The film Open Water and dive safety

[Sean Newsom]

Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

In some ways, the film also works as an extended programme on dive safety, and one of the issues it raises is the blind faith many divers put in the guides and boats they dive with - which is not always justified. I wondered if anyone out there has had experience of overseas dive centre incompetence, and who felt their lives might have been endangered by it. I'd be very interested to interview anybody who has for my article.

[Khaled Alwassia]

Heh,
YOU ARE NOT HELPING. Please refrain from this usual media hip. Spinning the negative is not appreciated.

Why you do not go and interveiw the good operators and organisations which have a perfect safety record. Boat operators which have taken acount of their duties and implemented strict and sucessful safety measures. So diver know what to check and look out for before they book a trip with a boat operator.

Jounalisim should not be just jumping on a band wagoon but realy geting the other non-negative angles of a story.

BUT I GUESS THAT DOES NOT SELL ANY PAPERS.

Khaled

[iainmsmith]

Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

In some ways, the film also works as an extended programme on dive safety, and one of the issues it raises is the blind faith many divers put in the guides and boats they dive with - which is not always justified. I wondered if anyone out there has had experience of overseas dive centre incompetence, and who felt their lives might have been endangered by it. I'd be very interested to interview anybody who has for my article.

Sean,

Hyping up the "dangers" of diving does no-one any favours. It discourages people from taking up an extremely safe and enjoyable sport and it hikes the travel, life and equipment premiums for those of us involved.

Someone did a "top ten" of dangerous sports a few years ago. Diving did not feature. In its recreational form (that portrayed in "Open Water") it has been fairly accurately described as a sport which can be enjoyed by adventurous grannies.

I would encourage you to focus your article on the safe and enjoyable diving experienced by most divers worldwide and demonstrate that "Open Water" is a typically hysterical Hollywood portrayal of most diving.

Regards,

Iain

[tony dwyer]

Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

In some ways, the film also works as an extended programme on dive safety, and one of the issues it raises is the blind faith many divers put in the guides and boats they dive with - which is not always justified. I wondered if anyone out there has had experience of overseas dive centre incompetence, and who felt their lives might have been endangered by it. I'd be very interested to interview anybody who has for my article.

I agree with the two previous posters.

How real are the 'threats' in the film you mention? Answer, not very. It's true that divers have on occasion been left by their boat, but extremely rarely when you consider the numbers of dives that are carried out each year and many dive operations have tightened procedures in recent years.

Shark attack? Please! the numbers of people injured by Sharks each year worldwide, are very very small. Millions af these beautiful and facinating animals are slaughtered by man every year. Divers are VERY rarely injured by Sharks.

The sea has risks, one can drown, the boat can sink, the weather can become a tad unpleasant, but these things and others do not stop millions of people enjoying recreation on, in and under the sea.

I would be very happy to talk to you about the many years of enjoyment and friendship that Diving has brought to me, as well as the many safe and enjoyable dive holidays that I have been on.

I don't like media hype of problems. The press has a disgraceful history of reporting diving. Do you believe that we use 'Oxygen' bottles for regular diving or do you know that the gas generally used is simple air?

Do you believe that Sharks 'infest' the sea as is frequently spouted by journos on the telly and in the press, or do you accept that they merely live naturally in the sea and are a wonder to behold in their environment.

How about you learn to dive (if you already haven't) and then write about how wonderfull this pastime is.

[alunharford]

Shark attack? Please!
I do think somebody should make the film: "Doors".

(Note to OP: Old joke relating to the fact that more people are apparently killed each year by revolving doors than by sharks)

[Dave]

Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

The film is a work of fiction. It is not a movie showing what happened to the Lonergans just up in the Barrier Reef. The full events of what happened to the Lonergans ( or even if the whole thing was just staged) are not known. This movie, iirc, adds in sharks to add to the fun when there is nothing to suggest this ever happened

There are events that may be worth looking at, but this movie is not a good starting point for it.

Dave

[David Walker]

There are events that may be worth looking at, but this movie is not a good starting point for it.

Yeah - point for anyone writing anything supposed to be even vaguely like reality: don't base it on a Hollywood film!

David

[Nigel Hewitt]

>Yeah - point for anyone writing anything supposed to be even vaguely like reality: don't base it on a Hollywood film!

But the poor guy doesn't want to write for know all divers. To get mass market it's either "Evil DMs throw divers to the sharks" or "Dumb DMs can't count". The fact that it only ever happened a couple of times in the history of diving never got in the way of a good scare story.
"They all went diving, had a jolly good time and were all home in time for tea" sells no copy anywhere.

[Alex Coomes]

Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

In my view the only reason for this posting is to drag up some dirt to make a few bucks !
Why can't journalists get it into their heads diving is a safe and relaxing sport. You are probably more likley to get hurt in a game of football at the local park than on a days diving with your local BSAC club!!!

[Gordon Nimmo]

:=Hi, I'm a travel writer, putting together a feature which has been prompted by the film Open Water. You've doubtless heard of it - it's loosely based on the incident in 1998 when two US divers were left behind by a dive boat on the Barrier Reef and were never found. It's a terrifying film - in the style of Blair Witch, but all the more unsettling because the threats it deals with are real.

In my view the only reason for this posting is to drag up some dirt to make a few bucks !
Why can't journalists get it into their heads diving is a safe and relaxing sport. You are probably more likley to get hurt in a game of football at the local park than on a days diving with your local BSAC club!!!

Yeah. I agree with that. You will hear about diving accidents in the press and in the media because they are so rare. How many people will end up in A&E with broken ankles etc from 5 a-side or rugby around britian this weekend?

[alunharford]

Why can't journalists get it into their heads diving is a safe and relaxing sport.
I think I'd have to add "when approached with due care" in order to agree with that.

[john bantin]

After witnessing how a group of journalists were prepared to bear false witness at a coroners court after one of their number was tragically killed in a diving accident, just for the sake of column inches, I have stopped using that job-description. I now call myself a writer.

[dave covey]

I'd be very interested to interview anybody who has for my article.

....this is posted elsewhere too! I dare say "Keef" will shift it in a day or 2.....

[FionaB]

I'd be very interested to interview anybody who has for my article.

....this is posted elsewhere too! I dare say "Keef" will shift it in a day or 2.....



Yes I saw that one, last night there was a programme on Discovery called Anatomy of a Shark Attack it was sponsored by "Openwater" and The Sun also had something to do with it. So News International have a lot to answer for. In fact just before one commercail break I thought the voice over said "It happened in 1974 and again 1998 next it will happen to you".

[Bill Bird]

Someone did a "top ten" of dangerous sports a few years ago. Diving did not feature. In its recreational form (that portrayed in "Open Water") it has been fairly accurately described as a sport which can be enjoyed by adventurous grannies.

Wasn't the sedantary sport of fishing somewhere up there? How about an article on that - Oops sorry don't think Hollywood's come up with a film on that yet!

I get the impression that while "Open Water" will be an interesting yarn, trying t write an article digging up dirt - and encouraging divers to do so (I noted that Shark night had been sponsored by the makers of Open water as well), doesn't do diving or - for that matter - sharks any good at all (you can just see the Jaws approach re-surfacing. Suggest journalists keep away from the issue and stick to writing news!

[Nigel Hewitt]

>I get the impression that while "Open Water" will be an interesting yarn,

I doubt it. I would guess: Yuppy couple bobbing about in the water talking about their relationship with recollections, confessions and the occasional shadow in the water when the pace gets just too dull.

> doesn't do diving or - for that matter - sharks any good at all

I suspect more divers die of heart attacks swimming desperatly after a retreating possible shark just so they can say they saw one than ever were on the menu. My experience is that the moment they see you they distainfully mutter "Tourists" and turn tail and look for a more private piece of ocean.

[Dave Hurd]

There was a recent film called U571 about how the Americans captured the Enigman machine.

Why don't you post a message asking for the American crew to come forwards and tell their "true" story? Oh yeah...it never happened. Come to think of it there must be some Hobbits around that you can interview about their trek with a ring.

Don't believe everything that you see in the cinema Mr Newsome.

[John Bantin]

You mean the new film "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is not factually correct?

[tony dwyer]

You mean the new film "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is not factually correct?

I'm surprised John. How could someone as well read as you not be aware of Vice President Churchill's war time accomplishments.

After all at President Roosevelt's insistence he encouraged us Brits to stand our ground against the might of the Luftwaffe in 1940, ably assisted and led of course by hundreds of volunteer pilots from America that were persuaded to come to fight (flying American designed Spitfires) over England by VP Churchills renowned rhetoric. As will be illustrated soon by a new film starring a short American actor.

No sign of Sean Newsom? Have we scared him off?

[Steve Walker]

:=You mean the new film "Churchill: The Hollywood Years" is not factually correct?

I'm surprised John. How could someone as well read as you not be aware of Vice President Churchill's war time accomplishments.

After all at President Roosevelt's insistence he encouraged us Brits to stand our ground against the might of the Luftwaffe in 1940, ably assisted and led of course by hundreds of volunteer pilots from America that were persuaded to come to fight (flying American designed Spitfires) over England by VP Churchills renowned rhetoric. As will be illustrated soon by a new film starring a short American actor.


AIUI even that most American of fighter planes, the P-51 Mustang, was built to British design specifications.

No sign of Sean Newsom? Have we scared him off?

As for Mr Newsom, if he'd care to e-mail me I'll put him in touch with shark conservation experts who would be pleased to give him accurate factual information help him to avoid making a prat of himself with a spurious tabloid style article.

[john bache]

OK .. If you are even vaguely concerned about being stranded at sea you might consider getting an ERPLB like the ones on the Sea Marshall web site.

It certainly would have cut the length of Open water's storyline down to a more agreeable length.

John Bache.

[tony dwyer]

AIUI even that most American of fighter planes, the P-51 Mustang, was built to British design specifications.

Certainly had a British designed engine anyway.

[tony dwyer]

argh! double post!

[Keith Lawrence(BSAC)]

There is a large lead article in todays (Sunday) Sunday Times Travel Section by a Sean Newsom. See the link for the full article.

Keith L

[Steve Walker]

There is a large lead article in todays (Sunday) Sunday Times Travel Section by a Sean Newsom. See the link for the full article.

Keith L

Cheers for that Keith, starts off with a tad more sensationalism than I've grown to expect from "The Times" but overall I dare say it could have been a great deal "worse".

But Mr Newsom certainly doesn't do anything to help us encourage new scuba divers or to further the understanding of sharks and that they really aren't _that_ dangerous to us.

I guess "scuba is fun" and "sharks are nice really" doesn't make for good copy...

[terryh]

:=There is a large lead article in todays (Sunday) Sunday Times Travel Section by a Sean Newsom. See the link for the full article.
:=
:=Keith L

Cheers for that Keith, starts off with a tad more sensationalism than I've grown to expect from "The Times" but overall I dare say it could have been a great deal "worse".

But Mr Newsom certainly doesn't do anything to help us encourage new scuba divers or to further the understanding of sharks and that they really aren't _that_ dangerous to us.

I guess "scuba is fun" and "sharks are nice really" doesn't make for good copy...

I'm just a tad worried about the last comment on the "things
to look out for". Seems that I can't do shore diving anymore
because I need to have a boat up top with handler!!!!!

Bet the hotels will be a bit miffed seeing as the house reef
is now non-divable without a boat!

TerryH

[dave covey]

See the link for the full article.

To avoid multiposts see my latest comments on travelclub page...