From: mayne@phi.cs.fsu.edu (William Mayne)
Subject: Re:  Deep air record.
Reply-To: mayne@cs.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 21:05:29 GMT

In article <1992Sep30.161513.15120@cattnts.canada.ncr.com> craig@cattnts.canada.ncr.com (Craig Campbell) writes:
>
>With regards to more information on an unnamed deep air diver in Florida
>slammed in the latest NAUI Sources, it would seem that the diver being 
>held up as a poor example is a fellow named Hal Watts (Thanks Elliot Dierksen).
>
>It also seems that Hal no longer holds the record, and that the record is
>actually held by Bret Gilliam (Thanks to Michael Parker and Greg Dawes).

Note: Regarding the record, we are talking about something over 450
feet on air, I believe - much more than 40 fathoms or 240 feet which
gets mentioned below, anyway.

>What I am still looking for is some of the details of what Hal Watts did
>in terms of preparation and execution of his record setting dive(s?).
>
>P.S.  Info about:  40 fathom club
>		:  What is actually on the walls of Hal's diveshop
>			(Bragging?  or realistic accounts?)
>		:  Experience/diving history?
>		:  Hal's credentials.

Forty Fathoms Grotto is a commercially operated dive site owned (or
at least managed) by Hal Watts. He teaches deep diving (to 40 fathoms
or 240 feet) using only air there. Although 240 feet on air puts you a
little over the recommended 1.6 ATA O_2 limit and is a calculated risk
it isn't totally unreasonable for short exposures, with the necessary
training, experience, and equipment, IMO. I'm not so sure it is
appropriate to teach deep diving that way or to turn it into a challenge
or a status symbol, though. Allegedly Hal Watts set up his own certifying
organization because no others would certify what he was doing.

Forthy Fathoms Grotto features a collection of old cars and a motorcyle
placed on the bottom at various depths for amusement and photo props.
I got this information from an ad and talking to people who have been
there and to one who works there. I've never gone myself. It sounds hokey
to me. I'd prefer a more natural environment. I also don't like to pay
for dive sites and Forty Fathoms Grotto is expensive. Guide$ are required
and you aren't allowed to go below 130 feet except in deep diving classes,
or maybe if you already have some special certification. Hal Watts deep
diving course is also expensive. $900 was in the right ball park the
last time I checked. Trimix courses are available for much less than
that. A diving buddy of mine just took a trimix course from Sheck Exley
for about $300. They were going to do their deep dive at Forty Fathoms
Grotto. I haven't talked to him since the course.

>I expect that Hal (I know nothing of him) must be a serious technical diver
>in order to have performed this type of diving and lived.

He certainly had a lot of experience deep diving at more reasonable depths.
He may also have extreme oxygen tolerance and have been lucky.

Another buddy of mine who took Hal Watts deep diving course said that he
(Watts) prefers to use air because he has so much experience using air deep
that feeling narced is normal for him. It helps him keep track of where he is.
He is less comfortable using mixed gas. (The similarity to someone who needs
a stiff drink to do something a little wild occurs to me.) Although it may
sound like Watts is a daredevil pushing the envelope my buddy who took his
course and knows him respects him. I would say it is not for those of us
who aren't at his level to criticize what we don't fully understand. That
would be too much like some of the recent pontification on the 130 foot
limit which we saw in rec.scuba a while back. I suspect the writer you
mentioned may be in that category.

Bill Mayne
Newsgroups: rec.scuba