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I don’t know why I am surprised that there is factionalism in diving, it is one of the less likeable but nontheless prevalent characteristics of the human race after all.
We are conditioned to see the world in a ‘them and us’ way. The face which we choose to present to the world makes a statement about where we believe we ‘fit’ in many ways. Whether it is a car choice, a fashion style, a football shirt, political allegiance, job choice, consumer purchases, the newspaper we read on the train, each of the choices we make gives information to others on which they will base their initial view of us - deciding whether they can relate to us or not.
In diving there are many of these ‘them and us’ divides. PADI V BSAC (to snorkle or not to snorkle) TECH V REC, OC V CCR, Inland V Sea, or DIR V everyone (or is that just the way it sometimes seems?) The DIR kit is certainly associated with certain ideas and beliefs, which may or may not reflect the of inions of the wearer.
What a waste of time and effort. We have lost sight of the fact that we are all divers, albeit with our favoured way of diving, and we should all have much more in common with each other than we have differences.
I have lunch a couple of times a week with someone who dives a CCR. It’s great - I get to sit at work and chat about diving, wrecks, deco, etc., rather than work. We tease each other about the differences - but relish the fact that each of us is lucky enough to be able to enjoy our sport - the fact we choose to do it differently need not matter in this.
So the next time you feel like criticising another diver for doing it differently, take a step back and ask yourself, if you are not entering the water with them, is it really any business of yours how they do it…
