I've seen some bad technique of first time divers, but usually they get the swing of things, and don't look like a Charlie Foxtrots underwater for long. I personally was terrible at first, thankfully the instructor didn't use a video camera and the internets didn't really exist yet.
However, I wouldn't expect to see this in an experienced diver, especially one diving a rebreather.
What instructor passed this individual diving a rebreather? This guy wouldn't make it through the first day of a technical or cave diving class and I consider those courses less advanced than a rebreather class.
Moving your arms, as all of you well know, is a no-no for scuba diving. This is a great way to damage coral and give any dive master a migraine from worrying about you. It's also very inefficient but I guess you don't need to worry about that on a rebreather.
So Divester readers, what horror stories have you witnessed underwater?
Video: This is doing it wrong
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Honestly, I find this video offensive. It hearkens to the elementary school days when kids would pick on other kids simply because they were bigger than normal.
So what if the guy uses his hands -- it's how he likes to swim. As long as you're not the buddy having to end the dive early because the fellow used up his air quickly, you don't have anything to comment on.
If you think about it, swimming with hands is less likely to damage the reef than swimming with feet -- you can see where you're putting your hands at all times.
I'm not advocating it, just saying that I would hope you would exhibit more than a grade-school mentality when posting to a medium such as this.
We try to advocate the sport as being something that everybody can do -- in fact, obese people often get a significant amount of enjoyment from it, simply because of the weightless environment.
You guys should really give your head a shake before posting more of this sort of demeaning material.
-kb
Posted at 3:59PM on Jul 27th 2006 by kb
3. The video was posted as a what not to do. It wasn't posted as "Look! Fat guy underwater! Everyone point fingers and laugh." The guy is displaying PITIFUL techinique. Not just the hands flailing about. Watch his finning technique. He looks like he's trying to ride a bike. One of the main things I worked on in Advanced classes was finning techniques, and this guy should have at least Advanced cert for a rebreather. Either way, his instructor should be questioned.
Posted at 11:15AM on Jul 28th 2006 by Billy Williamson
4. Frankly, I think someone did this as a hoax to rattle the chains of the elitists. The "instructor" doing hand paddling plus the fact that the fat person is doing the hand motions so controlled. Whe people use their hands (and such finning) they usually are not so rhythmic. So who knows the answer?
Posted at 1:25PM on Jul 30th 2006 by Ian Butterworth
5. KB -- I don't think the diver in the video is the subject because he's overweight. Rather, I think he's the subject, because of his poor dive technique.
Irrespective of whether he "likes" to swim with his hands or not, I believe he's swimming this way, because he's uncomfortable in the water; because he's a poor swimmer; because he's overweighted (not overweight); and because he's not in control of his buoyancy. Moreover, bicycling through the water is NOT a good way to swim, particularly when there's coral in the area. Moreover, if you were behind him in a somewhat silty area, and he's bicycling like this, you'd be unable to see. Simply put: his technique is bad.
I believe this clip is showing what NOT to do; I don't think it's a commentary on one diver's size.
6. Willy: while I would agree with Divester's intentions of posting it, look at the original video.
Considering the Homer Simpson audio clips ("Nacho Man" and the bit about the donut), and the text-over at the end about getting stomachs stapled, I don't think that was the intent of the people that made the video. Also consider the above-water shot at the beginning.
I mean, OK, it's generally accepted that using the hands to swim underwater is poor technique. And his finning isn't the best either. But I didn't see him kick any coral, nor harm any marine life because of his technique... so perhaps he's just gotten good at doing things that way!
As a larger person, I can just about guarantee he struggles with his buoyancy. But some instructors just don't care to help people with that. I'm diving with 16#'s these days. In the same place for my training, my instructor handed me 30#'s and said "here... this should work." Darn right it did.
So we can't blame that guy for not having good instructors.
Ultimately, it's the video content that is offensive... if we want to critique the guy's style, fine -- but be careful, because some of the worst people I've had the displeasure of diving with had *pristine* style -- it was their attitude that sucked!
-kb
7. personally, while i agree the mans skills can use alittle work, and hed be much more proficient in the water if he wasny bicycling and swimming with his arms, AND hed likely enjoy his dives more.... ive got a couple thoughts i had to share....
the man is overweight, swims with his arms, and bicycles... so what? ive seen 6-2 190lb muscled guys swim with their arms and bicycle, were they unable to complete their dives? NO... did they endanger themselves or anyone else, or did the guy in the video? NO.. not that id seen. all that was done in the video was give people someone to make fun of and talk shit about. talk about the fat guy who dives like a newbie. ignore the fact that his bouyancy control looked fine, he wasnt dragging the bottom and kicking up crap the whole way, as a matter of fact his bodies attitude in the water looks significantly better than the man following him, whos bouyancy appears to fluctuate as he goes, and is in a more of a heads up position.
am i a big fat guy or anything? no im not.. how long have i been diving? well lets see.. i think its safe to say since i was 10.. and im now 30... do i really care if a divers style is perfect or can use alittle work? HELL NO!! what i care about is if he/she is a safe diver, knows their gear, how it works, and can complete the dive. id rather dive with a regular person whos skills might not be tits, than some Spec-Ops wanna be with perfect form. why? their attitudes generally SUCK! same with the DIR guys, but i dont want to start your page going somewhere else....
one thing you guys all failed to comment on.. play the video again, as they are under the boat preparing to reboard it.. watch the lower left corner.. see the guy in good physical shape that just kicked the shit out of the other diver? yeah.... too busy shit talking the fat guy that bicycles...about 48 seconds into the movie... but the guy has GREAT form when he kicks that other diver upside the head!!!
the flick was made to make fun of the fat dude... nothing else. it may have been posted as a comment/thread starter on the mans skills, and the importance of good skills in diving, but everyone is so fixated on the fatguy that they totally miss the person that did infact inflict possible harm on a fellow diver.... and it wasnt the fat boy...
Posted at 6:37AM on Aug 21st 2006 by Ray
8. Diving is about having fun. And the video was someone having fun. You can have dive instructers with a stick up there back sides about perfect form. OR you can have overly sensitive people who can't take a joke. FUN have it, be it but DON'T harsh other peoples fun.
Posted at 5:27PM on Sep 25th 2006 by keith hendrix
1. http://cgi.ebay.com/scuba-gear-tanks-wet-suit-gloves-boots-computer-gauges_W0QQitemZ180011097802QQihZ008QQcategoryZ50882QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That is all.
Posted at 12:18AM on Jul 27th 2006 by Scott