Dependent Diver Psalm

This is an electronic reprint of an article that appeared in IANTD Journal (Aug/Oct. 1994, p. 25). This material is copyrighted and all rights retained by the author. This article is made available as a service to the diving community by the author and may be distributed for any non-commercial or Not-For-Profit use.

My instructor is my shepherd, I shall not think for myself,

He makes me lie down and sleep thru video instruction,

He leads me only in still waters,

He sells me false confidence,

And leads me down a path of self-righteousness,

For his own sake.

Even though I swim through the valley of the shadow of extreme depth,

I will fear no dive malady,

For my instructor is somewhere in the vicinity,

My lack of knowledge and skill,

They comfort me,

For I know not the risks I assume.

He presents a dive table before me,

But He cannot begin to explain its meaning,

He adorns my jacket with patches and sells me equipment,

My cup overflows with praise: He tells me "I am a natural,"

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

And I shall dwell in the house of the dependent diver forever.

Larry "Harris" Taylor, Ph.D. is a biochemist and Diving Safety Coordinator at the University of Michigan. He has authored more than 200 scuba related articles. His personal dive library (See Alert Diver, Mar/Apr, 1997, p. 54) is considered one of the best recreational sources of information In North America.

Use of these articles for personal or organizational profit is specifically denied.