Topic: maryland here

[wizzo86]

Hi, love this forum. I have owned my huminbird 987c si for 2 years and love it. Bought it primarily for wreck locating. I'm a dive instructor trainer for TDI/SDI PADI Master scuba diver trainer and USCG 50 ton offshore master. Have a dive shop here in maryland but make my living as a contractor and cabinet maker. It's not the dive meca of the world here in maryland and  have to set priorities, eat or dive.... lol
     Try to get out with the c hawk and find dive locations to explore. Will try to post pictures in the future. check out my profile for a couple of the boat an me diving in the philapines.....

[keizerh]

Welcome to the 98x club!!!
They are rare and valuable these day's
Read old school top quality products 

Hendrik

[RGecy]

wizzo86,

Glad to have you here on the forums!  I am glad to see more and more divers here.  Humminbird thinks that the majority of its users are fishermen, but I think there are a lot more divers than they think.  We may be a smaller segment than the fishermen, but I think we are a pretty substantial portion of whats left over!

Good Luck and look forward to your post and images!

Robert

[Jolly Roger]

Humminbird thinks that the majority of its users are fishermen, but I think there are a lot more divers than they think.
Robert

Huh???
Fishermen? Then they have targeted the wrong people in my opinion, hehe!

Welcome to the forums Wizzo from my side as well.
Another 98x addicted, ha! Didn't expect that there will anyone else show up with a 98x!
Good to have you here

Greetings from Germany
Harry

[wizzo86]

Thanks for the welcome guys, regecy, You have done a fabulous job on this sight. I'm in aggrement with you about the divers. humminbird is well suted for more than just fishing. I know several search an rescue units, police and fire dept. dive teams here that are using them. I'm thinking they could change there marketing a bit to include divers an dive teams. If the units can find a bait ball it can find a body, a wreck, lost recoverable objects. It's the most affordable alternative out there for the budget minded departments. I work with a number of the local police dive teams and could tell you horror stories about there limited budgets. They use there own equipment, usually recreational stuff not intended for commercial rescue units. They do not invest in training because the funds are not there. as you know a recreational certified diver, usually basic open water does not qualilfy you for swift water, no or low vis rescue engagements and search an rescue opperations. One team has a 17 foot recreational boat for there team that does not even have gps, radar or a nav system. It does have the most rudamentry depty finder. I think it's a shame that a unit like this is out there and they can not affore one. The following picture is my son Mike and I on a dive trip to the Phillapines. Were at the spot where the Japanese surrendered to the Phillapean army on the island of Dumagetti. The Phillapeane's fought alongside allied forces duning the war and lost alot of people. The allies thought it appropriate to have them accept  the surender.

[Jolly Roger]

True, true Wizzo,
but I wasn't expecting that the situation in the States is that bad. Sometimes I have the feeling that blood has to be shed first, before politicans react (better wake up?) to fund their Law Enforcement / Rescue people.

Hope dies last
Harry

[wizzo86]

Harry unfortunately that's what will happen eventually. The men an wimen that stand in harms way are the last to be thought about. I'm thinking that the problem is in the beuarocracy. Quite simply put they do not understand the inherant risk or principles of diving to the extreme in a rescue scinareo. Most of the appropriation officers,,, i'm going to say 99% do not know a thing about water rescue or dive principles. They are the ones that fund the teams. There was an incident here where one team needed dry suits. Money was available through homeland security. but when the suits arrived they were not diving dry suits but surface support suits. The swat team wanted them so the dive team was left in the learch. Actually I have lent 2 suits to 2 members to use from my dive shop. That's what i'm talking about. No one making the decisions knows squat about the special needs of a dive team. What's going to happen is one of these team members is going to die becouse of lack of support equipment and the state, county or local municipality is going to get there buts sued off before they fix the problem. Unfortunetly it will end up costing them much more than the equipment needed now.

[Jolly Roger]

Absolutely right Wizzo!
Been there, done that, didn't want the shirt...
I have made the same experience here in Germany.

My conclusion:
Specialist have to be lead and supported by specialists or at least by people with open ears for the needs of such units. Otherwise disaster is just a matter of time.

It's good, although it's a shame, that sometimes people like you jump in to help out.
Keep the spirits up!

Regards and best wishes
Harry