Paul Beal
15-07-2005, 09:30
The YD-based author of this post asked for it to be distrubuted to other forums to keep everyone up to date.
Paul
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Members of YD will be aware that Stoney brought in a blanket ban on filling bootless twinsets after they had to pay for damage to a wing which was attched to a set recently.
I was concerned that they may not have throught throught the implications of such a ban carefully and I therefore spoke to staff and directors last week at some length in an attempt to try to resolve it. They were aware of coverage of the issue on YD and whilst they didn't feel that they could post here - they did want to find a way forward.
I am confident that Stoney have a problem with bootless twin sets - the very busy nature of the small filing station at weekends is not condusive to sets lying on the ground - taking up four times as much space as standing sets, and the queuing system is simply not workable with multiple sets leant up against walls. I was quite taken with the statistic that they fill one set a minute at busy times at weekends.
One final problem factor in managing bootles sets is that when staff have to pick them up from horrizontal, there is a danger of injury - lifting multiple heavy sets is hard work - Boy - you don't need to tell me that
It was important therefore that any solution would address the problems that they had - without precluding any diver or dive system from accessing their facilities.
You will gather that I am not persuaded of the need for boots, nor to be honest the safety of standing any set up - booted or not, but busy filling stations have to work with what they have - and we have to do what we can to assist them if we want air to dive.
The result of negotiations is that they will accept bootless sets which have been stripped of all gear, provided that they are presented secured to small sack type trolleys. This means that the set will be upright within the station and can be moved easily by staff. Stripping the set of gear is, in my view, sensible anyway - regardless of whether you have boots on or not - it protects your expensive equipment from damage in a busy environment. Singles will have to treated in the same way if unbooted.
If you have a problem with this it's quite simple... it's not a democracy - if you don't like the idea of a trolley then put boots on your set or get your air elsewhere and arrive at the Cove ready to dive. In the meantime I hope that this will provide a way forward for the growing number of divers who choose not to have boots on their sets (not exclusively DIR ).
Do remember - there is no automatic right to air at any filling station - staff have the right to refuse to fill your sets if they are not happy about the way they are presented. However, if we all work together, we can find a way round most problems
I have been waiting for a formal 'form of words' from Stoney but felt it important to post before people go there this weekend. If I get a copy - I'll post it.
Paul
__________________________________________________ __________
Members of YD will be aware that Stoney brought in a blanket ban on filling bootless twinsets after they had to pay for damage to a wing which was attched to a set recently.
I was concerned that they may not have throught throught the implications of such a ban carefully and I therefore spoke to staff and directors last week at some length in an attempt to try to resolve it. They were aware of coverage of the issue on YD and whilst they didn't feel that they could post here - they did want to find a way forward.
I am confident that Stoney have a problem with bootless twin sets - the very busy nature of the small filing station at weekends is not condusive to sets lying on the ground - taking up four times as much space as standing sets, and the queuing system is simply not workable with multiple sets leant up against walls. I was quite taken with the statistic that they fill one set a minute at busy times at weekends.
One final problem factor in managing bootles sets is that when staff have to pick them up from horrizontal, there is a danger of injury - lifting multiple heavy sets is hard work - Boy - you don't need to tell me that
It was important therefore that any solution would address the problems that they had - without precluding any diver or dive system from accessing their facilities.
You will gather that I am not persuaded of the need for boots, nor to be honest the safety of standing any set up - booted or not, but busy filling stations have to work with what they have - and we have to do what we can to assist them if we want air to dive.
The result of negotiations is that they will accept bootless sets which have been stripped of all gear, provided that they are presented secured to small sack type trolleys. This means that the set will be upright within the station and can be moved easily by staff. Stripping the set of gear is, in my view, sensible anyway - regardless of whether you have boots on or not - it protects your expensive equipment from damage in a busy environment. Singles will have to treated in the same way if unbooted.
If you have a problem with this it's quite simple... it's not a democracy - if you don't like the idea of a trolley then put boots on your set or get your air elsewhere and arrive at the Cove ready to dive. In the meantime I hope that this will provide a way forward for the growing number of divers who choose not to have boots on their sets (not exclusively DIR ).
Do remember - there is no automatic right to air at any filling station - staff have the right to refuse to fill your sets if they are not happy about the way they are presented. However, if we all work together, we can find a way round most problems
I have been waiting for a formal 'form of words' from Stoney but felt it important to post before people go there this weekend. If I get a copy - I'll post it.