Diving Courtesy

[Dirk Diggler]

Who's platform was it on any way?

In my opinion, regardless of what others here have said that there is no ownership rights - which can be correct if it suits their needs for the time being; but I don't see those same people helping to put those platforms in, their costs, maintenance, their construction - only whining that once its in the water it's fair game? Yeah right. I also don't see those same people around should the DNR ask that those platforms be removed for any reason?

I don't own a platform, I didn't put one in, but I know who did - for the last 20 years, those platforms at Golden Acres were provided by Stan at Going Under, Pete, Fantasea Scuba, Northland Divers and consequently Smith Diving and Scuba Center at the County Park. There was another, but that platform was pulled out and is at another lake now.

I've yet to see anyone else providing training platforms? I don't see a lot of people contributing anything to the training area, period, only using it for their own purpose at the expense of those who have already done the work.

The way I see it, there's always a cluster going on at Square Lake and who's on which platform and for how long?
Ironic how other divers, shops, and instructors who use those, or worst yet their wait on the surface for their interval (sometimes for only minutes, I violation of training I believe also), above the platform they were just on, so no one else may use it at the time - because they don't have a platform.

If someone is already on the platform, then a dive shop/instructor, out of safety and confort can move off to another. But when theirs opens up, I believe the courtesy should be given to that shop/instructor who spent the time, money, resources, and hard work to put that platform in for use for their classes.

When I see those groups come out to the lake, I know they are there to train using the training tools/platforms and resources those shops have provided for help with their students. I find it respectful to stay off their platform as a courtesy to them. To me, they deserve the respect - otherwise I can go put my own platfrom in. What's anyone else's excuse for not doing the same? Rights? More like selfishness.

There's many of us who have been diving that lake for decades, and each year it gets worst out there because of all these newbee divers who come out and have no clue how those platforms "magically" appeared. Like they were put there so anyone could do anything they wanted with them? Those same divers wouldn't even know about Square without meeting there for their training.
Instead, I ventured to find out who and how they area became as it did, as anyone should for any divign area that is new to them. Though its been 20yrs now, I have respect for those who built the training area, they did the work, I'm priviledged to use it when I can, so is everyone else. It's a priviledge, not a right.

I think those who decide they can ignore flag rules, and the courtesy of others should stay away from Square Lake - you already set a bad enough example in my opinion. There's plenty of other lakes you can go to, to act superior and above the rules, conduct, and opinion of others and the DNR.