Practise before diving
Being a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Rescue Diver and having completed my course with one of the top dive centres in Dubai, I am surprised that the course offered was so cheap to the girl who died in a training course (‘‘Bubbly, affectionate ...’ gone in a flash’, Gulf News, August 25). Diving is a technical sport that involves a lot of cost including equipment maintenance, instructor cost along with PADI material costs. All prospective divers should always go to the PADI website, which maintains a comprehensive list of all dive centres and shops certified by them.
Another thing that most prospective divers should note is that if they feel uncomfortable, they should always terminate the dive and not be afraid about losing their money, as most reputed dive centres allow students to repeat the course for a period of up to one year, if they were unable to complete it on the first try.
From Mr Rish Aiyer
Dubai
Unlikely to drown
I was surprised to read about how this girl died after diving in three metre-deep water. We need some details to better understand this. I am a diver, and it’s really so unlikely and almost impossible to drown in three metres. It’s almost like a swimming pool depth - you can just swim up and nothing will happen to you. This is so weird and unclear.
From Ms Angie Al Habib
Dubai
Facebook comment
Negligence and incompetence
In response to Ms Angie Al Habib, it is possible though if there is negligence and incompetence on the side of the instructors and the person who’s in charge.
From Mr Rusdee Bolante
UAE
Facebook comment
Knowledge in open water
This is so sad for the girl and her family, but a proper diving instructor will never take a student out in open water unless she has proven to have proper knowledge of the equipment and has passed the proper tests.
From Mr Patrick Schelfhout
Dubai
Facebook comment
Follow standard procedure
There’s a theory lesson that has to be completed before the instructor brings a student into the water. The student must pass the test, which means that everyone must read the book. It’s a standard procedure for all diving companies. Also, there’s introduction in the pool before anyone could go to the open water.
This news could bring a bad image to the diving industry. Please be smart when you read such news. I’m not working for a diving company, but I’m a diver who used to work in a resort where diving is one of its best activities. So you could say I’m passionate about the sport.
From Mr Irwan Jendra Gunawan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Brilliant and inspirational thinker
I was flabbergasted when I read the report about the German woman living on trains (‘Woman lives on trains to avoid paying rent’, Gulf News, August 25). When others get off trains to finally reach home, she stays behind because she does not have a home to go to. Hats off to Leonie Muller, you are an inspiration to the modern generation. If she writes about her experience living on the trains, it will be sensational reading material. I think she should hurry and start writing because she will make some fast money!
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
Where does money go?
China’s devaluation has cost the world trillions of dollars in losses (‘Stock rout costs China’s richest man $3.6b in one day’, Gulf News, August 26). I have been getting this news on every media platform. However, no one seems to be speaking of those who gain. All they tell is of the loss and devaluation. What I know is where there is a loser, the other person gains. So, who is the winner here? Since the whole world has been hit, where does the money go? Explain.
From Mr George G. Evans
Lake Nebagamon, US
Facebook comment
China’s influential power
In response to Mr George G. Evans, maybe it’s the one who went with investing in the unorthodox entities? Who knows! But, on a serious level George, what’s the potential of this stock crisis? Is another recession looming in the coming months or years? And, I believe it also suggests the power of China’s economy or should I say, it’s already showing the signs of a true superpower nation. I read a few articles on other sites, but they don’t have much of layman’s kind of information.
From Mr Eric Warner
UAE
Facebook comment
Strategic macroeconomics
China is inviting other growing economies into a war of currencies, which will eventually be won by China as it has deep pockets in reserves. Any country that falls in this trap will be ruined.
From Mr Abdullah Zesan
UAE
Facebook comment
Changing preconceived notions
I heard economists saying that this Black Monday event tells a different story of economics to the public. It shows that the perceived idea of macroeconomic power as a tug-of-war between the US and China is not really the case. It really shows that these countries are much more connected than that. What happens to one will also negatively affect the other because of all the global trade agreements.
From Ms Lili Maria
Dubai
Facebook comment
Difficult loss of two sons
I would like to offer my condolences to the family moUrning the loss of two sons in Saudi Arabia (‘Siblings united in kinship, divided in ideology’, Gulf News, August 26). It’s hard enough to lose one son, but two sons is just too much. To make it worse, one died a martyr and a hero, while the other died in violence. May God give the family the courage to move on.
From Ms Lorraine D’Costa
UAE
Facebook comment
Who you spend time with
Children falling into the clutches of terrorism happens because of the people around you. The young man who became a terrorist left home completely fine to work in the North of the country, but then eventually became a terrorist. Your friends and social activities have an influence in who you become. So, it is important to check the community your children are in!
From Mr Qaiser Mahmoud
UAE
Facebook comment
Worrisome
It’s amazing that one child turns out to be a soldier while other a terrorist. They came from the same upbringing and the same family. I find that very scary.
From Mr Ajay Bhatia
UAE
Facebook comment
No two people alike
This is a classic example of how no two people are the same. Not even brothers from the same womb or supposedly who got the same upbringing. There are a lot of other factors that influence you and make you the person you are. It’s also your own ability or inability to choose right from wrong, good over evil that will make you the person you choose to be. Hence, one became a martyr and pilot, the other a terrorist. But if you ask a mother, they are both sons! Rest in peace, God is a better judge.
From Ms Christina Scurville
UAE
Facebook comment
How to conquer fears
Someday in the future when Denise Fernandes grows past her phobia of syringes, and she will - there’s no doubt in my mind about it, she will ask herself: “Why did I have this phobia to begin with (‘Student with syringe phobia struggles with visa renewal’, Gulf News, August 26)?” What she needs right now is some serious heart-to-heart counselling sessions and she will be able to turn this around. A professional counsellor can pull off a victory as long as she or he puts their heart and soul into the session.
From Mr Louis
UAE
Website comment
She needs to do it
The law is the law. If an exception is made here, many more requests will follow. Since the tragic loss of her grandfather 10 years ago, the girl was required several times to have blood tests done so what is the problem now? Rather than having more fines for overstaying without proper residency, it is best if she returns to her home country and from there travels back to the US for further studies.
From Mr Louie Tedesco
UAE
Website comment
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