasionally encounter.  BS of any sort:  BS at a dive shop,  BS at a dive resort, you name it.  When the cow patties start flying, you can either duck and take cover, or you can fling 'em right back. Wearing a wetsuit in the splatter zone doesn't seem to help much these days.   But before the bovine excrement hits the circulating device,  let me first tell you what I think is right with the diving industry.

SCUBA is wonderfully self-regulated.   Organizations like NAUI and PADI manage to make diving a safe, enjoyable sport for millions of people. Millions!  And they manage to do it without any government regulation.   I find that astonishing. Could you imagine any other industry --the airlines for example-- without some sort of government control?  While the FAA may have its critics, personally I'm delighted that someone's always there to insist on periodic maintenance and flight checks.  Unlike BCs, planes make poor floatation devices, so I'm especially grateful when a government agency keeps me out of the water by insisting on having planes serviced regularly. But nobody insists on having your BC checked.  Or your regulator.  The various dive organizations and manufacturers might suggest strongly that you have 

your equipment serviced regularly, but that's all they do. No regulations and no fines for non-compliance.   You're not a criminal if you don't have your equipment serviced,  just dumb.  In an age of constant litigation and increasing government interference, the dive industry has done a superb job of regulating its own.  Thank you for keeping the sport free from meddlesome government bureaucracies. Please keep it that way.

Overall, the dive industry has an enviable record of success, and I tip my hat its way.   I genuinely believe that the vast majority of dive organizations and shops are dedicated to make SCUBA diving interesting, safe and fun.  My criticisms are not so much directed at the industry of diving as it is the business of diving.   Admittedly, money makes the world go round, and the days of the mom-and-pop dive shop are over.  Diving isn't just business anymore --It's big business.   So get ready, here I go:  this is where I get to skewer the tender underbelly of some of the less savory trends in the dive industry with my rapier wit (nice metaphor, huh?)

Next Page